A huge Indian-American delegation met almost 100 lawmakers on January 27 to express their outrage over the Mumbai attacks and seek increased US pressure on Pakistan.
The argument was that whenever there is this kind of push, the administration pushes back saying it is a weak democratic government in Islamabad and that let's not push them too much. Indian-American community delegates argued that this is a cop-out. What's your take on this?
I would say that we all want to see Pakistan be able to act against terrorism, be able to deal with its territory. But to be able to do that, they are going to have a military that is capable of doing it. And, so, you have to be careful not to cut off your nose to spite your face. That you are not saying we won't help you until you done this, recognising at the same time, you don't have the capability of doing it right now.
So, you get into a circle. So, the important point is to say that the United States has worked with Pakistan over the years, that we will continue to work with Pakistan and the goal of working with Pakistan is so that, like any other country, they can control their territory and like any other country they can stop terrorists from using their territory in any way.
And we will work with them to make sure that is effective and that involves both support and expectations and how exactly these are expressed I don't know.
Image: US Congressman Jim McDermott addresses members of the Indian American Task Force in Washington, DC, January 27. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi.
Also see: Target the Pakistan army, not Pakistan
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