India, EU ask Pakistan to bring 26/11 perpetrators to justice

G Sudhakar Nair
Brussels, Dec 10 (PTI) The EU on Friday joined India
in pressing Pakistan to "expeditiously" bring the
perpetrators, authors and accomplices of Mumbai terror attacks
to justice, as they expressed concern at the "continuing
existence" of safe havens, including in the cross-border
dimension.
In a veiled reference to the existence of terror camps
in Pakistan, the 27-nation European Union and India at their
11th annual summit which was attended by Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh in a joint declaration on International
Terrorism denounced those "who sponsor, abet and instigate
terrorism and provide terrorist safe havens."
The importance attached by the European and Indian
leadership on fighting threats posed by terrorism, be it in
Mumbai, Rome or Madrid, was reflected in the summit coming out
with a separate joint declaration having exhaustive references
to the menace in the Joint Statement and in comments voiced by
Singh and European Council President Herman Rompuy.
"We have agreed to enhance counter-terrorism
cooperation," Singh said at a joint press conference with
Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
While reviewing the situation in India's neighbourhood
and developments in Europe, Singh said EU and India were
united in their view that the success of the international
community's efforts in Afghanistan was critical for the people
of the war-torn country as well as for the stability and
security of India and Europe.
"Be it London, Mumbai or Madird, terrorism knows no
borders. There is a need for a common response," Rompuy said.
The joint declaration also condemned terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever
and for whatever purpose.
It also encouraged all countries to deny safe havens
to terrorists and to dismantle terror infrastructre on the
terrorists under their control.
The EU approach to fighting terrorims assumes
significance in the wake of the terror threats also staring
at Europe followign busting of terror plots by Intelligence
agencies.
European political analysts said it is perhaps for the
first time that the EU as a bloc has come out strongly against
Pakistan on terrorism and the need for it do more.

The two sides also reiterated their common interest in
a stable, peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan free from
terrorism, as well as their support to the Kabul Process
building upon broad international partnership towards further
Afghan responsibility and ownership in security, governance
and development.
India and the EU also underlined the need for more
effective regional cooperation for the stabilisation of
Afghanistan and expressed their continued commitment to an
ongoing dialogue to this end.
"The leaders agreed that terrorism must be combated
firmly and expressed concern at the continuing existence of
safe havens, including in the cross border dimension," the
joint statement said.
Acknowledging their respective humanitarian assistance
to Pakistan, the two sides voiced a shared hope for a speedy
recovery after devastating floods and emphasised that a
democratic and prosperous Pakistan was in the interest of the
entire region.
"They called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring all
the perpetrators, authors and accomplices of the Mumbai
attacks to justice," the statement said.
The EU and India also exchanged views on regional
integration and agreed to continue efforts to enhance
cooperation in the context of SAARC and other fora, as well as
between SAARC and EU.
The leaders recognised that closer regional
cooperation is crucial for the development of South Asia.
The EU and India also voiced their firm resolve to
continue working for an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced
post 2012 agreement as soon as possible based on the
principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change.
"In parallel, EU and India are committed to further
develop their bilateral cooperation and policy dialogue in
this field. In particular, EU is ready to cooperate with India
in implementing its National Action Plan on Climate Change,"
the statement said.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to
global and non-discriminatory disarmament and to preventing
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their
delivery systems.
"Leaders pledged closer cooperation aimed at providing
a robust nuclear non-proliferation regime and, in particular,
looked forward to a prompt commencement of negotiations on a
Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on
Disarmament," the statement said.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy
to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and expressed the need
for Iran to take constructive and immediate steps to meet its
obligations to the IAEA and the UN Security Council. PTI GSN
HMI