Round The World

New Delhi, 29 June 2010

India-Pakistan Talks

BULLS-EYE ON TERROR

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies (JNU)

Terrorism took centre-stage twice-over in Indo-Pak talks. First, during the recent Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level talks. Second, when Indian Home Minister Chidambaram met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik on the sidelines of the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference in Islamabad last week.

Both times New Delhi reiterated that terrorism had to be fought with utmost sincerity in the interest of both countries as Islamabad has often been found wanting in its resolve to act against the anti-India terror groups emanating from its soil.

Importantly, it had failed to satisfy the Indian Government and the people at large in prosecuting the Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and other terrorist leaders. As a result of the dilly-dallying tactics of Islamabad in dealing with the perpetrators of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, New Delhi had to deep-freeze all forms of dialogue with its neighbour.

But, stopping the dialogue process and diplomatic contacts have failed to pay dividends for New Delhi and in fact the absence of official channels has further negated chances of putting pressure on the Pakistan civilian Government.  True, skeptics still question the rationale behind resuming talks with Islamabad. Not a few aver that resumption of dialogue would not only show the lack of resolve in India but embolden terror networks to carry out more strikes. However, New Delhi cannot afford to be static. It should be dynamic in adapting to the changes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

The move to re-open dialogue was initiated when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Thimpu on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit. This was followed by deliberations between India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir recently. Both, struck common ground vis-à-vis the threat extremism and terrorism posed to the warring neighbours and the region.

The talks were followed by optimistic remarks that the meetings were more successful than expected, thus presenting a good base on which to start a more sustained and comprehensive contact. The effort on both sides was to bridge the “trust deficit” between the neighbours. But, proceed cautiously. Another attack on the Indian soil could trigger a new round of domestic agitation making it difficult for New Delhi to maintain normal diplomatic ties with Islamabad.

The volatility of Indo-Pak ties is rooted in very complex issues and diplomacy, even though tortuous and frustrating, is the best recourse when we consider a long-term strategy. Erecting walls against the troublesome neighbour has not changed the situation but created more roadblocks for New Delhi.

Clearly, India should give utmost importance to its security and intelligence networks to prevent another 26/11 and emphasize its resolve to fight terror at all bilateral and multi-lateral forums. At the same time, it has to maintain open channels of engagements so as to keep itself abreast of Islamabad’s positions, always looking for opportunities to take conflict resolution to the next level.

The nature of the conflict between India and Pakistan is embedded in our common past and the continuing developments have inextricably bound us in this mess. One failure often snowballs to hurt composite relations. But, incremental steps toward resolution of conflicts should not be sacrificed at the altar of sinister campaigns out to divert the course of normalization.

The Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao aptly described the situation during her speech at the recent Afghanistan-India-Pakistan Trialogue. She said, “Indo-Pak relations are, by virtue of a complexity that has grown, rather than diminished over the years, literally, a class apart. While some would trace the current state of relations to the circumstances that led to the birth of two countries, others would blame events thereafter, but what is important for us today is to try and assess the reasons underlying the existing state of this relationship and to think afresh on the way forward,” she added.

Chidambaram’s trip is important as he was the first Minister to visit Pakistan since the 26/11 terror attack and the first Home Minister in three decades. In his interactions with his Pak counterpart Malik an effort was made to exude camaraderie despite the all-too obvious tension over the differences regarding Islamabad’s sincerity in nailing the 26/11 perpetrator Hafiz Saeed and the intriguing deliberations on the trial of others accused for the Mumbai attacks.

During their talks both Ministers expressed confidence at the steps being taken to start a new beginning. One of the significant announcements was that the premier agencies of Pakistan and India — the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — will interact with each other on terrorism and the Mumbai attacks.

Significantly, Chidambaram concentrated on “outcomes” rather than Pakistan’s “intentions”. When quizzed, he said: “Vigorous investigation and follow-up of leads available in the Mumbai terror attacks. All masterminds and handlers must be brought to book. We must ensure that terrorists don't have a free run of both countries and make South Asia safe.”

Bluntly, the prosecution of those involved in the Mumbai attacks was vital for Indo-Pak relations and it was for Islamabad to convey how the prosecution proceeds. Malik offered all assistance in taking the case to its conclusion. But as Chidambaram underscored, “outcomes alone will decide if we are on the right track.”

Undoubtedly, the absence of talks is not going to stop another 26/11 from recurring. To stop such a catastrophe again, all options should be kept on the table and a judicious mix of hard and soft diplomacy be deployed. By no means is India a trigger-happy nation and this is largely evident from its restraint in response to the devastating terror attacks. A more belligerent New Delhi would have easily drawn the region into a major conflict.

However, India’s responsible attitude should not be taken lightly. This should be made clear to Pakistan during dialogue. Re-engaging in talks is both an opportunity and a challenge to remind Islamabad that confidence building and engineering peace need two hands ready to make compromises and concessions. ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)