India on Wednesday said it expects Pakistan to take appropriate steps against the Taliban, which is reportedly planning to create trouble during Lok Sabha elections, and to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil to stop infiltration.
"Taliban is a very powerful terrorist organisation. If they try, they can create trouble. We will expect that the Pakistan government will take appropriate steps," External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
He was asked to comment on reports that the Taliban had infiltrated across the Line of Control and might cause trouble during parliamentary polls.
To another question that nobody seemed to be in control in Pakistan and that the terror threat to India had gone up substantially, Mukherjee replied, "I would not like to make any comment on the internal matters of Pakistan. It is for the people of Pakistan and political parties to decide how they will resolve the internal crisis."
Speaking on the issue of how government is planning to ensure smooth election, Mukherjee said, "Necessary measures will be taken. Election will be smooth. Nobody will be able to prevent a democratic election. I have no doubt in it".
When asked about terrorist infiltration into India, he said, "The potential of external terrorism is high. If the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is dismantled, then infiltration from Pakistan can be stopped.
"Terrorists never commit acts of terrorism by making public announcements," he said. "Some information we receive and they (Pakistan) also get."
On poll boycott calls given by extremists, he said, it was 'nothing new'.
"Terrorists are creating trouble from time to time. Not only the Taliban, Maoists and Naxals are also giving vote boycott calls from time time. This is nothing new in India."
The Hurriyat in Kashmir, insurgent groups in Manipur and the ULFA in Assam had given election boycott calls, he pointed out.
