Pak Gave Commitment In War On Terror: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the joint mechanism must inspire confidence in both countries and if it does not work "then we have to deal with consequences". he also maintained that Pakistan has given explicit commitment to join India in the fight against terrorism.

The PM also said that Pakistan had realised that things cannot be business as usual if terrorism was not under control and during his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf in Havana, the latter denied Pakistan's hand in perpetuating terror in India.

Musharraf also promised to "work together in future" which was the best India could get under the circumstances, Singh said.

"We have now agreed on a new mechanism to deal with terrorism. The explicit mention that both countries condemn this scourge and will work together, I do think it is a new beginning.

"I hope it works. But, if it does not work then also we have to deal with consequences," the Prime Minister told journalists accompanying him en route home from Havana.

He said the mechanism, which was yet to be worked out and put in place, "must be credible, inspire confidence in both the countries and, therefore, we will have to look at the mechanics of the move with due care."

"Well, it is quite obvious to Pakistan that things cannot be business as usual if terrorism is not under control or if the government of Pakistan is seen not to be willing to work with us to control terrorism. I welcome that commitment as explicitly as it could be stated and reiterated in the statement we have issued.

"Gen Musharraf has assured me that Pakistan has no hand in perpetuating this. He did not go into the past. He said whatever has happened in the past, let's work together in the future and I believe, this is the best that we could get in the circumstances," the Prime Minister said.

"There is an explicit commitment on the part of Pakistan to say that they will go with us to do all that in their control to control the scourge."