BJP slams Clinton's remarks on Pak

New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) India's main Opposition party BJP
Thursday hit out at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for
her remark that 'Pakistan's struggles were my struggles',
saying it "belies an utter disregard for facts and history".
It also attacked the US for refusing to deport
Pakistani-American David Headley, who had confessed to his
role in the Mumbai attacks, terming it as "a slap on the
Indian government".
"Clinton's comment is completely amazing, imprudent and a
statement that belies an utter disregard for the facts and
history," Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson Tarun Vijay said.
"If Pakistan is fighting US's struggles, which is a tacit
admission of the withering Jihadi state becoming a US
subterfuge, who's struggling for ending terrorism in the
region and strengthening democratic elements?" he asked.
Earlier, Clinton during her meet with Pakistani Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in Washington, "Pakistan is
close to my heart. Pakistan's struggles are my struggles and I
am committed to the success of this dialogue."
The manner in which US government has "refused" to deport
Headley for interrogation in the Mumbai terror attack case was
"a slap on the government", the BJP spokesperson said.
"Does this sense of 'joint struggle' make US deny India
access to Headley, who is primarily India's offender?" he
asked. "US can pressurise India and give dictation to those in
power..."
The BJP leader asserted that a US intelligence report had
said 9/11 accused Osama bin Laden could be hiding in Pakistan
and asked if sheltering Osama and keeping silent on Kasab's
accomplices were a "part of Hillary's struggle".
"When US was struck on 9/11, it was willing to go to any
corner of the earth and 'smoke out the culprits'. But with
regard to 26/11, it wears a saintly preacher attitude exposing
its double standards. Did Hillary take up India's 26/11 with
Pakistan and urged it to cooperate with India?" Vijay said.
He asked if US was also a part of "sponsoring of terror
against India by Pakistan".
The BJP claimed that while US was making dollar grants
for war against terror on the western front of Pakistan it was
silent on the activities on its eastern border.
Vijay quoted senior strategic affairs analyst Ashley
Tellis: "In reality, Pakistan wants to assume a leading role
in negotiating and reconciling with the Afghan Taliban to
ensure a friendlier neighbour after the United States
withdraws."
The spokesperson alleged that Taliban had a free run in
Pakistan. "Our neighbour is fooling the US in the war against
terror. We also urge US to stop hyphenating India with
Pakistan...It doesn't hyphenate China with India." PTI RC
KAB