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‘India could snap ties with Pakistan over probe’

* Home Minister Chidambaram threatens to ‘isolate’ Islamabad from rest of world

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: India plans to break off business, transport and tourist links with Pakistan and ‘isolate it from the rest of the world’ if it fails to help investigate the Mumbai terror attacks, Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram told The Times on Monday.

In an interview that is likely to add to tensions between the South Asian rivals, Chidambaram accused Pakistan of doing ‘nothing’ to assist India bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks.

Asked what Pakistan was doing to help with the investigation, Chidambaram told The Times, “Zero ... what have they provided? Nothing.”

The minister – who will brief British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Miliband on the investigation’s progress when the British official arrives in Delhi today (Tuesday) – gave an indication of action that would be taken if Pakistan ‘continues to refuse’ to investigate the attacks.

“There are many, many links between India and Pakistan, and if Pakistan does not cooperate and does not help to bring the perpetrators to heel, those ties will become weaker and weaker and one day snap,” he said.

“Why would we entertain Pakistani business people? Why would we entertain tourists in India? Why would we send tourists there?”

Chidambaram refused to discuss when such a move might be made, but said, “We need cooperation soon.”

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