"David Headley has only allayed our worst fears and whatever is being said at Chicago only confirms our suspicion," commented an official who is accompanying Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Addis Ababa.
"We had always maintained that terror outfits have been working closely with the Inter-Services Intelligence and the David Headley testimony only clarifies our stand. There has been a sustained hate campaign against India in Pakistan, and this testimony will give Pakistan a lot to answer. Rest assured, this time it is serious and cannot be brushed under the carpet," the official added.
"We have been closely assessing the Headley issue and have taken note of it. Pakistan needs to come clean this time. They have to be answerable this time around since many names have come out this time," he said.
"The talks with Pakistan are on two different aspects. We want to be good neighbours. But Pakistan should be serious about combating terrorism emerging out of its soil. Pakistan needs to realise that hate campaigns against India is not helping it," he said.
"The situation in Pakistan is very fragile and their stability is at stake. India really hopes that wisdom prevails, and they wake up to the harsh reality. It would be necessary for them to act in their own interest as well, and despite umpteen reminders the Pakistan continues to be used for launching attacks," he said.
"These issues will be taken up when the next round of talks with Pakistan," the official pointed out.
"Despite all our differences, we don't want Pakistan to disintegrate. We wish that Pakistan gets its act together and focuses on development. India really wishes that Pakistan becomes stable, since it is in the interest of the overall stability in the region," he added.
On the ongoing 26/11 trial in Pakistan, the official said that India is putting pressure on Pakistan on this aspect.
"Their investigation is incomplete and going at an extremely slow pace. It looks as though it will take years to complete. The purpose of justice should not be defeated," the official said.
On India's most wanted error list, the official was noncommittal in his reply, but said, "We have sent many lists and we hope that Pakistan takes them seriously."
He said that during the forthcoming talks with the United States scheduled for July, all bilateral issues concerning US and India will be discussed. "Issues pertaining to our neighbours will also be taken up," he added.
The Kritika Biswas issue, said that India would surely take up the issue.
"We had expressed our anguish when she was arrested. We find it intriguing that she was arrested on the basis of a mere complaint. Moreover, the student who confessed to the crime was just asked to join another school," he said.
"Why was there no real action taken against the actual culprit? It is extremely disturbing when an India is treated poorly. These are nothing but double standards," the official said.
