Talks, agreements, and commitments only to backtrack later--these have been an important and inherent part of Pakistan's foreign policy. It has been successful in deceiving the world, especially India, with this strategy ever since its inception. India's conventional principles of coexistence, truth, and non-violence were interpreted as signs of weakness by Pakistan. It has, therefore, been desperately trying for the past 62 years to wipe out India from the world map. That explains why it paid little attention to all warnings issued by New Delhi after every terror incident in India, and the necessary proof submitted to it. Pakistan is steeped in mischief. If it does not mend its ways, the situation is likely to go out of control.
Wrong Pakistani Intention
After the horrendous terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh refused to entertain any suggestion of a dialogue with Pakistan until all the accused responsible for the crime were severely dealt with. The lackadaisical approach of the Pakistani Government to the issue baffled India and the world. Pressure is being exerted on Pakistan from all corners to end terrorism. Despite Pakistan's attitude, Dr. Singh gave another chance to Pakistan to rectify itself. He had a 40-minute discussion with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Yekaterinburg, Russia on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRIC Summits on June 16. Dr.Singh categorically asked Pakistan not to discriminate among terrorists. A military campaign similar to the anti-Taliban should also be started to wipe out the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba, Al-Badr Mujahidin, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and Jama't-ud-Da'wah Pakistan. Taking a tough stand, Dr. Singh demanded that Pakistan's territory should not be used by terrorists for their war against India. He further expressed the hope that some action will be taken before the two countries hold talks in Egypt in July. The action will establish the credibility of Pakistan.
Pakistani President Zardari maintained silence before the plain talk by Dr. Singh. However, the next day, Pakistani Foreign Minister Malik Ahmad Khan [name as printed] issued a statement expressing Pakistan's disagreement with Dr. Singh. He said that India should refrain from giving such threats. While the foreign minister was giving this advice, Pakistan announced that Zardari would not attend the Egypt meeting in July. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would replace him. This way, Pakistan has made it clear that it does not care a fig about India's warnings.
Dr. Singh expected Pakistan to complete within two months the task it had left undone in the past 62 years. Pakistan has successfully carried out its conspiracy to spread terror first in Punjab, then in Jammu and Kashmir, and later across the country. The mastermind behind the Mumbai attack is roaming about freely in Lahore and Karachi. The Pakistani courts have released terrorist commanders Hafiz Muhammad Sayeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, and Zarar Shah for "want of adequate evidence."
Dangerous terrorist organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad are strengthening themselves right under the nose of the Pakistani Government. Evidently, the government will continue to allow "anti-Indian" activities on its soil, dashing India's hopes. It will always be busy in defensive activities and terrorists will seize the opportunity to indulge in blood curdling incidents like the one in Mumbai.
Violation of Bilateral Talks
The Indian Prime Minister offered friendship to Pakistan in Yekaterinburg to break the deadlock in bilateral talks. No positive results were expected from this gesture. Whenever India raised the question of infiltration on the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan-trained terrorists and terrorist activities within India, Pakistan tried to malign India by raising the issue of "Kashmir freedom." It is an established fact that Dr. Singh and also every former Indian prime minister has given Pakistan opportunities to correct its ways, but they could not be availed due to Pakistan's deep-rooted Islamic imperialist designs and its religious obsession with converting India into Pakistan.
Records of the last 62 years will show that whenever India has spoken of peace, dialogues, and agreements, Pakistan has invariably responded either with war, or with terror. The Nehru-Noon Agreement, the river water agreement, cease-fire on the LoC, Tashkent and Shimla agreements, and many other bilateral talks have become victims of this religious thirst. A study of the last 10 years will show that Pakistan has rejected suggestions for joint discussions several times during this short period. Its real motives were, thereby, exposed.
Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee traveled to Lahore in 1999, and started the present series of dialogues with former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The United States and several other countries welcomed the move. They expected Pakistan to adopt the path of peace. However, the ink on the agreement paper had hardly dried Musharraf thrust the Kargil War on India. When Musharraf assumed power after a military coup, Vajpayee held talks with him in Agra in August 2001. Musharraf, however, refused to pay heed to Vajpayee's case on issues such as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and border infiltration by armed terrorists. He preferred to chant the Kashmir issue instead. The talks failed, and Musharraf left for Pakistan, abandoning the talks midway.
The same year, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists first struck Srinagar, and then Kashmir Assembly. This was followed by a suicide attack on the Indian Parliament. There were enough proofs to demonstrate Pakistan's disregard for a dialogue. As a result, the Armies of India and Pakistan came face-to-face. Vajpayee's farsightedness or the US intervention averted a war. The round of talks were resumed once again after a year. Four routes of Kashmir's LoC were opened. A cease-fire was affected on the borders in November 2003. The Pakistan Army violated this cease-fire several times to send infiltrators into Kashmir. During this dark period, Pakistan-trained terrorists attacked Delhi, Bengaluru, Ayodhya, Nagpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, and other places.
Nurturing Terrorist Organisations
It is a well-known fact that Pakistan tried to absolve itself of the Mumbai attack. Dr Singh will have a dialogue once again with Pakistan in Egypt in July. He expects Pakistan to wipe out all terrorist bases in its country by then. However, Pakistan's motive seems to be dubious. The government is under the control of the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI]. Training camps are run there under the supervision of the Army officers. Terrorist organisations are becoming strong under ISI guidance, and following its plans. Billions of US dollars are helping to nurture these Islamic terrorists. To expect Pakistan to flush out terrorism in this situation is wishful thinking. All terrorist organisations supported by the Pakistani Government and nurtured by the ISI are arming themselves like the Afghan Taliban fighters and Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida to spread panic in India.
All these terrorist organisations receive orders from the Pakistan Army. They have already gained a foothold in India, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United States, Iraq, and other countries. Pakistan has today become a wholesale market for supplying terrorists throughout the world.
What should be Done?
It is, therefore, high time for the Indian Prime Minister to tell Pakistan tersely that no talks can be held with it, nor political relations with it be maintained until terrorist training camps in its territory are dismantled and armed infiltration stopped. Pakistan should also hand over to India all terrorists responsible for Pakistan-sponsored terrorist acts in India. While taking this tough stand, India should also threaten to end every trade, travel, medical, and educational relations with Pakistan. Before the prime minister proceeds for Egypt, India should give the necessary warning at the foreign secretary-level talks and prepare itself for breaking off all relationship. If talks are once again resumed without any precondition, the clouds of foreign terror hovering over the country will become thicker.
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