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Pakistan still 'epicenter of terrorism,' says Manmohan
 [Dawn] Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday toned down expectations for his planned meeting with Premier Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... this weekend at the UN, saying Pakistain remained an "epicenter of terrorism." Singh, making what will likely be a farewell visit to the White House after a decade in power, told President Barack Obama I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money... that India still faced "difficulties" because of the activities of its neighbor and bitter rival. Singh and Sharif are expected to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, as they reach for better relations despite heightened cross border tensions. "I look forward to the meeting with (premier) Nawaz Sharif even though the expectations have to be toned down given the terror arm which is still active in our subcontinent," Sharif told news hounds in the Oval Office. Singh told Obama that India was facing difficulties because the "epicenter of terrorist activity remains focused in Pakistain." India has blamed Death Eater groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba ...the Army of the Pure,an Ahl-e-Hadith terror organization founded by Hafiz Saeed. LeT masquerades behind the Jamaat-ud-Dawa facade within Pakistain and periodically blows things up and kills people in India. Despite the fact that it is banned, always an interesting concept in Pakistain, the organization remains an blatant tool and perhaps an arm of the ISI... (LeT) and even elements of the Pak state for attacks on its soil, including the assault in a luxury hotel on Mumbai nearly five years ago which killed 166 people. Deadly skirmishes across the de facto border in divided Kashmire meanwhile have jeopardised the atmospherics for the meeting in New York, which would come months after peace talks again stalled between the two neighbors. Since winning an election in May, Sharif has been vocal in his desire for better relations with India, but the recent flare-ups have overshadowed the prospects. Earlier, Sharif warmed up for the expected talks by saying that a nuclear arms race between India and Pakistain was a huge waste of money. Singh's visit to the White House had a valedictory tone, as he is not expected to lead his Congress Party into elections next year, with his political fortunes battered by a slowing economy and corruption claims after two five-year terms. Posted by: Fred 2013-09-28 |
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