ISI itself a non-state actor: Advani

Responding, without mincing words, to the Pakistani President Zardari’s callous remark that Mumbai terror attack was executed by “non-state actors” operating from the Pakistan soil, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani said that ISI itself is a non-state actor as it is not under the control of elected government of Pakistan and is answerable only to the Pakistan Army.

Advani, who was addressing the Lok Sabha after Home Minister P Chidamabaram on Thursday, said that such dastardly attacks were not a sudden attack but were part of a bigger conspiracy, executed with extensive research and proper training.

Expressing firm solidarity with the government on the question of tackling terror, Advani said that entire opposition stands united with the government on this grave issue and assured the UPA that NDA will back government’s every decision in rooting out terrorism.

The BJP prime ministerial candidate commended government for its hard line stances against Pakistan and categorically stating Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) responsible for launching terror strikes in India’s financial capital.

He, though, advised government to continue pressure upon Pakistan diplomatically rather than relying on United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating Kashmir issue, as it would hardly serve any purpose in this matter.

He also expressed dissatisfaction by the recent actions taken by Pakistan against the terror outfit and its associated members there, saying “We should not be fooled by the crackdown operation of Pakistan against terrorist groups.”

“It is not just terror, it is cross border terrorism, which Pakistan's former president General Pervez Musharraf refused to accept during (the 2001) Agra summit. Instead, he termed the terrorism in Kashmir as the fight for liberation,” Advani said and added now the world has accepted what India has been saying for long that the “epicenter of terrorism” against India is in Pakistan.

Advani’s remark came just after Home Minister P Chidambaram assured the House that various steps, including reinforcing laws and setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency, would be taken to insulate the country from recurrence of terror strikes. A bill to this effect will be introduced in the current session of Parliament along with a set of bills to strengthen other legal provisions relating to prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of terrorist acts, he added.

Chidambaram also said that 20 counter insurgency and anti-terror schools would be set up for training of commandos and units of state police forces. In order to make 7,500 km long coastal areas secure, a Coastal Command would be set up besides creating NSG hubs in internal parts of the country.

Chidambaram said that India has acted in restrain as of now following terrorist attacks and pledged to take all possible actions as New Delhi deems fit to defend its people and territory.