My endeavour in both the ministries has been to ensure that decisions are taken quickly and delays are cut out. One thing which I don't like is complacency or delays. We must restore people's faith in the efficiency of the system. I have had no problem in carrying the officials along. It's a democratic consultation, a horizontal integration.

•Saubhik Chakrabarti: Would it be fair to say at this point, that whatever Pakistan does now on the Mumbai attack issue, we will not get a resolution satisfactory to the Indian government?

There cannot be two solutions. There can be only one solution - that Pakistan comes across openly and honestly to deliver on the commitments and assurances that it has given to India bilaterally and also to the international community. The satisfactory solution could have been the handing over of the masterminds who have been identified and named not only by us but by other countries including USA, UK, Germany, by the UN Security Council itself. But it is very clear that there has been denial, deflection, obfuscation on the part of Pakistan. And that raises a question mark over whether they have the will and seriousness to dismantle the terror syndicate that operates from Pakistan, which, eventually, threatens this entire region and the world. We will continue in our pursuit to see that this part of the Earth becomes a safer place. To realize that, all the countries in this region will have to make great effort, Pakistan in particular.

... contd.