New Delhi
03 February 2009
India's patience with Pakistan appears to be wearing thin. More than two months after the terror attack on Mumbai, Indian officials are expressing frustration that they have yet to hear any official communication from Islamabad regarding Pakistan's investigation of domestic links to the attack.
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| A fireman gestures outside Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, 29 Nov 2008 |
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee tells reporters there has been no formal word from the Pakistanis since India handed over its information to Islamabad for action, January 5.
"They told [informed] us after they received the materials from us and thereafter we have not received any official communication about the progress," he said.
During a speech to regional security experts Tuesday in the Indian capital, Defense Minister A.K. Antony termed terror emerging from Pakistan "a Frankenstein" [monster] that needs to be confronted decisively by the international community. He also called on Islamabad to respond to India's dossier about the Mumbai terror attack.
"The positive gains of the past years have been destroyed by the dastardly attack on Mumbai," he said. "The onus now is on the government of Pakistan to act with sincerity."
Antony accuses Pakistan of becoming an "epicenter of international terrorism."
Relations between nuclear-armed neighbors, India and Pakistan, who have fought each other in several wars, had gradually thawed in recent years. But the November 26 assault on India's commercial capital, which India blames on a group of heavily armed Pakistanis, again chilled the relationship.
The 60-hour siege of Mumbai left more than 160 people dead, including foreigners at luxury hotels and at a Jewish outreach center. India contends that elements in Pakistan were responsible for planning and executing the attack and that the terrorists received sophisticated training there.