The killing of Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden near Islamabad is further evidence that terrorists find “sanctuary” in Pakistan, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday.
“We take note with grave concern that part of the statement in which President Obama said that the firefight in which Osama bin Laden was killed took place in Abbottabad ‘deep inside Pakistan’,” Chidambaram said in a statement.
“This fact underlines our concern that terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan,” he said.
Reiterating India’s belief that perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks — blamed on Pakistan-based militants — continue to be sheltered in Pakistan, the minister urged Islamabad to arrest suspects identified by Indian intelligence.
India has long accused Pakistan of providing shelter and logistical support to militant groups planning attacks on Indian soil.
Following the 2008 assault, in which 10 militant gunmen attacked multiple targets in Mumbai, killing 166 people, India suspended peace talks with its long-time South Asian rival.
That dialogue was recently resumed, but India has continued to criticise Pakistan for not doing enough to bring the organisers of the attacks to justice.
Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought three wars since attaining independence in 1947, two over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said the death of bin Laden was an “historic development and victorious milestone,” and, in another clear reference to Pakistan, stressed the need to root out militant safe havens in South Asia.
“Over the years, thousands of innocent lives of men, women and children have been tragically lost at the hands of terrorist groups.
“The world must not let down its united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighbourhood. The struggle must continue unabated,” Krishna said.
