'Verbal Calisthenics Will Not Do'

Do you have any response to what Musharraf has said in his latest interviews with Newsweek and BBC?
We have seen both the interview to Newsweek as also transcript of the interview given by President GeneralMusharraf to the BBC.

Pakistan has committed itself to fighting terrorism. This is an unambiguous and clear commitment lendingitself to no other interpretations. It has been conveyed to us in categorical terms that commitments aboutpermanently ending infiltration of terrorists across the LOC have repeatedly been given by General Musharraf.Despite some occasional verbal calisthenics by Pakistan, this is the commitment that remains, undiluted.

I have nothing more to add.

Do you think that India-Pakistan relations is back to square one?
No, we want Pakistan to abide, adhere and take action on the basis of these pledges and commitments, verbalcalisthenics will not do. There is no point in getting tongue-tied about this. Certain commitments and pledgeswere made and we expect action on those commitments to end terrorism, to end infiltration and to dismantle theinfrastructure of terrorism.

Who has conveyed these pledges and commitments to us?
These have been conveyed to us at the highest level during the visits of Deputy Secretary Armitage and DefenceSecretary Rumsfeld. Secretary of State Colin Powell has referred to it in his public statements.

We want Pakistan to abide by those commitments. My statement makes it very clear.

Do you think General Musharraf is going back from his commitments?
There is no question of going back on those commitments. These are commitments on which Pakistan must deliverif we are to see lasting peace and stability in our region, if we are to see reduction of tensions, if we aresee further measures to reduce tensions.

But General is very very clear in pointing out that measures taken by India is self-serving. He mentionedthe removal of overflight restriction and also the positioning of Indian Naval force in high sea doesn'tbother Pakistan but was bothering Indians themselves and so India decided to withdraw. Any comments?
I don't intend to reply to displays of irrational anger and frustration. I don't believe that these are wellconsidered deliberate responses of the sort that we expect to the very concrete, very forward reachingmeasures that we have taken to reduce tensions and obviously it is Pakistan that refuses to see the writing onthe wall, it refuses to recognize the need to permanently end terrorism and it is therefore necessary for allof us who are fighting terrorism, who are engaged in this struggle against forces of terror to remind Pakistanof its commitment and to seek concrete action on the basis of the pledges made by Pakistan.

You have said earlier there was a perceptible decline in infiltration. Yet Prime Minister said thatinfiltration has not been reduced.
I think you should see the sense of what underlies that statement. I think we are yet to see any definitetrends towards permanent end to infiltration and I have said that all along. There has been some decline. Weare yet to see on the ground a permanent trend that suggests that infiltration is tapering off, is coming to adefinite end. We have said consistently that we have to see the situation for a longer time to see whetherthese trends are established.

But the Defence Minister went on record to say that the infiltration has almost stopped?
No, but there again, it is true that he said that. But is this the definite trend that we can see establishedfrom now on for an indefinite period of time? We are unable to say that at the moment. July has traditionallybeen a month of high ingress, of high infiltration. Obviously we have to monitor the situation further interms of what Pakistan needs to do to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism, to literally pull theplumbing out as we have said.

Musharraf has said that he did not make any such commitments to end infiltration permanently?
That is what we call verbal calisthenics. Certain pledges have been made. Certain definite commitments havebeen made and we have seen the statements to that effect coming from the foreign interlocutors who haveinteracted with President General Musharraf in recent weeks and months. It has been definitely establishedthat these statements have been made.

Do you think India needs to re-look at its policy towards Pakistan?
Let us see how the situation develops and obviously if Pakistan is unable to fulfill its pledges and isreneging on its commitments, we will have to take a closer look at what needs to be done and where we go fromhere.

The Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson has said that they are considering to reciprocate India's removalof restriction of over flight facilities?
Well, I don't believe that we have received any official communications on this. We are awaiting an officialresponse from Pakistan. Our decision was conveyed to them exactly two weeks ago and our offer stands.

General Musharraf has said that the situation along the border is explosive and dangerous. Do you agreewith that?
If there is any reason to describe that situation as explosive and dangerous, it is explosive and dangerousbecause of the threat of infiltration and terrorism that India faces from across the line of control and alongthe international border.

Do you think that Verbal calisthenics as you call it is for domestic consumption in Pakistan?
That is for you to interpret. I am just pointing to the fact that pledges are pledges. I don't believe thatnations can go back on their pledges.

Let me also inform you that Foreign Secretary Straw called the EAM this afternoon. They had a conversationthat lasted about 10 minutes which was focused on the current situation in the region.