Pak should be firmly disassociated with terror

New Delhi, Jul 15: Taking note of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in Mumbai that it would be 'difficult' for India to carry on peace process with Pakistan, the BJP today lamented that it took ''two long years'' for the UPA government to insist that the neighbouring country not allow terrorist organisations to use it as their base.

Former Union Minister and BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said that making Pakistan accept that it would not allow its territory to be used by terrorists would be the biggest Confidence-Building Measure (CBM) India could extract.

''Otherwise, what is the purpose of allowing continued explosion of bombs killing people in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi and Banglore?'' he asked, adding that to talk peace Pakistan would be ''dishonest'' as long as violence in India has ''roots and inspiration from Pakistan.'' He said Pakistan's establishment and its Army has to firmly disassociate itself from terror and one was not sure who actually had control in the country. ''Although it is well known that President Musharraf was not in control of the administration but India has to talk to him only because he is the symbol of authority and not Ms Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif,'' he noted.

Underlining the peace process was initiated by NDA government, led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said it also did not begin until Pakistan conceded that it will not allow its territory to be used for violence against India.

Asked about Left Parties asking the government to continue with the peace process with Pakistan, Mr Prasad said he had not seen a full fledged condemnation of Mumbai bomb blasts in which almost 200 innocent lives were lost.

UNI