India says wounds of 26-11 not healed as yet

New Delhi, April 06, 2011 (PPI): Though it has re-engaged with Pakistan on wide range of issues that need to be addressed, India says wounds of Mumbai terror attack have not healed as yet and stressed on Islamabad taking with “utmost seriousness” its request for voice samples of the 26/11 accused.

“Yes and no. I think my answer would bridge both these concepts. The wounds of 26/11 have not healed as yet. I think we would do wrong to the people who lost their lives and families that continue to grieve as a result of what happened so tragically in Mumbai, if we were to say that 26/11 is behind us,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Wednesday when asked if wounds of 26/11 have healed or is it India’s position that the time has come to move on.

“There is an ongoing trial in Pakistan; there are questions still to be answered; there is evidence to be scrutinized; there is need for agencies in both countries to cooperate better. Indian home secretary and interior secretary of Pakistan just had a good positive meeting. So, we are trying to build on that.

“Obviously wounds of 26/11 will not heal easily. I think there is sentiment in this country in India and there is grief still which has not died. Let me put it this way. Our grief cannot die when it comes to 26/11,” she told Karan Thapar in interview for TV channel. “The yes side is that.... we have to engage with each other across a wide range of issues that need to be addressed,” Rao said.

On India’s request for voice samples of 26/11 accused, she said, “We do not want them to fob us off obviously on this. We are very serious about this matter. When home secretary met his counterpart this was reiterated. When our home minister was in Pakistan last June and when he spoke to Rahman Malik this point was emphasized. So, we would like Pakistan to treat this with utmost seriousness.”