Zardari is sincere but it should be backed by actions: Pranab

28 Feb 2009, PTI

NEW DELHI: As India continues to push Pakistan to eliminate terrorism, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has said he believes President Asif Ali Zardari is sincere about ending the menace but underlined that his desire should be backed by actions by Islamabad.

"I would like to say that I believe in his sincerity because he himself is a victim of the terror attack. His wife, one of the tall leaders of the subcontinent fell victim to the senseless brutal terror attack," Mukherjee said.

"I believe he (Zardari) has desire to fight against terrorism," he told in an interview to the news channel, while describing the Pakistan President as a "nice man" and a "gentleman".

At the same time, he added "my belief is not adequate. It must be backed by action taken by the government and authorities of Pakistan".

Mukherjee, who described Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also as gentlemen, made it clear that "it is not a question of individual personalities."

Underlining that the incumbent government of Pakistan has the "responsibility" to act, he said "When we talk, we talk of the incumbent government."