Hyderabad: Terming as "very disappointing" Pakistan's response to India's fresh peace initiative, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (November 2) said there was "no evidence of sincerity' on the part of Islamabad in stopping cross-border terrorism.

"Our confidence-building measures aimed at improving people-to-people relations will be purposeful only if infiltration from across the border and the killing of innocents are stopped," Advani told reporters after reviewing the passing-out parade of the 55th batch of IPS (Indian Police Service) probationers at National Police Academy (NPA) near Hyderabad.

Pointing out that infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) was still continuing despite the hand of friendship extended by New Delhi, he said there were as many 28 attempts of infiltration in September alone and all of them were thwarted by security forces who eliminated over 200 terrorists during the period, an "all-time high" in one month. He reminded the neighbouring country of its responsibility to hand over 20 criminals named by India for their involvement in terrorist activities.

"Now that the United States Government has declared Dawood Ibrahim as an international terrorist carrying out terrorist activities in India and working in conjunction with al-Qaeda, it is high time that Pakistan handed them over to India to enable the law to take its own course," the DPM said.

Referring to the recent 12-point peace initiative unveiled by India as part of confidence-building measures to strengthen people-to-people contacts, Advani said, "Pakistan's response is very disappointing. We are concerned that there is no evidence of sincerity (on the part of Islamabad) in wanting to stop cross-border terrorism. I am very sorry to say that it (Pakistan) is not forthcoming."

"It appears Pakistan has no intentions of making peace," he said.

The DPM made it clear that India was determined to "defeat cross-border terrorism at any cost" even while continuing confidence-building measures in the interests of the people of both the countries.

Stating that New Delhi had, on its part, undertaken a series of confidence-building measures in the interests of the people of both the countries, he urged the Pakistani Government to "respond to the Prime Minister's appeal".

Recalling that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had, during his visit to Srinagar in April last, offered the hand of friendship and declared India's willingness to discuss with Pakistan all contentious issues including Kashmir, Advani said, "Such discussions will be purposeful only when there is a conducive climate... only if the killing of innocents ends and infiltration stops."

PTI