January 13, 2009
Hyderabad House, New Delhi
Official Spokesperson (Shri Vishnu Prakash): A very good afternoon to you all and welcome to the Joint Press Interaction.
First, the External Affairs Minister of India would be making a statement; next, the Rt. Hon. Foreign Secretary of UK would be making a statement. Sir, the floor is yours.
External Affairs Minister (Shri Pranab Mukherjee): Thank you.
Your Excellency, good afternoon. First of all, let me express my regret that we have kept you waiting because we were deeply engaged in conversation, both myself and Secretary Milliband.
I have had a very useful exchange of views and assessments with British Foreign Secretary Milliband. We have had exhaustive discussions covering bilateral, regional and multilateral affairs. India-UK relationship is unique in its historic depth, its complexity and ability to reinvent itself to meet contemporary needs. Our strategic partnership provides the basis for our multi-faceted interaction. Our strong political and economic ties continue to be the foundation of our partnership. Education, research and innovation are assuming importance in the India-UK engagement.
We spent significant time discussing the menace of terrorism, especially the cross-border terrorism, of which India has been a victim. We devoted attention to the terrorist attacks on Mumbai and the way to bring the perpetrators to justice. We have already shared with the British Government the evidence that has emerged linking the attacks with Pakistan. I stressed the need for concerted international pressure on Pakistan to take firm action.
Thank you and now I leave the floor to His Excellency Foreign Secretary Milliband.
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (Mr. David Milliband): Foreign Minister, friend, Pranab, it is a great privilege to be back in India and to be in India discussing with you big issues of bilateral, regional and international concern. I think that it is important to start by saying that we see India as the success story of this region, the success story politically, economically; the success story that in many ways is a beacon around the world as well as around the region. This is in a spirit of partnership and shared endeavour that I am here today.
When I came to India two years ago, I talked about the relationship between Britain and India now being a partnership of equals. Two years ago that was symbolized by the fact that Indian investment in Britain had overtaken British investment in India.
External Affairs Minister of India: Last year.
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom: But it is a partnership of equals that exists from our Prime Ministers down. And our Prime Ministers worked very closely together when they were Finance Ministers and they have carried on that partnership; and I am delighted that we have been able to take forward our work not just meeting in London, not just talking on the telephone, not just meeting at Commonwealth and other meetings but also having the chance to start our dialogue here.
As you say, we have had an exhaustive dialogue, not yet an exhausting one, an exhaustive dialogue that has focused on what you rightly described as the menace that terrorism has shown itself to be in India over the last couple of months. But, of course, you have also pointed out to me that throughout 2008 Indian society was punctuated by a series of terrorist attacks of which the Mumbai terror was only the largest example. We are absolutely clear about the origins of this terrorist attack, and also about the responsibilities that exist in Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice. That is something that we have made clear to the Pakistanis directly and will continue to do so.
We also believe strongly that the response of the Indian Government to the Mumbai attacks both in terms of the strengthening of its internal defences but also in the way it has pursued a regional strategy of wisdom and of strength has been exactly the right response. And it is a response that has shown I think a maturity and a determination to tackle the roots of this problem that is wholly correct.
I think that it is also important to stress that there are hundreds of thousands of British citizens of Indian origin and of Pakistani origin who want nothing more than to see these two countries finding a way to live together and they support each other. And that is something that is a message that I want to bring from the British communities both of Indian and of Pakistani origin who continue to follow events in this part of the world extremely closely, as you know.
I think it is also important to say that as we move into the next part of our discussions, we will look beyond the region to some of the international issues that confront policy-makers. Notably in the foreign policy arena they relate to issues of nuclear proliferation, which is a major concern, they relate to issues of international governance where Britain has put itself at the forefront of calls for reform of the United Nations to give greater weight to countries like India.
And, of course, also the economic crisis that is a global crisis and which has precipitated a series of international meetings that will now culminate in London of the so-called G20, which I think has broken the stranglehold that the G8 previously had on economic debate. I know that Prime Minister Brown values very very highly the dialogue that he has been having and he will continue to have with Prime Minister Singh about how to address the economic issues. And we certainly see the G20 Summit in London not just as an opportunity to send the very clear message about coordinated action for growth, for jobs, as well as on the environment, but also to send a message about how the world needs to govern itself in the future with full and active Indian participation.
So, I am glad to be here and look forward to further talks today with the Prime Minister and with the Home Affairs Minister as well as taking forward my visit to India into rural India tomorrow and to Mumbai on Thursday.
Thank you very much indeed.
Official Spokesperson: Now the leaders will take two questions from each side. Given the time constraints, I would earnestly request you to restrict yourself to one question to one leader.
Question (Mr. Ajay Kaul, Press Trust of India): My question is addressed to the Foreign Secretary. India has shared evidence about Mumbai attacks with Britain. Do you think it is credible and actionable? Also, do you agree with India’s assessment that official agencies of Pakistan could be involved?
Foreign Secretary: I think that the intelligence sharing in respect of the Mumbai attacks has been two way. We have been very committed to make sure that any British expertise is at the disposal of Indian and Pakistani authorities. In respect of the links back to Pakistan, I think those are clear. I have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were directed by the Pakistani State. And I think it is important to restate that. What is relevant is the approach of the Pakistani State to the LeT organization and the way the Pakistani State takes on the menace of the LeT organization.
Our approach to the Government of Pakistan has and will continue to be that it is clear where responsibility lies for the Mumbai attacks, with the LeT. It is, therefore, secondarily clear that the Pakistani Government and the whole of the Pakistani state apparatus have a primary responsibility, a fundamental responsibility, to tackle the roots of this organization and to develop new strategies for doing so. That is something that I think is very important that we use our links to Pakistan to take forward and that is certainly what we are determined to do.
Question (Ms Alex Crawford, Sky News): Hi, Mr. Milliband! I just wanted to ask a couple of questions. First of all, what are present options if this political strong arming against Pakistan does not yield any results, and so far it does not seem to have? Secondly, do you think the fraud exposed in Satyam Computers has blown a hole in the international confidence in India’s IT sector? And, Mr. Mukherjee, if I could, how happy are you with the international community’s response in the wake of the Mumbai attacks?
Foreign Secretary: Britain has a very strong historical interest, a very strong current cultural interest, and a very strong current geopolitical interest in Pakistan’s political development as a more stable civilian-led democracy, but also its economic development and its security development. And the truth is that Pakistan is vital for the security of India, but also vital for the security of Afghanistan. Our engagement with the still relatively new civilian Government in Pakistan but also with other aspects of other organs of the Pakistani state is dedicated very very clearly to say that the modern threat to Pakistan comes from within its own borders, and comes from the terrorism that has claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, and has led to a series of terrorist incidents in Pakistan and in India as well. And we see the correct approach as being what the Pakistani authorities call a multi-pronged approach, a security approach, a political approach, and an economic approach. That in our view is the correct strategy. But the difficult thing in counterinsurgency is not to write a strategy; the difficult thing in counterinsurgency is to put it into practice. And that is what the Pakistani Government need to do, and that is what they will have our full support in doing. And I believe that it is very very important that all friends of Pakistan and all friends of stability in Pakistan take forward that multi-pronged agenda as clearly as possible, and that is certainly what I am determined to do and what the British Government is determined to do.
Finally, in respect of the recent economic news in India, I do not believe that one bad apple means that the whole barrel is wrong. Quite the opposite, I think India’s economic development has been based on real, sound macroeconomics, on entrepreneurial spirit, and on a zeal for innovation that I think has been a model in many ways to many parts of the world. And I am sure that the Indian authorities will deal with the recent case, today’s case, very clearly and very appropriately and already are doing so. And so, I think it will be quite a wrong lesson to learn that this problem is one that points to a wider contagion that you described. It needs to be addressed on its own merits. And, of course, the Indian laws in respect of corporate governance need to be implemented in a hardheaded and clear way.
External Affairs Minister: So far as the terrorist attack is concerned, yes, we have received overwhelming support from the international community. Every country has its own perception on how to deal with a situation. And we do believe that this is a problem which is to be addressed collectively by the international community so that the perpetrators of terror attacks are brought to justice. Attack on Mumbai by the terrorists need not be looked at through the prism of Indo-Pak relationship. It is a part of the global terrorist activities. Terrorism has no respect for any boundary. They simply believe in violence and destruction. Therefore, it is the biggest menace to the humanity and it is to be confronted.
In respect of the other areas I do agree with Foreign Secretary that Indian economy, basic fundamentals being strong, and that is why it has been possible despite the meltdown impact over the international money and finance to maintain a reasonable growth, even for this year we are expecting to have around seven to seven and a half per cent, because of our high rate of domestic savings, high rate of investments coming from the domestic savings itself. For example, 37 per cent is our rate of investment and our rate of domestic savings is as high as 35 per cent. Therefore, the marginal are coming from the external sources, we have been able to overcome the impact of the meltdown. And in respect of the recent development, appropriate steps will be taken. One need not hit the panic button for that.
Question (Ms Geeta Mohan, Headlines Today): My first question to Foreign Secretary, Mr. Milliband. The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had morphed into JuD. Now, despite a ban the JuD held a rally in Lahore under a new name flouting the UNSC directive. Pakistan has constantly been on a denial mode. As a Permanent Member of the UNSC, how do you propose to counter it? And then my question to Mr. Mukherjee. India wants the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to stand trial in India. But Prime Minister Gilani ruled out this option in a statement two days ago. What can India do now and would India accept anything short of extradition?
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom: I think that the responsibilities of the Pakistani state are something that we look to them to fulfill as strong friends of the people of Pakistan, and also as a member of the UN Security Council. I think that the first priority is to bring the perpetrators of this to justice. Now, in this country you know there is a history of people being arrested and then not being prosecuted or brought to justice. In this case it is essential that those who have been arrested are brought to justice, and if they are found guilty then properly punished. And that is an appropriate response to the evidence that has been presented. There is an important legal system in Pakistan. The legal system showed its independence in 2008 in the campaign it led against the previous Musharraf Government. And I think that the lawyers and justices of Pakistan have shown themselves to be people who act without fear or favour.
And I think it is very very important, therefore, that those who have been arrested are brought to trial on the basis of the evidence that has been accumulated. I also think, however, that there is a more fundamental issue which is about how the Pakistani State like any other country challenged by domestic terrorist organization takes on that terrorist organization. And the fundamental way in which you beat a terrorist organization is to take it on politically. And it needs to be taken on politically by Pakistan’s leaders in a very frontal and clear way because the truth is that the grievances that the LeT organization seeks to play on in no way justify the actions that they have taken. And the political future of Pakistan depends on focusing not on historic rights and wrongs but on current challenges. And those current challenges are domestic, internal Pakistani challenges - economic, social but also political. I think that many people agree that the history of Pakistan where half of its history has been under military rule is one that has been a recipe for the sort of instability that can, if one is not very careful, spread out across the region. And I think it is vital, therefore, that the civilian Government are helped to succeed in an economic and social and political project as well as the security project.
External Affairs Minister: I do hope Pakistan as a member of the international community, is obliged to implement all the international conventions, norms and resolutions adopted by the Security Council to implement anti-terror activities and mechanisms. And also Pakistan as member of SAARC is expected to implement the SAARC Anti Terror Convention and the Protocol of 2004. I do hope the materials which we have provided to Pakistan, evidences which we have given, they will act on it and they will ensure that the perpetrators of this terror act are brought to justice, and some of the fugitives violating Indian laws who have taken shelter in Pakistan will be handed over to India for their proper justice.
Official Spokesperson: I do seek your understanding and once again request you to please restrict yourself to one question to one leader.
Question (Mr Dean Nelson, The Daily Telegraph): I would like to address this question to both Foreign Secretaries. What specifically are we expecting Pakistan to do that they are currently not doing? And are we, by pushing the line on the expectation of criminal charges being brought, expecting them to do more than what we could guarantee in our own countries? We have after all seen a number of terrorism trials collapse before coming to trial in the UK.
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom: As the head of the Security Service explained in London last week, the last couple of years have seen not just significant disruption of terrorist plots in the United Kingdom but also a significant success through the judicial system. And the Pakistani Government have themselves said that they want to prosecute those who have been arrested for the terrible crimes in Mumbai. And I think it is right that they do so. I believe that President Zardari is sincere when he says he wants to tackle the scourge of terrorism in Pakistan. And I think it is vital that the whole of the Pakistani state machine support him in doing that. I also think it is vital that the whole of the Pakistani population recognize that after the bloody years of the last couple of years, terrorism is a threat to Pakistan. Terrorism is not someone else’s war in Pakistan. It is their own battle that they need to face if they are to build the sort of secure and decent society that they need. And, so, I do not think unreasonable demands are being made of Pakistan. Instead I think they are demands that are in Pakistan’s interest and have been articulated by Pakistan’s leaders. That is why I think the maturity and the wisdom, and the strength of the Indian response refusing to lurch into actions that could make the situation worse, has set the right example. And I think it is very important that Pakistan repays that by following through on an agenda for criminal justice that is in the interest of Pakistan as well as in the interest of India.
Official Spokesperson: Thank you very much. The Interaction now draws to a close.
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