Monmohan defends decision not to retaliate militarily following Mumbai attack

NEW YORK - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan sign has described as "right" his decision not to retaliate against Pakistan militarily in the wake of the Mumbai attack, but said he could not speculate about how India would react if a similar incident took place in future.
"There was enormous pressure on me at that time. I resisted that pressure. On balance, I believe now it was the right decision," he said in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor published in its Wednesday's edition.
"As for the future", Singh added, "I hate to speculate. I sincerely hope that sort of eventuality does not materialize. That is why the world community has an obligation to impress upon Pakistan that it must do more. It has done some things to control the activities of these Taliban-type terrorist groups in the FATA. But it is our sincere belief that it has not acted as it should have acted in dealing with terrorist elements who are using their energies to target our country.
"Nor has Pakistan brought to book all those who perpetrated the horrible crime in Mumbai, where 2,000 Indian citizens, six Americans, and many others died. There is now impeccable evidence the conspiracy was planned in Pakistan. It was executed with the active connivance of people who are still roaming around freely in Pakistan.
"Therefore, I respectfully request the world community to use all its influence on Pakistan to desist from that sort of behaviour".
Here are some questions and their answers by the Indian prime minister:
QUESTION: Is what happens in Afghanistan decisive for Pakistan's future?
SINGH: There is no doubt in my mind that if the Taliban and Al Qaeda group of people succeed in Afghanistan, it would have catastrophic results for the security and stability not only of Pakistan, but for all of South Asia, where 1.8 billion people live.
Also, it will affect the course of evolution in the Middle East, Central Asia, and possibly even beyond these regions.
QUESTION: Do you harbour concerns that Pakistan could fail? If so, what would that mean for the success of India?
SINGH: We don't want Pakistan to fail. The emergence of democracy in Pakistan is something we welcome. But, at the same time, we have to recognize that if the terrorist groups that until now were only active in the federally administered areas along the border of Afghanistan but are now active elsewhere in the country are not controlled, there will be consequences for the stability and security of Pakistan. And for our own security.
Manmohan Singh also told a news conference on Wednesday he was assured that U.S. influence on Pakistan would help prod Islamabad to crack down on militants who target India.
Singh said his talks with President Barack Obama on Tuesday produced agreements that the two powers would work together on a number of issues including counter-terrorism.
"I'll go back to India convinced that India and the United States can and will do lots of things together to strengthen our strategic partnership in economics, in trade, in climate change, in energy, in counter-terrorism and all related activities," he told a news conference.
Asked whether he had persuaded the United States to use its clout with its ally Pakistan to crack down on Islamic militants who direct attacks at India, Singh said "I have been assured that U.S. influence will work in (that) direction."
The Indian leader's four-day visit to Washington aimed at boosting ties with the United States ended on the eve of the anniversary of last year's attack on the Indian city of Mumbai which killed 166 people.
Singh said in a statement to bereaved families of the attack that India "will not rest until we've brought the perpetrators of this horrible crime to justice."