India-Pakistan Cricket Diplomacy

Soon after the finalization of the 2011 ICC World Cup Cricket semifinal match between India and Pakistan, political activities got escalated. Negotiation between home secretaries started and there was a consensus on certain issues. At least because of cricket, some progress took place, otherwise there was a stalemate.

The impasse was because of Pakistan's non-cooperation and India's insistence on stoppage of terror acts before talks. How terrorism has infiltrated and infected the Pakistani culture, its elimination before opening up the dialogue was not possible, hence Pakistan was procrastinating. Now the deadlock seems to be broken and the parleys will go ahead, to solve the old problems.

Pertaining to Extremism

It has been agreed that visa procedures will be made easier by setting up joint working group and a hotline will be established between home secretaries to exchange quick information pertaining to extremism. The parleys have been assessed as positive as both countries have resolved to extirpate terrorism and the permission has been granted to Indian Investigation Commission to visit Pakistan. In turn, Pakistan was informed about the progress in the Samjhauta Express investigations. This means efforts are being made from both sides to neutralize terrorism.

The secretary level talks have paved way for the prime minister-level talks. It was the wisdom of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to invite Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to witness the match, which was largely welcomed.

Mental Bankruptcy

The tension between the countries will start decreasing while the two prime ministers will watch the match together on 30 March. This will be the occasion when representatives of the two countries will be seen together in a mirthful atmosphere, though this will not be a good omen for bad wishers.

The reason extremist Hindu organization, the Shiv Sena, has criticized Mammohan Singh by saying that if he has so much love for Pakistan then he should have invited and sent two tickets to Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru in prison, to watch the match sitting beside them. This statement of Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Rawat proves his mental bankruptcy.

Hindu Terrorists' Involvement

Its politics is based on hatred and aversion. Earlier, there were reports of Shiv Sena's discreet association with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence. Some names were mentioned, though not confirmed. If investigations intensify about Hindu terrorists' involvement in blast cases, more facts may crop up.

The flurry of the Shiv Sena may be the result of its apprehension that the two sides will neutralize the terror network. Like the Shiv Sena, in Pakistan also there are elements who do not like Gilani's visit to India. They also apprehend such dangers. However, peace-loving common people of both countries are happy with the move. May God keep the evil eye away.

Home Minister's Warning May Deter Pakistan From Attacking India

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram in his latest statement warned that if a fresh Mumbai-like terrorist attack is launched again India will take an instant retaliatory action. He said: "Pakistan is a trouble-shooter neighboring country of India. It should mend itself as a responsible neighbor."

It is a bold statement that the way terrorist attacks are being carried out against India it would be an ideal situation to give a befitting reply to Pakistan-based terrorist and their handlers, yet nothing has been done like that so far.

Resolving Kashmir Issue
Even a cursory look at the Indian history would show that India never invaded any country. On the contrary, it became the victim of invaders. On its very creation, Pakistan picked up trouble with India and captured one-third territory of Kashmir in 1947.

In 1965, when Pakistan attacked India, our forces marched forward right up to Lahore by crushing it heavily, but under the Tashkent Agreement reached through the Russian mediation, India withdrew from the Pakistani territory captured by it. Lal Bahadur Shastri died after signing the agreement.

In 1971, Pakistan made yet another invasion of India where 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were made war prisoners in Bangladesh and India captured certain parts of the Pakistan territory. But under the Simla Agreement, Indira Gandhi in response to the entreaties made by Bhutto released war prisoners and also returned the Pakistani territory. Likewise, Pakistan carried out an attack on Kargil treacherously. Pakistan was inflicted upon a crushing defeat in the Kargil war. As consequences, the US endeavors a cease-fire was enforced there and a safe passage was given to trapped invaders to retreat from there.

Since 1980, proxy war is being fought by Pakistan against India in the form of terrorism and it has been causing huge harm to Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and other parts of the country. But India has never launched attacks on terrorists and their sponsors in Pakistan.

When terrorists carried out strikes on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and the Parliament building in Delhi, the patience of the whole country was absolutely exhausted. The then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee declared a "do or die" war with Pakistan and deployed Indian troops along the border with Pakistan, but failed to carry out an invasion.

A determined prime minister like Vajpayee who carried out the second nuclear test at Pokharan had the potential to launch an attack, but he did not do so. Gradually, he also agreed to hold talks with Pakistan and the Indian forces returned to the barracks.

In September 2008, when Pakistani terrorists triggered explosions under the very nose of the Indian Government, only then the government awoke out of its slumber to some extent. But, Pakistani militants attacked Mumbai on 26 November 2008. It took three days for the Indian security squads and commandos to tackle them and a Pakistani terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, was arrested.

Dismantling Militant Training Camps
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders asked the Pakistani Government to dismantle militant training camps on the Pakistan soil and hand over the conspirators to India or prosecute them within Pakistan. The government went to the extend of saying that unless and until Pakistan demolish terrorist training camps and hand over the accused to India talks will not be held with Pakistan.

However, even after remaining in the denial mode for quite some time, Manmohan Singh held talks, first with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at Yekaterinburg in Russia and later at Sharm al-Shaykh (Egypt) with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. In the wake of these talks, India returned with the cancer of Baluchistan.

The state of affairs now is that whenever the Taliban or some other terrorist groups trigger an explosion or a violent incident, Pakistani ministers and other authorities stand harping on the allegation of the Indian hand behind it or the Baluchistan unrest. Notwithstanding all this, Manmohan Singh maintains "resolution of bilateral issues between the countries is possible only through talks."

Focusing Internal Security
Ever since Chidambaram assumed the charge of the Home Affairs Ministry he has been focusing on the internal security and enhanced the strength of the police and security forces and also provided modern arms to them. He has taken effective steps against militants.

The question is: What is the prime minister's opinion on his latest statement? Will he allow him to go ahead to translate his statement into action? If Chidambaram actually implements his warning, Pakistan will never muster up the courage to launch terrorist attack on India.