Click to Expand & PlayNew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he is glad that the world is now realising the truth behind Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence. The PM, on board his special aircraft while returning to India from US, added that India had long ago exposed the ISI's terror activities.
"There is now growing awareness of the groups which indulge in these nefarious activities and we have to take notice of that," the PM said when asked about US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen remarks accusing the ISI of helping the Haqqani network. Mr Mullen had recently asserted that the ISI has trained the Haqqani network, the deadliest terror group in Afghanistan and the one that is said to have carried out several recent attacks on US targets in Kabul, including the attack on the US embassy on September 13.
"What General Mullen has said with regard to the role of certain forces in Pakistan, is also something which is nothing new to us. In fact when we were the first to flag this issue earlier, the world didn't believe us," the PM added. He said he was "glad that at least the world recognizes the truth of what the government and the people of India had been saying about the activities of ISI for many, many years."
Pakistan, however, rejects these allegations saying they are "not based on facts". In her speech at the UN General Assembly, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said yesterday that the ISI has been at the forefront of operations against terrorist organisations like the Al Qaeda.
"Given the volatility of the situation, it is perhaps understandable that there is a high level of anxiety and emotions. But we must not lose sight of the goals. We must work closely and as responsible partners together in a cooperative manner and not rush to judgments or question each other's intentions," she said.
Ms Khar also said that India and Pakistan are engaged in a "substantive dialogue process" that Islamabad hopes will be "uninterrupted and uninterruptable" as it looks forward to resolve all outstanding issues.
"There is now growing awareness of the groups which indulge in these nefarious activities and we have to take notice of that," the PM said when asked about US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen remarks accusing the ISI of helping the Haqqani network. Mr Mullen had recently asserted that the ISI has trained the Haqqani network, the deadliest terror group in Afghanistan and the one that is said to have carried out several recent attacks on US targets in Kabul, including the attack on the US embassy on September 13.
"What General Mullen has said with regard to the role of certain forces in Pakistan, is also something which is nothing new to us. In fact when we were the first to flag this issue earlier, the world didn't believe us," the PM added. He said he was "glad that at least the world recognizes the truth of what the government and the people of India had been saying about the activities of ISI for many, many years."
Pakistan, however, rejects these allegations saying they are "not based on facts". In her speech at the UN General Assembly, Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said yesterday that the ISI has been at the forefront of operations against terrorist organisations like the Al Qaeda.
"Given the volatility of the situation, it is perhaps understandable that there is a high level of anxiety and emotions. But we must not lose sight of the goals. We must work closely and as responsible partners together in a cooperative manner and not rush to judgments or question each other's intentions," she said.
Ms Khar also said that India and Pakistan are engaged in a "substantive dialogue process" that Islamabad hopes will be "uninterrupted and uninterruptable" as it looks forward to resolve all outstanding issues.
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