With 145;give us proof146;, General disappoints

That this promise was conditioned on India providing evidence on the involvement of elements from across the border in the Mumbai massacre would only add to New Delhi8217;s political irritation.

8220;If you give us proof, evidence on who are behind the blasts, we will fully cooperate,8221; Musharraf said in a televised speech.

In his address to the nation last week after he visited Mumbai, and since, Singh has been reminding Pakistan of its commitment under the January 6, 2004 statement not to let terrorists use its territory for attacks against India.

A reaffirmation of that commitment by Musharraf tonight could have gone some distance towards assuaging India8217;s concerns.

Beyond a verbal reaffirmation, India was also looking for some actions on the ground by Musharraf against the Lashkar-e-Toiba. There was no hint of it either from Musharraf8217;s speech.

Senior Indian officials say the LeT is responsible for nearly 80 per cent of terrorist acts in India. Given the reality that the LeT is a creature of the Inter Services Intelligence in Pakistan, India finds incredible the assertions of the Pak Army that it has no control over the group.

Although the LeT has been banned as a terrorist organisation by the US, UK, and even Pakistan, it has been brazen in its activity since the Kashmir earthquake last year.

Musharraf regretted that India8217;s decision to defer the Foreign Secretaries8217; talks is 8220;playing into the hands of terrorists. This is exactly what they want8212;that peace and normalisation process be stopped.8221; He added that 8220;I8217;m sure Indian government does not want the peace process to halt.8221;

Musharraf8217;s homily that 8220;to indulge in blame game is the first sign defeat8221; could make it even more difficult for the UPA government to argue that the series of spectacular terrorist acts in India since last October should not be allowed to come in the way of the peace process.

In the last few days, Singh had sought to balance the anger in the nation following the Mumbai massacre with a call for a deeper reflection on the difficult relationship with Pakistan. He also underlined the prolonged nature of the war on terror.

If Singh8217;s comments on his way back from the G-8 Summit were about suggesting flexibility towards Pakistan, Musharraf8217;s posture tonight indicated no credible gesture on his part.

India will also note that Musharraf has been a little more forthcoming towards the US which had been mounting relentless pressure on him to crack down on the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban operating from the Pakistani soil.

Reports from Pakistan in the last few days said the Army was rounding up a number of alleged Taliban supporters in Afghans from Balochistan. It is not entirely clear if the US, the UN, and the NATO, whose troops are present in southern Afghanistan and on the Pak-Afghan border would be satisfied with Musharraf8217;s assertions that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda activity has now shifted to Afghanistan.