Himalayan News Service

New Delhi, February 25:

Despite the ongoing peace moves, Pakistan has not dismantled the terror infrastructure that is responsible for a raging insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, President APJ Abdul Kalam said today.

In his address to parliament on the first day of the budget session, Kalam said the process of normalisation of ties was critically dependent on Pakistan fulfilling its assurance that it would end its support to terrorist activities. “The infrastructure of terrorism has not been dismantled across the border,” he said. “Cross-border terrorism remains a potential threat both in our west and east, even though there has been a decline in the number of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months.” Kalam said India’s relations with Pakistan were of utmost importance in the endeavour to create a neighbourhood of peace, stability and prosperity. “In proposing a range of steps, including confidence building measures that may be taken in the near term, leading up to longer term economic cooperation, we are responding to the desire of our peoples. However, the process of normalisation is critically dependent on Pakistan fulfilling its assurance that it would end its support to terrorist activities.” Stating that New Delhi was engaged in a serious dialogue with Pakistan, he said in proposing a range of peace measures, India was responding to the desire of the people of the two countries.

The president described the proposed bus link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad as a significant step forward in India-Pakistan relations.

India ready with Brahmos

NEW DELHI:

India is ready to arm its defence forces with supersonic cruise missiles that it jointly developed with Russia, President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Friday. The Brahmos missile “has been successfully tested and is ready for induction,” Kalam told Parliament. He did not say when or how many of the missiles would be introduced to the military. — AP