'Pak warned of dangerous consequences if India attacked again'

Washington, Dec 1: The US has warned Pakistani leaders of dangerous consequences if there is another terror attack on India that originates from Pakistan, a former top adviser to President Barack Obama has said, asking Islamabad to give up the policy of supporting extremist elements.

Gen (retd) James Jones, who was the National Security Adviser to President Barack Obama from January 2009 to October 2010, said the message that they should give up the policy of supporting terrorist and extremist elements has been conveyed to Pakistani leaders several times by top US officials.

Jones stated this on the Charlie Rose show on the PBS news network in response to a question.

"I've said this in exactly those words, and I think my former colleagues at the NSC (National Security Council) and at the State Department have done the same thing -- is that you really don't understand, or we don't understand why you don't understand that you're playing Russian roulette here with your future because if there is another attack originating from Pakistan in India, you know, Prime Minister Singh isn't going to be able to (hold back)...," he said.

Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which participants place a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, place the muzzle against their head and pull the trigger.

"Russian" refers to the supposed country of origin, and roulette to the element of risk-taking and the spinning of the revolver's cylinder being reminiscent of spinning a roulette wheel.

Jones praised Singh for maintaining calm and patience in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

"Essentially what is being asked is that Pakistan renounce terror as an instrument of its foreign policy.

"In other words, accepting the location of terrorist organisations, safe havens whether they're directed towards Afghanistan or India is anathema to peace and progress, especially when you have a visionary leader like Prime Minister Singh who has taken huge political risk in not responding to Mumbai," Jones said.

The former NSA said that there are world leaders who are willing to help Pakistan if it gives up its policy of supporting extremist elements.

"There is a network of leaders that were willing to do a lot of things that would have helped Pakistan in its serious economic problems... and revamping the society from ground up" and in return Pakistan is being asked to renounce terror as an instrument of its foreign policy, he said.

PTI