"Frankenstein" of terrorism in the Af-Pak region was financed by the US

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday fought back allegations that Pakistan had not done enough against extremists, reminding that the "Frankenstein" of terrorism in the Af-Pak region was financed by the US but her country had been left alone to sort out the mess.

Khar said the war against terrorism was being fought in the region with joint cooperation between the US and Pakistan, and singling out Islamabad's role was being "biased".

Hitting back at allegations that Pakistan had not done enough in the war on terror, she said even Washington needed to do certain things.

"We strongly deny that. We feel that this is completely incorrect. That this is what could be called, you know, a biased statement. We feel that we are the ones who have reacted the most," Khar told CNN, denying allegations that Pakistan is not taking action against groups that use tribal areas as safe havens and attack Americans, westerners and Indians across the border.

She said Pakistanis were the ones who had sacrificed the most, fighting it out on the ground on a daily basis.

"I would completely deny that," Khar said when pointed out that Pakistan has never fought against the Haqqani faction. "Let me also very humbly say that it takes two to tango. There are many things that the US would have to do," Khar said in response to a question.

Khar said the Frankenstein of terrorism in the region was not created by Pakistan, rather it was financed and assisted by several world powers including the US.

"This Frankenstein was financed and assisted by many world powers, including that was the US. So, while we are left behind to sort out the mess as the fear of Pakistanis is and this might happen again, we must not forget the historical evidence that we have which has led us to the place that we have," she said.

Pointing out that the joint cooperation had only two weeks back led to the capture of top al Qaeda leader Al-Mauritani, she said, "The recrimination on Pakistan is something that we have serious reservations about".

"This is my plea to you. Let's not try and oversimplify a situation which is very, very complex. And let's not try and alienate a populace. I'm not as concern about alienating the government of Pakistan, as Foreign Minister, my concern is you alienating the people of Pakistan," she said.

"You cannot afford to do that. It's 180 million people whose lives have been harmed, risked, affected as we speak today.”

"Please understand, please accept the fact that our lives are being damaged, changing every day. We have lost far too many people, far too many important people, far too many ordinary men, women, and children," she argued.

India conveyed to the US, Have to 'fight the scourge together for Terrorism'

India has conveyed to the US that countries with a "determined position to fight terror" cannot be selective in their approach in dealing with the menace and have to fight the scourge together "across the board".

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna discussed the issue of terror with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a bilateral meeting that lasted here for over 40 minutes.

Terming the meeting as "very good and constructive," Krishna later told reporters that the two sides spent time on discussing the issue of terrorism and condemned the recent attacks on the American mission in Kabul and at the High Court in New Delhi.

"I made out the point that it is necessary for all those countries which have taken the determined position to fight terror will have to act together and fight it across the board without being selective in our approach," he said adding that "Secretary Clinton agreed with us."

The talks also featured concerns over the Haqqani network with the External Affairs Minister pointing out that "whenever terror comes up for discussion, the Haqqani group is certainly a factor which is woven into terrorism."

On whether America's recent accusation against ISI for supporting the deadly Haqqani network has brought a sense of unity between India and the US on Pakistan, Krishna said "it is not a question of America agreeing with India and India agreeing with Pakistan."

He said the countries have to see what is "our approach, reaction, response to terror.

"If the position US takes on terror is exactly similar to the position India takes that does not mean to say that they have been converted to our position or we have taken position similar to them."

The two sides also followed up on the civil nuclear treaty and discussed what needs to be done further.

Clinton urged Krishna to ensure that India's nuclear liability regime conforms with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear damage, an American official said requesting anonymity.

Krishna and Clinton discussed a host of multilateral issues including the situation in Palestine, Sudan and Syria.

When asked to comment on the divergent views that India and the US have on Syria and Palestine, Krishna said as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said in his address to the UN General Assembly, "We cannot order how nations set their house in order."

On concerns that momentum of the India-US relations appear to be slowing down, with certain defence contracts not being awarded to US companies, Krishna said this is not an issue by which US would be offended.

He said defence contracts are awarded on basis of merit and are a comparative tabulated evaluation done by a committee of experts. "I do not think anybody can take offence if we chose something else. US has been into this long enough not to misjudge the relationship based only on a particular issue. We will have to take the generality," he added.

Krishna said he was "quite satisfied" with the outcome of his talks.

Clinton complimented India on its active participation in the New Silk Road initiative to strengthen transit and trade in South and Central Asia.

"The ministers compared notes on the upcoming New Silk Road conference in Istanbul in early November," the official said.

Manmohan Singh visit UN to focus on global challenges

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes to the United Nations on Today focused on global challenges such as terrorism, economic slowdown, terrorism and unrest in West Asia and North Africa.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, his Principal Secretary TKA Nair, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai are part of the high-level team accompanying Manmohan Singh.

A meeting with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN meet is not on the cards. But Manmohan Singh is set to hold bilateral meetings with the presidents of Iran, South Sudan and Sri Lanka, and the prime ministers of Japan and Nepal.

Set to address the UN General Assembly Saturday morning, Manmohan Singh will also dilate on the issue of UN reforms as he speaks about the role played by India since being elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council after a gap of 19 years.

As he said in a statement in New Delhi embarking on the five day UN trip, "Our efforts at promoting international peace and security and bringing to bear a developing country perspective have, I believe, enriched the Council's deliberations and enhanced its effectiveness."

"The UN must be seen as an impartial, credible and effective body. I will stress the need for early reform of this unique organization, particularly an expansion of its Security Council."

He has also called upon all countries to collectively address the multiple global challenges saying, "More than ever before, it is imperative for all countries to act in concert to address these challenges.

"This is the time for UN to resume its global leadership role," he said

"The UN General Assembly is meeting this year at a time when the world is faced with multiple challenges. The global economy is in the midst of an economic slowdown coupled with all its attendant problems, including inflationary pressures," the Prime Minister said.

"West Asia, North Africa and Gulf regions have seen major upheavals and there is uncertainty about the shape of things to come in this crucial part of the world in the period ahead. The Palestine question remains unresolved," he said.

He also said terrorism and non-traditional threats to international security, such as piracy, were threatening states and the international political and social order and called for collective action to address all these issues.