Thursday, April 14 2005 19:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh: Two days before President Pervez Musharraf's visit to India, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Apr 14, 2005) charged Pakistan with having "double standards" on terrorism and said that terror infrastructure in that country was still intact despite the thaw in bilateral ties.

"Pakistan is having double standards on terrorism, as on one side it is saying something else and on the other it is abetting terrorism in the name of religion in J and K," Mukherjee said in Chandigarh.

Crediting the security forces for the decline in infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, he, however, said that a large number of terrorists were still present at "launching pads" waiting for an opportunity to cross over.

"Infiltration attempts are still on and the terrorists are being given special training to negotiate the border fence," he said, speaking at a seminar on "Peace Perspectives In South and South East Asia - Challenges and Opportunities", at the Punjab University in Chandigarh.

Casting aspersions on the role played by Pakistan in countering terrorism, he said, "Double standards on terrorism cannot be fruitful." Mukherjee, however, said that the ongoing composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan has brightened the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

Musharraf arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit on April 16 when he will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders. He is scheduled to watch the one -day cricket match between India and Pakistan the next day.

Mukherjee said that there was a need to have political courage and statesmanship within the region to grasp new challenges as well as opportunities for peace and development in the sub-continent.

India and Pakistan recognise the importance of a sustained bilateral engagement that would involve both bilateral cooperation and conflict resolution, he said adding terrorism was an area wherein much needs to be done between India and Pakistan.

On bilateral economic cooperation, the Defence Minister said, "Pakistan holds back on beneficial economic regionalism, citing the importance of settling the question of Jammu and Kashmir first."

"There is a growing recognition worldwide that India is a power to reckon with in South Asia. South Asia could emerge as a peaceful region only through strong and firm Indian policies," he said.

Expressing concern over terrorism in South and East Asia, Mukherjee said that New Delhi looks ahead to greater cooperation with South East Asian countries on topics like maritime counter-terrorism, ideological information networking and empirical analysis - both at the Government and other levels.

Asserting that India was not in an arms race with Pakistan, he said that the "modernisation of our military was not Pakistan specific".

He said that the recent US offer to India regarding purchase of F-16 planes had to be handled in a manner keeping in mind the fact that the country has a global role to play.

The purchase of fighter planes from the US is "under consideration", he added.