It is a failure of our policy on Pakistan: Advani

Alleging that terror attacks in India were a proxy war waged by Pakistan, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Thursday said the Indian government must adopt zero tolerance towards terrorism.

"The Indian government must shed its ambivalence towards terrorism. It should declare that its policy against terrorism will be of zero tolerance. It must be categorical that there will be no tolerance towards terrorism after Wednesday's attacks," Advani told reporters.

Maintaining that no purpose would be served by engaging in a dialogue with Pakistan until the terror infrastructure was dismantled, the former deputy prime minister said the terror strikes were "not a failure of intelligence but failure of policy".

He deplored that Mumbai has become the favourite target of terrorists, whether from within or from the neighbouring country.

"Pakistanis have claimed that whatever was happening in Kashmir was not terrorism but a freedom struggle. Pakistan has been trying for years to show to the world that Kashmir is a disputed territory," he said.

"Some say that Indian Mujahideen is behind the attacks. Even if it is Indian Mujahideen, they get their sustenance from Pakistan," Advani said.

Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, he said there were talks in some quarters about the involvement of non-state actors.

"ISI is not a non-state actor. ISI is a part of the Pakistani establishment," Advani said.

After the discovery that Osama bin Laden was in Abbottabad, so close to their capital and in every bit protected by the Army, there is a proof of the extent to which Pakistan is involved in terrorist activities, Advani said.

"We cannot change our history or geography," he said on India's neighbours.

"Except for a few elements, rest of Pakistanis are not happy with their country's obsession with Kashmir," he said.

The country, which has promoted terrorism as an instrument of state policy, has always suffered, he said.

"Despite the fact that the Jihadis consider the US as its biggest enemy, no terror attacks have occurred there after 9/11," he said.

Replying to a question as to why as home minister he had allowed top JeM terrorists to be let off in exchange for Kandahar hijack hostages, Advani said the decision to release them followed an advice by an all-party meeting.

"You know how there were sustained demonstrations in front of the PM's residence. The all-party meeting advised that the over 150 hostages should be released without any harm. I was a party to that decision," he said.