After the politically damaging controversy triggered by the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint declaration in July, it was perhaps too much to expect any real movement forward when the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan met in New York last week. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s instincts may be to keep finding ways of engagement with Islamabad but he also knows the only way this can happen is for Pakistan to demonstrate it has started seriously addressing Indian concerns. In the run up to New York, the Pakistani side made some attempt to improve the optics. Yet another dossier was handed over and two criminal cases were filed against the Lashkar-e-Taiba chief, Hafiz Saeed, though the refusal or failure of the police to arrest him or even place him under “protective custody” robbed the move of any real significance as far as New Delhi was concerned. By all accounts, the Indian delegation in New York received a comprehensive briefing from the Pakistanis on the progress made in the Mumbai terror attack case. In turn, they told their Pakistani interlocutors that India needs to wait and see how the cases that have been filed against key Lashkar operatives like Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah play out once their trials formally begin next week.
Given the ups and downs in the bilateral relationship, the trust deficit, and the need to prepare the ground for confidence-building over the long-haul, India is entirely justified in reserving judgment until the trial actually commences and makes visible headway. As and when a certain comfort level is achieved, the threads of dialogue are likely to be picked up. But the problem of Lashkar’s terrorism is not simply legal. Sooner or later, Pakistan has to realise that these kinds of terrorist groups have to be confronted politically. Islamabad’s insistence on “evidence” and other legal niceties is all very well but those are not the tools it is using to deal with the threat the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and al-Qaeda are posing to it. The Inter Services Intelligence directorate may think it can manage the LeT and kindred groups for all time to come and that they will never pose an existential threat to Pakistan in the way the TTP does. Such a belief is seriously misplaced. The threat posed by such terrorist groups may be uneven but its impact on the future of Pakistan is uniformly destructive. There are already indications that the extremist menace has firmly taken root in southern Punjab. If left unattended, there is no telling where bomb blasts and sectarian massacres will take place next. Unfortunately, the ISI has not yet taken a decision to make the course correction that Pakistan so desperately needs. Until then, India should work out a viable strategy of engagement while taking all the internal measures needed to protect itself from terrorists based across the border.
Keywords: India-Pak, dialogue, Sharm-el-Sheikh, declaration, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief, Hafiz Saeed, Mumbai attacks, 26/11
Comments:
Very thoughtful editorial which makes lot of sense. As long as ISI considers LeT as a strategic ally nothing is going to change much between India and Pakistan.
India understands the inability of a democratically-elected Pakistan government as the actual power has always been with the ISI and Pakistan army. In the present scenario India is left with the only option to handle Pakistan diplomatically. At the same time, as you have rightly mentioned India needs to work to evolve a strategy to protect itself from future terrorist attack.
I go with the author's point of view. The Pakistan Government is not ready to take any action on some of the terrorist organisations. In due course, these will engulf Pakistan, unless acted upon. During this uncertain time, it is wise to take stringent security measures in our country. No point in asking Pakistan to take action as the situation there is out of control. I would say 'self help is the best help'
The verdict of history is that nations that have settled regional disputes amicably have prospered, while disputatious regions have seen external meddling that exploited the divisions. Will the relations with Pakistan normalise during our lifetime? Or during that of our children? With no end in sight, and no credible plan for a resolution, two possibilities become dangerously likely. One, a third party -- US perhaps -- will end up thrusting a solution on us. Or, second likelihood, China will exploit the enmity further, leaving India's Eastern front more exposed. The need for creative and bold solutions is greater today than ever.
Who will India engage? India cannot be expected to talk to the Pakistan army or the ISI. Talking to the civilian government is a waste of time because it is powerless.
Well written and your editorial rightly captures the attitude difference with Pakistan in dealing with Pakistani-Taliban and anti-India terrrorist groups like LeT, JuD, JeM etc. India, while enhancing its internal security to thwart any possible terror attack, should also try to put more international pressure on Pakistan to somehow achieve the course-correction in the minds of ISI and Pakistani rulers. This will be in the best interests of both Pakistan as well as India. India should utilize its growing relationship with the U.S. to achieve this goal.
India's peace talks with Pakistan should not depend on the verdict of a Pakistani court. As you have admitted, terrorism has a political dimension too. Keeping the dialogue going while protecting the borders is a prudent path. Indian policy makers should have adopted this approach much earlier.
Despite all denials by Pakistan that the ISI has absolutely no links with the LeT and other offshoots, the facts speak otherwise. It shouldn't come as a surprise if investigations were to reveal that the entire plotting is being orchestrated by the ISI in its own offices. Given such a situation,resumption of any sort of dialogue with Pak will only serve to lull our government into complacence before the next 26/11 is launched. Unless the Pakistan Government exhibits not only its sincerety but its total commitment in bringing to book all perpetrators,conspirators etc.to justice,any dialogue at any level will only serve as meetings to exchange pleasantries and to taste each other's culinary delights.
Though the editorial is very thoughtful,it is the simple question of common sense.Though Pakistan is almost totally ruined economically and politically,their leaders, current or past are trying hard to squeeze benefit from all India,China and USA and even Russia by allowing fires to burn everywhere,even in their own country,the policy is going to deteriorate Pakistan further.India must wait and watch becoming only defensive and not friendly at all.China and USA understand this by showing carrots but not India.Is India incapable to thwart militants?
Indian public at large must help government to fight out militants as happened in Gujarat.Govt.also must give some incentives to the public.They must be doing this but not aggressively in all states by state govt.s.