India unsure if Zardari can deliver on anti-terror pledge

INT52International/Diplomacy/Terrorism/Indo-pakIndia unsure if Zardari can deliver on anti-terror pledgeBy Manish ChandOn Board PM's Special Aircraft, Sep 28 IANS Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari may be keen on improving ties with India, but New Delhi is not sure whether he can deliver on his anti-terror pledge. The joint statement at the end of talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Zardari in New York Wednesday re-committed Pakistan to honour its Jan 6, 2004 pledge not to allow terror attacks against India from its soil. Official sources Sunday said the joint statement was "a major step forward" from India's point of view in which Zardari was ready to comment in public on cross-border terrorism. The president is committed but it remains to be seen whether he will implement the anti-terror measures, the sources added. Pakistan's resolve to jointly fight terrorism along with India was music to New Delhi's ears, the sources said.Pakistan was a major talking point when US President George W. Bush met Manmohan Singh in Washington Thursday. The two leaders agreed on the need for stability in Pakistan and shared the perception that as Zardari was barely 14 days in his presidency they could not be sure whether he will be able to deliver on his promises.“Zardari himself has said he is only a 14-day president. Therefore, India was not anxious to put him on the dock on terrorism issues,” one of the sources said.India and Pakistan will hold a special meeting of their joint-terror mechanism to address New Delhi's suspicion about the alleged involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence ISI in the July 7 attack on the Indian mission in Kabul.--Indo-Asian News Servicemc/am/vm293 Words*28092046