January 09, 2002
Washington, DC


TONY SNOW, HOST, FOX NEWS SUNDAY: Now, this is obviously the important part for U.S.-Indian relations. The United States has said "We're waging war on terror." Your defense minister, George Fernandes (ph), has said he thought, as you did, when the war on terror began with the United States that the United States would be the superb ally, but he has been disappointed in the American response when it comes to the war against terrorist groups operating, in your opinion, out of Pakistan. Do you agree with him?

L.K. ADVANI, INDIA HOME MINISTER: From my talks today with various leaders, including Secretary of State Mr. Powell, Attorney General Mr. Ashcroft, I would say that I'm still optimistic, still hopeful that what India is doing on its own, namely, various measures at the diplomatic level, and international opinion, particularly the opinion of America, would, hopefully, persuade Pakistan to abandon the present (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

SNOW: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that later this week, he's going to deliver a speech where he outlines steps against terror. You've delivered to him 20 names of people you would like arrested. What steps must he take, in your opinion, to be taken seriously?

ADVANI: These 20 names which we have given to Pakistan, I would think that even if we had not made this demand, it would be the duty of every civilized country to hand over these people to the country where they've committed those crimes. Fourteen of them happen to be Indian nationals. Against 15 of these 20, Interpol has issued red-collar notices. And Pakistan, I believe, is also signatory to the Interpol agreements, and therefore, that should be done anyhow.

What we are aiming at is to see that Pakistan abandons the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. They may have its own views on Jemar (ph) and Kashmir state. I have my own views. We can discuss them. We can try to narrow the differences. But terrorism as an instrument of state policy to inflict on India Pakistan's viewpoint in respect of Jemar and Kashmir is unacceptable.

SNOW: Do you still think the United States ought to declare Pakistan a terrorist state?

ADVANI: That's for the United States to decide. We have demanded it earlier also. And these days, whenever pressure has been put on Pakistan by Washington, it has responded, even in the case of the two organizations who have been responsible for the attack on the Indian parliament.

The first reaction of Pakistan was that this has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) by Indian agencies. And the second reaction was from the minister of foreign affairs of Pakistan. He stated that these two organizations have been named because India wants to defame the freedom struggle going on in Jemar and Kashmir. And from that point to the present position, when they arrested the leaders of these two, ask them about -- mainly, I would think, because of Washington's pressure.

SNOW: So when Secretary Powell comes to the region, what do you expect him to do? And what can he do?

ADVANI: I think that Washington can play a role. After all, it's not merely India and Pakistan, but the president of America has declared so many times that when we are taking action against Taliban, it's not merely a reprisal for what happened on 11th of September but because we believe that terrorism is an evil and it must be rooted out wherever it is. And these statements have created a sense of expectation throughout the world that India's concerns in respect of terrorism would also be addressed.

SNOW: How do you interpret the use of surveillance drones over India in recent days?

ADVANI: Surveillance of?

SNOW: Or drones, Pakistani drones, aircraft that flew over in recent days?

ADVANI: That's been going on for some time. It's nothing major. And there has been tension between the two countries, more particularly because of terrorism. If terrorism is eliminated, then things can move towards normalcy.

SNOW: You talk about a global fight against terror. How important is Israel in that fight?

ADVANI: Israel's problems are its own, and it is surrounded by various countries. And in respect of Palestine, Israel has a problem. But as I mentioned to various representatives of the U.S. government, terrorism insofar as we've seen it on 11th September or on 1st October or on 20th December has a common source, and that common source has described the United States, Israel and India as its three main enemies.

SNOW: You're talking about radical Islam.

ADVANI: I would not calling it Islamic terrorism. I would not because there are many Islamic countries which do not approve of terrorism, as has been pursued by al Qaeda.

SNOW: What would you call it?

ADVANI: I would think that this, at the moment, the two countries which have adopted terrorism as an instrument of state policy are either Taliban or Pakistan, and at one time, both were acting in tandem against us. Today it's one.

SNOW: Do you expect to see U.S.-Indian military operations, joint operations?

ADVANI: We are not thinking in terms of U.S. military operations, no. But I think that Washington can play a major role.

SNOW: Minister, thanks for joining us.

ADVANI: Thank you.