Joint Statement A few days ago, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had met on the side lines Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit held in Egyptian city Sharm el-Sheikh. After the meeting it was announced that both the nations have agreed to restart the dialog and it was also decided that terrorism will not be allowed to thwart dialog process again. After the meeting between both the Prime Ministers the official statement was made which has created ambiguity as both the parties are interpreting it differently. But speaking to the reporters, Indian PM had said that his Pakistani counterpart wanted to start the dialog ‘here and now’ but he was told that ‘the dialogue cannot begin unless and until the terrorist acts of Mumbai are fully accounted for and the perpetrators are brought to book’. It is very clear neither the Indian leadership nor the Indian public will accept the dialog until Pakistan does not take concrete steps against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. Both the parties are exploiting the ambiguous term of the declaration. This term says that ‘action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these [sic] should not be bracketed.’ Both the parties are interpreting it according to their own words and have different perceptions.
Aspects of Meeting Before the meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had addressed the NAM meeting in which he said that not only the terrorists but those who support and help them should be dealt strictly. Singh had made this statement without naming anyone but it is clear that everyone had understood the true meaning of this statement. His statement has been made the part of the final declaration of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit. There are two aspects of the meeting of the Indo-Pak PMs. First is that Indian has left its old stand of no dialog until terrorist infrastructure is not dismantled. And the second is that Pakistani PM Gilani accepted and announced that perpetrators of the Mumbai attack will be dealt with strictly and brought to justice. But media has presented only first part of the outcome of this meeting while the second has not been even touched. On the other hand opposition has raked up this issue and had even staked a walk-out in the parliament.
Investigations We saw many dramatic changes prior to and after this meeting. A few hours prior to this meeting, Pakistan’s Punjab High Court had acquitted chief perpetrator of the Mumbai attack Hafiz Muhammad Sayeed, the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa. His acquittal had increased problems for the Congress government in India. But the results of this meeting started to pour out when fresh charge sheet was filed in the court against five of the chief suspects of the Mumbai attack by the Pakistan government. This charge sheet has been filed in an anti-terrorist court against Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu-al-Kama, Shahid Zamil Riyaz and Hamad Amin Sadiq. According to some government sources Pakistan had given some documents to the Indian government about the progress on Mumbai attack investigation. According to these documents Pakistan has officially accepted that Lashkar-e-Taeba is behind these attacks. It has also been said that Lakhvi had accepted that arrested terrorist Kasab is a Pakistani national. Surprisingly Pakistani Home Minister Rehman Malik has declined to accept that Kasab is a Pak national. All the recent developments inside Pakistan indicate that Pakistani leadership is determined to take concrete steps against the terrorists and dismantle the terrorist network. Pakistan’s own future is in danger and there is no option left for them to strictly deal with the terrorists and their supporters and sponsors.
Hilary Clinton It is a co-incident that US Secretary of State Mrs. Hilary Clinton is on her five day visit in India and at the same time some positive developments have been noticed in Pakistan. At various occasions she addressed press conferences and mostly Pakistan and its terrorist infrastructure was among the main issues in these conferences. She had made it clear that American pressure is not behind the restarting of dialog between both the countries. They both are free and democratic countries and it is their own decision. She had said that Mumbai attackers and their mentors should be brought to justice. She expected that Pakistan will take concrete steps against them and will work sincerely to root out terrorism. But she also said that in last six months a lot has changed in Pakistan. Pakistani people and government are more determined to fight against the terrorists especially Taliban and Al-Qaeda. She also stated that we are closely watching Pak steps against terrorism. She said that Al-Qaeda, Taliban and other Pakistan based terrorist organization are closely liked to each other and are creating problems for America and India. It must be learnt that America has repeatedly said that fight against terrorism is in Pakistan’s own favor it is necessary for the security and stability of Pakistan in future. Now Pakistani public has understood that terrorism is the main threat to their country. She said that whatever India decides to deal with the terrorist will be welcomed and supported by America.
Gilani In Islamabad PM Yusuf Raza Gilani had addressed a press conference in which he said that both the countries lack confidence in each other and talks are the only way for the improvement of relations between both the countries. For the last 60 years both the countries are suspicious of each other. With mutual understanding this problem can be solved and then they will not take each other as a threat to their sovereignty. He said that recent talks are the outcome of mutual understanding and there is no place for any third party mediation. He said that recent talks are the outcome of mutual understanding and there is no place for any third party mediation.
History For last 60 years, both the nations have remained at logger heads for most of the time. To understand the reasons we must have a comprehensive knowledge of history. Prior to independence of India, Pakistan and Indian were geographically together. Creation of India, Pakistan and some feudal states was a part of long term bureaucratic conspiracy of British rulers. They wanted to keep a door open for their return. It was being expected that both the nations will head towards a civil war and it will create suitable situation for their return but nothing happened according to their expectations. On the other hand Pakistan became the proxy of America. Pakistan witnessed the rule of elected governments as well as military dictators. For most of the time Pakistani governments and its secret agency ISI acted upon the plans of American secret agency CIA. Now Pakistani people have understood the truth and started to say openly that America is equally responsible for the Pakistan and Afghanistan situation. But now what can be done when they have lost a lot.
Relations Good relations between India and Pakistan will benefit both the countries. Pakistan can concentrate on its Afghanistan bordering states and can deal with the Taliban militarily. Pakistan is passing through one of its worst phases as there are various power centers inside that country. Democratically elected government is not in full control of Pakistan. Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists, their supporters and sponsors are present in every part of Pakistan. To root out the terrorism, Pakistan needs stability as well as internal and external support for the establishment of democracy. One the other hand stable and democratic Pakistan will benefit India also. Both the nations can progress economically very fast.
