Indian PM plugs for action with Pakistan to stem Islamic militants

INDIA: India's prime minister sought public support to tackle terrorism by cooperating with Pakistan, saying such a move would pressure Islamic militants accused in a series of deadly attacks.

Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agreed at talks in Cuba this month to share intelligence on terrorism linked to Islamic militants that has hit India repeatedly in Kashmir and elsewhere.

But critics dismissed the idea of cooperation with Islamabad who they say arms and trains militants to carry out attacks in the disputed state of Kashmir and Singh sought to assure the public the idea was workable.

"The decision to set up the joint mechanism will only test Pakistan on how it fulfills its promise of not allowing territory in its control to be used for terrorism against India," Singh said in this northern Indian summer resort.

"I believe our two countries have to find ways and means to get over the problems, that includes terrorism and for the end of terrorism talks have to take place," he told chief ministers of 14 of India's 29 states which are governed by his ruling Congress party.

"There has been a trust deficit between India and Pakistan and so talks are essential," he said in Nainital, 350 kilometres (217 miles) north of New Delhi.

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attacked the plan, labelling it a "betrayal" of India's interests. Singh, speaking to his provincial chiefs, dismissed the criticism.

"The criticism against setting up of the joint mechanism is not right and there is no change in our approach on terrorism," Singh said.

"Rumours are being spread against the setting up of the joint mechanism," the soft-spoken premier said without naming the BJP, which was ousted from power by the Congress in national elections in 2004.

Nainital, Monday, AFP