So Is It 'Terrorism' Or Not ?

Question: It [the attack in Kolkata] was an obviously terrorist attack, but theFBI chief said that he is not having any information on it? Do you agree that?

Nirupama Rao: Well, the investigation of the attack of the criminal incident yesterdayin Kolkata is still ongoing. The Special Secretary in the Ministry of HomeAffairs, Mr. Bhandari is still in Kolkata and has not yet returned to New Delhiand we expect to have a more authoritative position, a more complete account ofwhat happened and possibly leads on who is responsible for this incident and ourconclusions would be available, would be presented, obviously at that time.

Question: What comments do you have on Mr. Boucher's statement that as there wasno American injured and America was not on the target?

Nirupama Rao: I think I have said very clearly that the investigations are still goingon and a very senior official of the Government of India is on the spot, he isin Kolkata, he is not yet back in New Delhi, we shall await his return.

Question: US administration has said that terrorist infiltration has gone downalong the border? Any comments?

Nirupama Rao: Again I think, we have said very clearly, we haven’t yet discerned anylong term trends, as to whether there has been lessening or diminution ofinfiltration or cross LoC or cross border shelling. So at the moment, it is notpossible for us to draw a definitive conclusion to the effect that this tensionhas been lowered by the fact that shelling may have gone down or infiltrationmay have gone down. It’s too early to say that this suggests the establishmentof a long-term trend.

Question: Has this been going down in every year during this season?

Nirupama Rao: There has been heavy snowfall in the passes and this is a feature of theweather at this time.

Question: Reduce in shelling is mainly due to the weather rather than anythingelse?

Nirupama Rao: Well, this is the presence of certain natural impeding factors, yes butas I said whether this is a long-term trend it is too early to say.

Question: When will such a trend be established? Do you have a timeline on this?

Nirupama Rao: Well, that is the judgement that we would make based on the kind ofinformation that we are able to collate on the basis of day to day happenings,incidents and our comparison of that data with figures obtained for similarperiods over the past few years. So this is an exercise that would obviously beundertaken over a certain period of time. But to put a sort of time line on itand to suggest that this is going to be undertaken and will be over within aspecified number of days is obviously not practical.

Question: Much has been made by the presence of Pakistan High Commissioner inPresident’s reception, there are some reports that some kind of signal ofrestoration of normal relations, would you agree to that?

Nirupama Rao: Well, he is here, he has continued to be here as the High Commissionerof Pakistan in New Delhi, and just as other heads of missions are present atfunctions of this nature, he was also there so I would regard it in that lightand I would not read any ulterior meanings into it at this moment.

Question: In connection with the Kolkata attack as you mentioned yesterday thatFarhan had claimed, do you have any further information?

Nirupama Rao: No I am afraid, I don’t have any further information. As I justmentioned the senior bureaucrat of the Ministry of Home Affairs is in Kolkata todiscuss this and to investigate this further in cooperation with the StateGovernment Authorities. He hasn’t yet returned to New Delhi and I expect theHome Ministry will have more to say on this once he is back.

Question: When is he expected back?

Nirupama Rao: I was told that he might be back this evening, but it wasn’t veryclear whether he will be back this evening or tomorrow.

Question: About Trade talks with Pakistan, scheduled in Kathmandu?

Nirupama Rao: Trade talks? Between India and Pakistan? No, it is a SAARC related eventthat will take place in Kathmandu, and obviously this is something that iscoordinated among all the seven SAARC member countries and is being held todiscuss SAARC related issues whether they are concerning economic cooperation orinteractions in other spheres of functional cooperation. So if there is such ameeting on 27 & 28 January, then the member countries are sendingdelegations to participate and obviously India and Pakistan will be there andall countries will be present, all their delegations will be there.

Question: There is a report from Islamabad about trade talks to be held inKathmandu?

Nirupama Rao: I think, there is a slight obfuscation of information there. It is nottrade talks between India and Pakistan, it is a SAARC related event and that ishow it should be seen and as to whether these are the dates for the meeting youreferred to I will have to check that.

Question: Was it a concern to you that the US has not accepted the Indianversion in Toto like the incident in Kolkata yesterday?

Nirupama Rao: No I wouldn’t regard it in that light. We are in touch with theAmericans about what happened in Kolkata yesterday. As I mentioned earlier theinvestigations are continuing, we still have to come to a definitive conclusionabout who was responsible, what kind of an attack this was and who was thespecific target. All this is yet to be ascertained and our cooperation with theUnited States in such matters as counter terrorism or information exchange inregard to strengthening our fight against terrorism continues and has been infact strengthened over the last few months especially after September 11. Themeeting of the Joint Working Group on counter terrorism, which has justconcluded yesterday, is a pointer to that and also may I add, the visit of theFBI Director Mr. Mueller who was here over the last few days and has justreturned.

Question: Does it concern you the US delegation comes here and praising Gen.Musharraf and not accepting in full the Indian version of terrorist attack?

Nirupama Rao: I think we have gone down this road before. I don’t want to soundrepetitive but you will have to hear this line from me again. Our relations withthe United States have their own dynamic and have their own momentum and arebased on our national interest. The national interest of both countries and thefact that these relations have gone from strength to strength in the recentpast, I think is testimony to the fact that there is recognition of eachother’s concerns and there is mutual sensitivity to each other’s concernsand that the future is bright for the strengthening of these relations and forconsolidation of our dialogue with United States.

Question: Has Pakistan sought any discussion with regard to the list of 20criminals?

Nirupama Rao: To the best of my knowledge, Pakistan has not sought any discussion onthe list of 20.

Question: Have we received any list from Pakistan?

Nirupama Rao: No, we have not received it.

Question: Sri Lankan Government has planned to lift the ban on LTTE. What wouldbe India’s position on this?

Nirupama Rao: There is no change in our position. You know our position. There is nochange in it.

Question: There is lot of reports in the American press that lot of subtlepressure is put on India. Are you aware of this?

Nirupama Rao: Are you saying that I am not able to recognise subtlety? (Laughter) Nothere is no such pressure being put on us. As I said we have a perfectly openchannel of communication between India and the United States, the dialogue is asustained and multi-faceted one and we have reason to be satisfied with theprogress of the relations.

I would also like to mention that His Excellency the President of the Republicof Mauritius will be arriving in New Delhi tomorrow. As you know H.E. Mr. CassamUteem, the Mauritian President is to be the Chief Guest at our Republic Day andhe is arriving here tomorrow and he will be in India up to the 2nd February2002. Our relations with Mauritius are steeped in history. Mauritius has a 68%population of Indian origin and we have a multi-faceted relationship withMauritius and the visit of H.E. President of Mauritius at this time will help usfurther strengthen India-Mauritius relations and will also enable us to continueour dialogue with the Mauritius Government not only on bilateral issues but alsoregional issues like fight against terrorism.

Question: Inaudible

Nirupama Rao: Well the incident has occurred in Kolkata. As I mentioned investigationsare going on and we will have to ascertain the full details of what transpiredand who is responsible for it and at this moment for me to establishconnectivity and links would be premature.