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December 14, 2008

Indian PM Wants 'Normalized' Relations With Pakistan
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2103876:A6F02AD83191E160201B23F4792D4A0630EB2FA2E66CBB22&
 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes the statement Sunday during an
election rally in Indian Kashmir 
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says he wants what he calls
"normalized" relations with Pakistan, if Pakistan will stop allowing its
territory to be used for terrorist activities against India. Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (file)Mr. Singh made the statement Sunday
during an election rally in Indian Kashmir. Tensions between the two
countries have risen since the Mumbai terror attacks. In Islamabad,
visiting British Prime Minister Gordan Brown pledged nine million
dollars to Pakistan to help fight the causes of terrorism and support
democracy. Mr. Brown visited Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in
Islamabad today after meeting with Mr. Singh in New Delhi this morning.
A British government source says British police may ask Indian officials
for permission to question the lone surviving gunman from the Mumbai
attack that killed 171 people, including at least one British national.
The source also said British police may wish to interview militants held
in Pakistan who may be linked to last month's attack. Mr. Brown said he
backs India's claims that the Pakistani-based terrorist organization
Lashkar-e-Taiba is responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Earlier Sunday,
Indian air force officials denied allegations by Pakistani officials
that Indian fighter planes "inadvertently" violated Pakistan's airspace.
A Pakistani air force spokesman said one violation took place on
Saturday over the Pakistan-controlled section of Kashmir and the other
over the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. Lashkar-e-Taiba has strong
ties in both areas. On Saturday Pakistani officials reiterated their
calls for India to provide evidence that Pakistan-based elements were
involved in the Mumbai attacks that killed 171 people. In an interview
with Indian media, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India
would disclose whatever information it had once the investigation is
complete. Islamabad denies any involvement in the three-day assault on
Mumbai that began !
 November 26.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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