Manmohan showed the world proof of Osama’s terror network in Pakistan
Anil Razdhan
Jul. 22, 2005

India has the proof and Manmohan Singh delivered the same to international communities. Osama Bin Laden, high on the global wanted list, and the Al-Qaeda have a strong base in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has indicated.

According to media sources, Singh also made it clear to Pakistan that he would not be able to push forward the peace process if its territory continued to be allowed for terrorist activities against India.

Addressing the National Press Club here, he said India was committed to resolving all bilateral issues with Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir, in a “practical and pragmatic” manner but the climate for resolving the problems could be vitiated if Pakistani territory continued to be used for terrorist activities directed against India.

Asked whether he trusts President Musharraf, Singh said: “I do trust. But I think there is an old saying of President (Ronald) Reagan. Trust and verify.”

Citing the recent suicide bomb attack in Srinagar in which 13 people were killed and 40 injured, he said these “disturbing developments” went against Musharraf's commitment not to allow Pakistani territory to be used for terrorism against India.

“I, as Prime Minister of a democracy, will not be able to go against public opinion if acts of terrorism can''t be controlled. It affects my capacity to push forward the process of dialogue with Pakistan,” he said.

In separate interviews to the Washington Post and CNN, Singh voiced concern over the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets, saying there had been “reckless proliferation” and there was a “danger” of extremists seizing power and taking control of the weapons.

He said that there was no doubt that Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network still had a “significant base” in Pakistan and there was always the risk of Islamic militants seizing power.

“I have to be realistic enough to recognise the role that terrorist elements have played in the last few years in the history of Pakistan. Taliban was the creation of Pakistan extremists, the Wahabi Islam which has flourished, thousands and thousands of schools, the madrassas were set up to preach this jehad based on hatred of other religions,” he was quoted as saying.

He agreed that he was worried about the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets should President Musharraf be replaced and said there was “always a danger” that extremists in Pakistan could take charge of nuclear arsenal.

“If they get into the hands of the jehadi elements that could pose a serious problems... I hope that this does not happen and I pray that this will not happen,” he said while expressing the hope that “credible solutions can be found today with that problem.”

Singh dismissed as “grossly overstated” the possibility of a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan. “Both our countries are nuclear powers. And, as far as we are concerned, we have an impeccable record of not in any way contributing to proliferation of these nuclear technologies,” he said.

To another question, Singh said he took pride in the fact that although India has 150 million Muslims in the country, “not one has been found to have joined the ranks of Al Qaeda or participated in the activities of the Taliban”

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Thursday night criticised Singh's remarks voicing concern over the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, saying his utterances have created a “misleading impression and are removed from facts”.

Pakistan also mentioned its oft-repeated stand on “root cause” of terrorism in “disputes and deprivation”, the phrases used by it when referring to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

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