Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) India Thursday reiterated that there has been no dilution on its position of getting justice for victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack despite resumption of the dialogue with Pakistan.

“Clearly, there is no dilution of our position in this regard,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here in response to questions on the plea taken by Tahawwur Hussain Rana in a US Court.

Both David Headley and Rana, in their testimony to US interrogators, have accepted working on behest of the ISI and the Pakistani government, as per their court testimony.

“It is our expectation that all those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attack will be brought to justice expeditiously. This position is shared by the international community at large, particularly those countries whose nationals were killed during this horrific attack,” said Prakash.

He added that the government had embarked on a dialogue process with Pakistan with the aim of normalising relations. “This dialogue will naturally seek to address our terrorism related concerns, particularly with respect to the Mumbai terrorist attack,” said Prakash.

The ministry’s statement came a day after External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said the two issues of talks and terrorism were different.

“Peace talks will go on, cricket matches will go on and simultaneously our relentless efforts will continue to bring to justice all those responsible for the heinous crime against India in Mumbai. These are two different aspects,” Krishna told reporters Wednesday.

He said Rana and Headley’s confession will be taken up with the Pakistan government.

“We will certainly take it up. We are in constant touch with the Pakistan government through our diplomatic channels,” he said.

The ties between the two South Asian neighbours have been going through a thaw, with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani, even watching the World Cup semi-final together between the cricket teams of two countries last month.

Both countries have also resumed the dialogue process on various sectors from March, after India suspended composite dialogue after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that left 166 people dead.