India rules out border de-escalation, dialogue with Pakistan

India rules out border de-escalation, dialogue with Pakistan

India said it would only resume a dialogue with Pakistan once Islamabad had taken concrete measures to curb what New Delhi alleges to be its funding and training of terrorist groups operating in India.

"India is prepared to resume the dialogue process with Pakistan, provided Islamabad satisfies us that it has indeed taken effective steps to end the training, equipping and financing of the terrorists," President K.R. Narayanan said in a speech to a joint session of the Indian parliament on Monday.

The speech outlined the government's policies on the opening day of the budget session of parliament.

India and Pakistan have massed an estimated 800,000 troops on their common border since military tensions escalated in the wake of a December attack on the Indian parliament, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant groups.

Despite a landmark speech by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf last month in which he banned five militant groups and instigated a crackdown that led to the arrest of around 2,000 alleged religious extremists, India has insisted that Pakistan has not done enough to warrant a de-escalation at the border.

"The necessary level of military strength and military preparedness will be maintained to deter any aggression," Narayanan said.

"The fight against terrorism has to be global and comprehensive. It should target not only the terrorists but also those who sponsor, finance, support or shelter them."

Refering to repeated Pakistani invitations for talks, Narayanan stressed that "terrorism and dialogue" cannot go together.

"Recent history is witness to the fact that, whereas India has always been ready for meaningful and fruitful talks with Pakistan, it is Pakistan that has ensured their failure with its acts of betrayal," he added.

The president also demanded that Islamabad hand over the people on an Indian list of 20 alleged criminals and terrorists that New Delhi says are sheltering in Pakistan.

"Positive action by Islamabad on these demands is the test of its sincerity to end its hostility against India and to pave the way for discussing all outstanding issues," he said.

New Delhi has long accused Pakistan of fomenting armed insurgencies in India, particularly the divided Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

Pakistan denies the charge but extends open moral and diplomatic support to what it views as the Kashmiris' just struggle for self-determination.

Narayanan also congratulated India's defence scientists on the successful test last month of a new shorter-range version of its nuclear-capable Agni missile -- designed specifically with Pakistan in mind.

"Coupled with other missiles which we have already tested, this will strengthen India's defence against any military adventures aimed at us," he said.