India warns Pak against backtracking on pledges

India today warned Pakistan against backtracking on its pledges to permanently end infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir saying Islamabad "must deliver" to reduce current tension even as the U S rejected President Pervez Musharraf's claim that he had given no no such assurances to it.

Accusing Pakistan of resorting to "verbal calisthenics", New Delhi made it clear that if Musharraf reneges on his pledge to permanently end cross-border terrorism, it would have to take a "closer look" at what needs to be done.

India expects "action" on the commitments made by Musharraf to end terrorism, stop infiltration and dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism in that country, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao told reporters here.

"It has been conveyed to us (by Washington) in categorical terms that commitments about permanently ending infiltration of terrorism across the Line of Control (LoC) have repeatedly been given by General Musharraf," she said responding to questions on remarks made by the military ruler to BBC and 'Newsweek'.

"These are commitments on which Pakistan must deliver if we are to see lasting peace and stability in our region and if we are to see reduction in tensions," she said.

A US Embassy spokesman here brushed aside Musharraf's claim and said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage "was given assurances by President Musharraf on June six that ending of infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) would be permament".

New Delhi, June 24, 2002 (PTI)