India has all options open, says Pranab

Making it clear that Pakistan cannot escape its commitments on ending terrorism, India today said it has kept all options open to make Islamabad do so but refused to specify if military action was being considered.

"We expect Pakistan to do whatever it has committed. We want it to fulfill its promises, fulfill its commitments as a
responsible nation of the international community," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

"No responsible nation can escape its commitment," he said after inaugurating a conference of Indian Ambassadors and
High Commissioners convened to apprise them about the current stand-off with Pakistan and other issues.

Pointing out that India is obliged to pursue its objective of making Pakistan act as people have been killed and properties destroyed, Mukherjee said "we have not closed any options."

On whether military action could be one of the options, he shot back saying, "If you ask about military conflict,
nobody will say about it in the media. There is a particular situation. We have kept our options open.

"Asking questions about military action does not serve my interest or your interest."

Pranab tells Pak: don't talk, act against terror

India is considering all options against Pakistan to make it act against perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.

"Pakistan has been contradicting its statements. Enough evidence has been given to Pakistan. Pakistan must cooperate and not contradict us. Mere talk is not enough. Pakistan has to act," said Mukherjee at a business chamber conference in Kolkata.

"Instead of contradiction and denial, they will have to take action," said Mukherjee. This is the third time in the past one week that Mukherjee has faulted Pakistan for allegedly failing to act against terrorist groups operating in its territory against India.

On Saturday, Mukherjee doubted whether Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was in control of his country. "The pretence of democracy is not equivalent to democratisation. We do not believe that it is for us to advocate how other countries should be governed but we most certainly like to know whom we should deal with vis-à-vis another government. In other words who runs the show?" said Mukherjee.

Earlier on Friday, Mukherjee said in Gangtok that India was keeping all options open to defend itself. "Terrorism remains a scourge for our region. If a country cannot keep the assurances that it has given, then it obliges us to consider the entire range of options that exist to protect our interests and people from this menace," he said.

Pakistan, under intense international pressure, has moved against the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba, which allegedly trained the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai, and its front Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

The Pakistan government says 53 people are in custody, including Lashkar's leader, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, and two men accused by India of being key plotters of the Mumbai carnage.

India alleges the crackdown is cosmetic and the two groups can easily operate by changing their names and addresses.

Pranab slams Pakistan, asks who runs the show

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has slammed the Pakistani government's attitude on cracking down on terror organisations following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Mukherjee also questioned Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's control over the country and described captured Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab's confession as damning.

"One of the terrorist who has been captured alive has given us a chilling account of his handlers. A few months earlier the Indian Embassy in Kabul was the target of a terrorist attack. The impunity with which these attacks are carried out is possible only because of the safety the handlers have been assured," said Mukherjee.

"Mumbai attacks were not accidental or unintended. It was a cold and calculated move. Kasab has given a chilling account," the External Affairs Minister said.

Slammed the Pakistani government, Mukherjee alleged that other forces were pulling the strings in the government.