ON BOARD - External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna on Sunday said that Pakistan was sending conflicting signals on punishing the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks which occurred last November.

Krishna criticised Islamabad for not taking concrete steps to challenge a Pakistani court’s order to release Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed, the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, who is also wanted for Mumbai terror attacks.

“We have not heard about the Pakistan (Govt.) taking it up in appeal. In the light of that conflicting signals are emanating from Pakistan. So we will have to very cautiously and responsibly evaluate these signals,” said S.M. Krishna while interacting with reporters on board on his way to New Delhi from Tokyo.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who held his first meeting in mid-June in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari since the Mumbai attack had asked him to ensure militants should not be able to use Pakistani soil against India.

On Kashmir to come up for discussions whenever India-Pakistan resume peace talks, Krishna said New Delhi was ready to talk about anything.

On the issue of discussing Kashmir issue with Pakistan, Krishna said there is no denial from Government of India to hold talks on that subject with its neighbour.

“We are not unwilling to talk to Pakistan on Kashmir because it is a part and parcel of composite dialogue which has been already agreed upon. So we are willing to talk on anything with Pakistan,” said Krishna.

About his forthcoming visit to Canberra, Krishna said that various issues would come up for discussions with Australian authorities during his visit. The dates of his visit are being worked out.

” A number of bilateral issues will be discussed between Australia and India during the course of my visit to Australia. The dates are getting finalised. In the course bilateral talk, all these issues will be taken up for discussion,” said Krishna. .

The recent attacks on Indians in Australia have caused some diplomatic discomfort between the two countries and also sparked angry protests in India.

Australian Government has condemned the attacks and has launched an inquiry into them.

Indian students believe the attacks have been “racist”, which Australian authorities describing them “crime-related” and “not all being racial in nature.” (ANI)