ISLAMABAD: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satyabarata Pal Wednesday ruled out any possibility of military action against Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks. He conveyed this message of Indian PM Manmohan Sigh during a meeting with ANP Chief and Chairman National Assembly Committee for Foreign Affairs, Asfandyar Wali Khan here at Pukhtoonkhwa House (former Frontier House), said a press release issued here. He said that the Indian army had remained in their peace position and no troops movement towards the Indian-Pakistani border or LoC was being contemplated. He also recalled the Indian troops’ movement in the year 2002 in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in the Indian Parliament and said, “ it is not the case now.” Pal said that the Indian government was satisfied from day one that the civil government in Pakistan was not involved in the attacks. He, however, emphasised mutual cooperation to fight terrorism in the region as both the countries were equally suffering. He also emphatically denied any threatening call against Pakistan having been made from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India. He said that during the past 61 years never a call has been made by any Indian minister to the President or Prime Minister of Pakistan, which would otherwise be against the norms of protocol. The India High Commissioner requested Asfandyar Wali Khan to personally convey this message to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. Earlier, the Indian High Commissioner along with the High Commission Counselor called on Asfandyar Wali Khan to enquire about his health and expressed relief on his narrow escape in a suicide attack at Wali Bagh. He expressed condolences on the tragic killing of innocent persons including the personal servant Yar Zamin Khan and sympathized with their families. Central Additional Secretary General of ANP, Hasham Baber and Central Information Secretary Zahid Khan were also present in the meeting. Both sides discussed the prevailing disturbed situation in the region and agreed that certain elements were bent upon derailing the peace process and rapprochement between India and Pakistan. Asfandyar Wali Khan said that two generations of both sides of the divide have been indoctrinated to consider each other as enemies. Those apprehensions are so deep rooted that the smallest act of terrorism can cause to reverse the process of friendship to square one, he added.
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