FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned Pakistan today for allowing extremists “safe havens” in its tribal border areas, as he paid tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Sarkozy, in Mumbai on the last day of a four-day visit to India, said it was “unacceptable” that terror networks could find refuge in Pakistan and use it as a springboard to attack India, French troops in Afghanistan or other countries.
“It is unacceptable that India’s security can be threatened by groups of terrorists acting from neighbouring countries,” he said at the Oberoi hotel, one of the luxury hotels besieged by militants in November 2008.
“It is unacceptable for Afghanistan and for our troops that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda find safe haven in the border regions of Pakistan. We know the price that the Pakistani people are paying for terrorism.
“But it is unacceptable for the world that terrorist acts should be masterminded and carried out by terrorist groups in Pakistan.”
“I call on all Pakistani authorities to step up their efforts and show that they are resolute in combating these criminals,” he added, vowing that “there will be no limit to operational co-operation” in counter-terrorism with India.
Sarkozy, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni, earlier placed a wreath at a memorial in the south of the city for 18 police officers who lost their lives in the carnage.
The wave of attacks, which also targeted a Jewish centre, a popular tourist restaurant and the city’s main railway station, killed 166 people in all, including two French nationals, and injured more than 300.
Sarkozy’s visit to Mumbai – which later includes an address to business leaders at an Indo-French industry forum – wraps up a trade-focused visit heavily weighted on nuclear and defence deals.
