Take evidence of Pakistan links to United Nations, CPM tells Centre

With evidence of Pakistani links to the audacious Mumbai terror attacks coming to light, the CPI(M) wants the UPA Government to internationalise India's diplomatic offensive against Islamabad by taking the proof to the United Nations Security Council.

The extraordinary step, the party feels, will help mount international pressure on the Pakistani government to crackdown on terrorist elements operating from that country. Also, it is of the view that the killing of foreign nationals in India by terrorists has international implications.

In detail, the CPI(M) wants the Government to utilise the post-9/11 UNSC resolution against terrorism (1373) that puts it in black and white that all countries have obligations to take steps against terrorist activities and to deny "safe havens to those who finance, plan, support, or commit terrorist acts".

"If we have that kind of evidence against Pakistan, why should we shy away from utilising an international resolution which could help us," asks CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat. Once taken the matter to the UNSC, the party says the world body can decide on the measures to be adopted to "identify and curb such terrorist activities".

The CPI(M) says the resolution adopted by the UNSC days after the September 11 terror attacks in the US can help India like any other country in its fight against terror. "It will help in putting pressure on Pakistan to give up its policy of harbouring terrorists," Karat told The Indian Express.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat also put forward this suggestion at the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister on Sunday, but it was not accepted due to lack of consensus.

Senior CPI(M) leaders point out that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already gone on record to state that elements in Pakistan are appeared to be behind the attacks while reports in the media about investigation also point in that direction.

"Investigating agencies will have to produce whatever evidence they have got so far. If they believe there is a prime facie evidence to suggest the role of elements in Pakistan in the attacks, they should make it available to the international community and corner Islamabad," a senior leader said.