Pak asks India to provide info on fresh terror threat

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Aug 18 (PTI) Pakistan Tuesday said it
cannot take "lightly" India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
remarks about terror groups based in this country planning
fresh attacks on India and is awaiting New Delhi's response to
its request for sharing information in this regard.

"If the (Indian) Prime Minister says something like
this, we can't take it lightly," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi told reporters on the sidelines of an official
function here.

"If there is such information with (India), share it
with the government of Pakistan so that we can pre-empt such
an act," he said in response to a question about Singh's
comments that India had "credible information" of plans by
terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks.

"We have conveyed this to them and let's see what is
their response," he added.

Qureshi said any credible information on terror
threats available with India should be shared with Pakistan
because the Prime Ministers of the two countries had decided
during their meeting in Egypt last month that both sides "must
cooperate with each other" to fight terrorism.

"For such cooperation, we need to share information
speedily and in time," he said.

The Foreign Office Monday conveyed to India's acting
Deputy High Commissioner that New Delhi should share any
information it has about possible terror threats.

"We have taken serious notice of (Singh's comments)
and we want to cooperate with India," Qureshi said.

Pakistan has condemned terrorism at all forums and
wants peace and stability in the region and friendly relations
with all neighbours, he added.

Asked about Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna's comments that any transfer of US drone technology to
Pakistan would affect regional security, Qureshi said, "I have
seen Krishna's remarks and I was surprised that he has
expressed such concerns without cause.

"Pakistan does not have any aggressive designs. On the
other hand, India has increased defence spending and its
arsenal and conventional strength. Pakistan has not criticised
this. What Pakistan needs is our right," he said.

Replying to another question about alleged Indian
involvement in fomenting unrest in Balochistan province,
Qureshi said diplomatic channels are available to both
countries to address this issue.

"I think these diplomatic channels should be used. The
media cannot resolve an issue between two countries," he said.
PTI RHL