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Terror infrastructure in Pak still intact: Rao

January 17, 2010 15:29 IST

Asserting that the recent events including two fidayeen attacks in Kashmir point to the "undeniable" fact that terror infrastructure in Pakistan was intact, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Sunday said it has been an "instrument of state policy pursued by agencies within Pakistan".

She said India was watching all these developments with "great concern" in Kashmir, where militancy and violence is a longstanding phenomenon accompanied by the rhetoric (from the Pakistan side) against India.

"All the events you have seen over the last few days basically point to the basic and undeniable fact that the infrastructure of terrorism which operates out of Pakistan and territory under Pakistan control has not been dismantled and it continues to be directed against the Indian people," she told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's 'Devil's Advocate' programme.

Asked if the groups, involved in carrying out attacks in Kashmir, were getting assistance or support from Pakistani establishment or state, she said, "I think the experience over the last two decades would make it very clear to us that this has been an instrument of state policy which has been pursued by agencies within Pakistan."

On the recent Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's rhetoric about fulfilling his father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's pledge for a thousand-year war to liberate Kashmir, Rao said, "Rhetoric, militancy and violence, together they make a very combustible combination". Demanding that more needs to be done by Pakistan, Rao said, "Terrorism directed against India continues from territory under Pakistan control and from Pakistan. Look at what has been happening in Srinagar over the last few weeks."

"Look at the incidents of infiltration that have gone up despite the fact that this is cold weather. In winter traditionally we have not had so many incidents of infiltration, but those continue.

"They clearly point to the continuation of efforts directed against our territory, directed in order to foment violence in Kashmir and terrorist incidents".

Rao also ruled out that the US was keen on playing a mediatory role on issues concerning India and Pakistan.

"President Obama and the American Administration told us over and over again that they have no desire to play a mediatory role on issues concerning India and Pakistan," she said.
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