Obama Visits India: Bilateral Cooperation Enhances

India and the United States on January 25 announced policy resolution on two key issues paving the way for a nuclear trade within the ambit of domestic laws and international obligations. The pact ends a six-year old stalemate in operationalizing the path-breaking civil nuclear agreement. The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting US President Barack Obama, who was the chief guest at the 2015 Republic Day parade. The 123 or civil nuclear deal was inked between India and the United States in October 2008. The pact, however, failed to deliver business for US companies.

Breakthrough in Civil Nuclear Deal

There was a “breakthrough” in civil nuclear agreement and both countries have sorted out the two pending issues. The American companies were concerned over the Indian nuclear liability laws that apply to the equipment suppliers in the event of an accident.  They have also demanded tracking of fuel supplied by the United States and other nations for the proposed nuclear power plants. While India will create an insurance pool to tackle the nuclear liability issue, on tracking it stated the matter will be dealt with under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

The civil nuclear deal was the centerpiece of our transformed relationship, which demonstrated new trust. It also created new economic opportunities and expanded our option for clean energy.

Primary among these is the Defense Technology Trade Initiative (DTTI) which not only intensifies military-to-military cooperation but also puts the spotlight on technology transfer and joint production, which India has been seeking with almost all its military partners.

The January 25 deal builds on the first plan that was signed in 2005 and provides the blueprint for India-US defense cooperation for the next 10 years. If the 2005 DTTI was historic for breaking the ice and laying the groundwork for an unprecedented partnership, the 2015 version marks a definite shift from a transactional relationship to a more organic one. In other words, if the past decade saw India sourcing an increasingly large proportion of its defense needs from the United States — by some estimates, India bought $10 billion worth of military hardware from the United States — the next decade will see the two countries sharing technology and co-producing weapons.

Delhi Declaration of Friendship

In addition to the major civil nuclear deal, both the Indian prime minister and the US president issued a 59-point statement encompassing the entire gamut of relationship, decided to renew the decade-old defense framework agreement for another

10 years and within it opened the defense technology and trade initiative. Both India and the United States issued a Delhi Declaration of Friendship — Shared Effort, Progress for All — in keeping with national principles and committing to hold regular summits with increased periodicity, elevate strategic dialogue, establish hotlines between the Indian prime minister and the US president and national security advisers, besides cooperating to develop joint ventures on strategically significant projects.

On clean energy, Washington is keen to work with New Delhi on the ambitious project of 100 gigawatt of solar energy by 2022 and air monitoring for megacities.

On Climate Change, the Indian prime minister said there was an urgent need to address the issue. He, however, said there was no pressure to work out an arrangement that the United States has with China.

Focus on Bilateral Ties

Noting that the multifaceted partnership between Washington and New Delhi is rooted in shared values of democracy and strong economic and people-to-people ties, the Indian prime minister and the US president elevated the bilateral relationship through their endorsement of a new India-US Delhi Declaration of Friendship, which builds on their September 30 Vision Statement by articulating tangible principles to guide ongoing efforts to advance mutual prosperity, a clean and healthy environment, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security and stability for the larger benefit of humankind.

Joint Strategic Vision for Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region

India and the United States also issued a joint strategic vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region to support regional economic integration by accelerated infrastructure connectivity, safeguard maritime security in ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea.

Terrorism Menace

Prime Minister Modi President Obama stressed the need for joint efforts to disrupt terror entities, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), D Company and the Haqqani Network, and asked Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 attack to justice. Pakistan-based terror outfits that are not just a threat to India, but also spawn the jihadi network worldwide, are on the joint target list.

Obama said there should be no distinction between terror groups and pressed for countries to fulfill their commitment to wipe out terror safe havens.

Finally, the establishment of two hotlines — one between the two heads of Government and another between the two National Security Advisors — also speaks volumes about deepening cooperation between the two countries.

Agreement on Smart Cities

India and the United States signed three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) on January 26 to give a boost to the Center's flagship “smart cities” scheme. Washington has agreed to partner with Indian in developing three smart cities in Allahabad, Ajmer, and Visakhapatnam.

Three MoUs were signed by the representatives of United States Trade and Development Agency and the respective Chief Secretaries of State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.

As per the agreements, the United States will assist the cities in project planning, infrastructure development, feasibility studies and capacity building.

Trade and Business 

The US president has announced a slew of initiatives that included $4 billion in loans from US banks, $2 billion in financing for renewable energy projects in India and $1 billion from the Exim Bank of the United States for project financing. Executive action to help Indian techies who currently have to undergo a painful and agonizing process of obtaining H-1B visas, to get legal permanent status (LPR), was also on the cards

India and the United States were moving in the right direction and there was untapped potential to be realized. Bilateral trade between the two countries had increased 60 percent in the past couple of years to a record $100 billion, but India’s exports to the United States were still less than 2 percent of all US imports, he said welcoming the Modi government’s reforms agenda for making it easier to do business in India.

This has been made possible, of course, by smartly balanced laws that fully comply with India’s World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations on intellectual property while incorporating protections that support public health. These laws have ensured a strict review of patent applications to avoid spuriously granting monopolies on drugs that are not actually new or innovative or whole new patents on minor changes to existing drugs. India has also focused on its WTO obligations rather than implementing excessive IP rules that undermine health, such as “data exclusivity” which, in the United States, makes clinical trial data private to create a whole additional monopoly separate from patents that prevents approval for generic drugs for periods of time.

Needless to say, the major multinational pharmaceutical companies oppose India’s finely balanced intellectual property system and are trying to topple it. What is less understandable is why the Obama administration would be backing their drive.

Religious Freedom

Unveiling his sweeping vision for the future of the India-US ties, President Obama, at the conclusion of his three-day trip on January 27, suggested his country could be the “best partner" while underscoring the importance of religious freedom and tolerance for India's success.

Citing the Indian Constitution on the right to freedom of religion, he said: "Your Article 25 says all people are equally entitled to the freedom of conscience and have right to freely profess and practice and propagate religion. In both our countries, in all countries upholding freedom of religion is the utmost responsibility of the government but also the responsibility of every person... Every person has the right to practice his faith without any persecution, fear or discrimination. India will succeed so long it is not splintered on religious lines," Obama also said. The importance of the message strikes when seen in the backdrop of the controversy over "Ghar wapsi" program run by the RSS-Sangh Parivar as also complaints of attacks on a church in the city. Obama further said, “Around the world we have seen intolerance, violence, and terror perpetrated by those who profess to be standing for upholding their faith stating that all have to guard against any efforts to divide people on sectarian lines or any other things.”

The US president said, "In both our countries, in India and the United States, our diversity is our strength... your Constitution begins with the pledge to uphold the dignity of the individual. Our Declaration of Independence proclaims that all men are created equal.”

Characterizing the qualities of countries being world leaders, Obama added, was not about the size of the economies or the number of weapons but the ability to show the way and how they work together.

New India-Pakistan Liberalized Visa Pact: Step To Boost Bilateral Ties

India and Pakistan have signed the much-awaited liberalized visa agreement, introducing for the first time group tourist and pilgrim visas, separate visa for businessmen and visa on arrival for those over 65 years of age.

The new pact, signed between External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, replaces a 38-year-old restrictive visa agreement and will pave the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people to people contacts and boost trade. While there was no time-frame for issuance of non-diplomatic visas, the new pact says that visa has to be issued with a period of not exceeding 45 days of application.

Terms and Benefits

Under the new regime, one can visit five places instead of the three at present and those above 65 years of age and children below 12 years of age and "eminent" businessmen are exempted from police reporting.

Under the category of visitor visa, earlier only single entry visa for three months used to be issued for meeting relatives, friends, business or other legitimate purpose. Moreover, visa could be only issued for longer period not exceeding one year if owing to the nature of work or business.

Under the new pact, single entry visa is to be issued for six months but stay should not exceed three months at a time and for five places.

Under a new Category II, a visitor visa for a maximum five specified places may be issued for a longer period, up to two years with multiple entries to senior citizens (those above 65 years), spouses of a national of one country married to a person of another country and children below 12 years of age accompanying parents as given earlier.

The new group tourist visa will be issued for not less than 10 people and not more than 50 people. This visa will be valid for 30 days and will have to be applied through tour operators, registered by the two governments.

New Group Tourist Visa

The new Group Tourist visa will be issued for not less than 10 people and not more than 50 people. This visa will be valid for 30 days and will have to be applied through tour operators, registered by the two governments.

The Group Tourist visa facility will also be available to students of educational institutions of both countries. However, this will be a tourist visa only and not for seeking admission in educational institutions of either country. There are two categories for Business visa. Businessmen with an income of Pakistan Rupees half million or equivalent per annum or annual turnover/gross sale of Pakistan Rupees three million or equivalent will be given one year business visa, with five places for up to four entries.

In Category II, businessmen with an income of at least Pakistan Rupees five million or equivalent per annum or turnover of Pakistan Rupees thirty million or equivalent per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visas for Upton ten places, with exemption from police reporting.

The visa shall specify that the period of stay of the businessman at a time shall not exceed 30 days. The maximum time taken in processing of a business visa will not exceed more than five weeks.

Visits to Religious Shrines

In what would be a real joy for people from both sides who want to visit religious places across the border, Pilgrim visas will be issued to those intending to visit religious shrines as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, or any future revision to the Protocol.

Such visas will need to be applied at least 45 days before the commencement of the intended tour. The visas will be issued at least ten days before the commencement of travel. These visas will be issued for a single entry, restricted to 15 days validity and would be non-extendable.

Under the new pact, persons of more than 65 years of age will be given visa on arrival at Attari/Wagha checkpoint for 45 days. This visa will be non-extendable and non-convertible.

Earlier, people had to enter and exit through the same route and have to use same mode of travel for onward and return journey. Exemptions were made on case to case basis. However, under the new scheme, people can enter and exit from different check posts and change in mode of travel will also be permitted.

Checkpoints for Traveling by Air

However, this is subject to the exception that Exit from Wagah/Attari, by road (on Foot) cannot be accepted, unless the entry was also by foot via Attari/Wagah. The checkpoints for those traveling by air has changed. While earlier, one could fly in at Mumbai, Delhi and Amritsar, under the new pact, one can fly in at Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

With respect to police registration, the new pact says that bona fide businessmen, not in exemption from police reporting (EPR) category, may depute their authorized representatives for reporting.

The new visa agreement was supposed to be signed in May during the Home/Interior Secretary-levels talks held here but got postponed after Pakistan said it wanted to sign at political level.

Greater Understanding

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said the time has come for India and Pakistan to show greater understanding of each other’s concerns and sensitivities and to “move beyond reiteration of their positions to more substantive results” in the peace process.

He said that finding amicable and just solutions to resolve outstanding issues was important for Pakistan and India to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. In this regard, Zardari suggested the revival of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism comprising representatives of the foreign ministries, home and interior ministries and intelligence agencies of the two countries.

Multifaceted cooperation between the two sides is imperative for socio-economic development of people and to cope with the “common enemy” of terrorism, he said.

Pointing to the need to fight terrorism jointly, Zardari said Pakistan “stood resolute to fight it until the finish.”

Zardari renewed his call for India and Pakistan to make determined efforts for “friendly, cooperative and good neighborly relations” and for “treading the path of productive and result-oriented dialogue.”

In a separate meeting with Krishna, Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed confidence that bilateral relations will improve and move forward “as we have set a direction.” Noting that both countries desire good relations, Ashraf said: “We must learn from the past. We cannot change neighbors.”

“No doubt Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues need to be resolved” but we need to have a positive approach to resolve them, he said. Ashraf too said terrorism is a “common enemy” of both countries.

He said there is political consensus in Pakistan on having good relations with India. Ashraf also extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan.

Comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness Scheme

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pitched for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness scheme as there were indications that terrorist groups are maintaining their ability to use the sea route. He also said that there were increasing infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, we are beginning to see increasing infiltration attempts, across the Line of Control and even the International Border. There are also indications about terrorist groups maintaining their ability to use the sea route.

“Vigilance, therefore, needs to be exercised not only on our land borders but along the coast line as well. The comprehensive scheme of Maritime Domain Awareness to be led by the Navy would help strengthen coastal vigilance, whereas deployment of more permanent border obstacles and better sensors could improve the situation along the land borders,” he said at the conference organized by Intelligence Bureau. Although the Prime Minister did not name any terror outfit, the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit had used the sea route to infiltrate into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a shooting spree killing more than 160 persons. He also said that terror threat in the hinterland continues to be a cause for worry.

Ray of Hope

In addition to boosting bilateral trade ties, it will promote people-to-people contacts in a big way. The political climate in South Asia is bound to get a new boost once people in large numbers are able to meet each other and exchange their thoughts and ideas on a frequent basis.

The idea of promoting people-to-people contacts is basically aimed at bringing about pressure on the ruling class on both sides to take decisions in accordance with the wishes of their citizens. The liberalized regime will no doubt enable easier travel and greatly facilitate people-to-people contact. This measure must be heartily welcomed.

Wisconsin Gurdwara Shooting: Who is Responsible?

Wade Michael Page, a lone gunman, killed seven persons at a gurdwara and and “dozens” critically injured, including a police officer. Many men and women were at the gurdwara in what appeared to be a hate crime in Oak Creek, a quiet suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States, to pray when a man walked in and went on a killing spree. While it is too early to comment on the motives of the gunman who was later killed by a police officer, the Sikh victims were, like others in all terrorist acts, innocent people.

The incident comes scarcely two weeks after at least 12 persons were killed in Aurora, Colorado, at the screening of the latest Batman movie.

Page used a 9mm handgun utilizing multiple ammunition magazines, he added. Authorities are trying to identify another person, a White male, whom they described as “a person of interest.”

The police have identified the deceased as brothers Seeta Singh (granthi) and Ranjit Singh (raagi); gurdwara president Satwant Singh Kaleka; Prakash Singh (granthi), 39; and congregation members Subegh Singh and Paramjit Kaur. Kaleka was killed after he tried to tackle Page.

Three others are in hospital in critical condition -- Punjab Singh, Santokh Singh and police officer Lieutenant Brian Murphy. A fourth victim was treated and released from hospital.

Officer Lieutenant Brian Murphy was shot eight or nine times in the face and extremities at “very close range” The shootings were being “treated as a domestic terrorist-type incident.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a probe into the incident that law enforcement authorities have termed as "domestic terrorism". No motive has been identified behind the shooting spree.

The investigation is still being treated as a possible case of domestic terrorism, the local police said. On August 5, six persons were killed and three critically injured when Page, a former US army psychological operations specialist, opened fire inside a Gurudwara.

Who is Page?

Page, the 40-year-old ex-army veteran who killed six people at a Gurudwara in the US regularly attended hate events, was an ardent believer in the white supremacist movement and was associated with rock bands whose violent music talked about murdering Jews and black people.

Wade Page was shot and killed by a police officer in the parking lot of the Oak Creek Gurudwara after he wounded another police agent and killed six persons as preparations were underway for Sunday morning prayers.

Page was a “frustrated neo-Nazi” who had been the leader of a racist white-power band known as “End Apathy.” He has been affiliated with, including self-described “American Nationalist” band ‘Youngblood’ and ‘Definite Hate’, a group captured in a 2007 YouTube video performing in front of a Nazi flag superimposed with the image of Adolf Hitler’s head.

After serving in the US Army from 1992-1998, Page is believed to have worked as a truck driver from 2006 to 2010 in North Carolina.

Further, records from the Cumberland County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Department show Page was issued five permits to purchase pistols in May of 2008.

Assessment

India has sought an assurance from the United States over the safety of the Indian community there in the wake of the shooting at a Wisconsin Gurudwara that left seven people, including the gunman, dead.

The attack on worshippers at their place of worship points towards an unacceptable degree of religious intolerance among certain individuals in that society. Even though community leaders point out that Sikh immigrants have a respected and established presence in many parts of the US, there is no doubt that many states in America give their inhabitants easy access to guns. Incidents of gunmen attacking innocent people abound.

Global Fight Against Terror Suffers Because of US Attitude

The treat given by an Al-Qa'ida member to blow up a US plane proves that the dangerous possibility of terrorist attacks is still threatening the country despite all efforts. This incident further exposes the US failure to curb terrorism within its territory even though it is leading the international campaign against terrorism.
Suitable Opportunity
It is true that there has been no major attack in the United States after the 9/11 incident. Yet, it cannot be denied that terrorists are looking for a suitable opportunity. They even try to strike occasionally. It is also clear now that terrorist organizations have started raising a terrorist army within the country itself. Apart from the United Kingdom and the United States, many terrorists who have been traced in the Western countries were brought up in these countries. Some of them have even undergone higher education. Only recently five US citizens of Pakistan origin were arrested near Lahore. They had come to receive training on terrorism.
The young man of Nigerian origin who was arrested for trying to blow up a Delta Airlines plane of the United States had received education in Britain. He is also connected with Al-Qa'ida. It is, therefore, quite evident that notwithstanding all restrictions imposed from time to time, terrorist organizations have managed to attract Muslim youths to the so-called crusade.
Frustrating Terrorist Ambitions
The United States cannot rest content just by claiming that it has succeeded in frustrating terrorist ambitions on its soil. In other parts of the world terrorism is spreading rather than being restricted. Barack Obama was expected to reconsider the US strategy on terrorism on assuming office. But this hope was soon belied. Barring a few positive statements the US administration is more or less following its old policy on terrorism.
There are enough reasons to believe that it is only assuring the protection of its own interests as far as the campaign launched by it against terrorism and described as "international", is concerned. As a result, minimum coordination among the different countries participating in this campaign is lacking.
Missing Target
This lacuna has made the task of terrorists earlier. Any big mistake can be made in such circumstances. It was by sheer luck that the terrorist of Nigerian origin Omar Farooq Abdul Multalat was seized just in time. He had managed to enter the United States in spite of being on its list of suspects. It is also a fact that Indian intelligence agencies have not been given the necessary information on David Headley who is believed to have been involved in the 26 November 2008, Mumbai attacks. India is even being made to wait for a sample of its voice. In this situation, how can it be assumed that the United Sates is actually willing to join other countries to fight terrorism?

Manmohan-Gilani Summit: Opening New Chapter in Bilateral Ties

India and Pakistan have talked about writing 'a new chapter' in their accident-prone ties, with Islamabad assuring New Delhi that the terrorists behind the Mumbai carnage, that virtually froze relations between the neighbors, will be brought to justice soon.
In a sign of the new spirit of mutual accommodation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to open a new chapter in ties and hoped the next round of talks will be 'more productive and constructive'.
Meeting on the sidelines of the 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Addu (the Maldives), the two leaders held delegation-level talks for around half an hour in a seaside beach cottage at the idyllic Shangri La resort hotel and followed it up with nearly 45 minutes of one-on-one talks.
In addition to resolving to candidly discuss all outstanding issues, ranging from Jammu & Kashmir to Sir Creek, the Prime Ministers focused on terrorism and trade. The two leaders agreed that the measures to facilitate trade and travel across the Line of Control, decided upon by the Foreign Ministers in their July meeting, should be implemented expeditiously. Both Prime Ministers urged a greater degree of openness in discussing all issues of discord during the next round of line Ministry-level talks.
Terrorism Menace
With relations having languished since the cataclysmic 26/11 terror attacks nearly three years ago, the two sided agreed to push a host of initiatives, including the revival of the joint commission, a preferential trade agreement and liberal visa regime.
The Indian prime minister conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that both countries have an obligation to ensure that terrorism does not spoil relations between them and pressed for justice for 26/11 victims.
Terrorism is a perennial concern. We have an obligation to ensure that it does not spoil relations between the two countries," Manmohan conveyed to Gilani during talks.
Singh told Gilani that "it is imperative to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice." The two leaders agreed that terrorism posed the most serious threat to peace and stability in the region."
Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar discussed trade and terrorism issues with a view to broadening the two countries’ engagement.
The two ministers informally indicated to the media that the atmosphere was positive. Krishna is learnt to have stressed the need for Pakistan to deal effectively with those responsible for mounting the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, and not allow its soil to be used by terrorists targeting India.

MFN Status
India announced a trade-related confidence-building measure to match Pakistan according the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India. Ms Khar indicated Pakistan would soon finalize its decision to offer India the “MFN” trading status as a means to widen the engagement process.
Earlier on 2 November, Pakistan decided to grant MFN status to India, 15 years after New Delhi accorded it the same level of treatment.
MFN is a level of treatment accorded by countries interested in increasing trade with each other. Countries achieving MFN are given trade advantages such as reduced tariffs on imported goods. Special consideration is given to countries classified as "developing" by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which also enforces the status.
Pakistan has already bestowed MFN status on over 100 countries, including its all-weather friend China, but had been hesitant to do so in the case of India because of the fear that Indian exporters may flood Pakistani markets with their merchandise once normal trade is allowed.
Formal trade between India and Pakistan averages $ 2.5 billion annually, it is the informal route through the trading centers of Singapore and Dubai that is bigger and is estimated to be around $ 3.5 billion. Now Pakistan has granted India MFN status, formal trade may shoot up to $ 6 billion. Pakistan’s Planning Commission estimates that trade will to grow to $ 10 billion soon once MFN status is given to India. Freeing up many trading items could see the two countries making value additions to each other products.
Preferential Trade Agreement
India has decided to move toward a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Pakistan as both sides agreed to put in place a liberalized visa regime soon.
The decision to move towards a Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) that will lead to zero customs duty on all traded goods by 2016 came during Singh-Gilani meeting. The two leaders also agreed that bilateral trade will be conducted on Most Favored Nation basis.Both leaders decided to put in place a liberalized visa regime that is being negotiated at the earliest and revive the Indo-Pak Joint Commission that has not been in operation since 2005. The SAFTA is an agreement reached in the 2004 SAARC summit in Islamabad which created a free trade area of 1.8 billion people in Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

11th Commonwealth Summit

The three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) concluded in Perth (Australia) on 30 October. The meeting did well to highlight the issues related to security and hunger as these affect a vast section of humanity.
Eliminating Terrorism
The 11th CHOGM collectively pledged to fight terrorism by preventing the use of their territories for terrorist acts or financing and also vowed to accelerate efforts to combat piracy and strengthening maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
The 54-nation bloc, in its joint communiqué, committed to "unequivocally preventing the use of their territories for the support, incitement to violence or commission of terrorist acts".
They also agreed to work towards implementing the necessary legal framework for the suppression of terrorist financing, and preventing the raising and use of funds by terrorists, their front organizations, and transnational terrorist organizations.
Terrorism continues to pose a major threat despite billions of rupees having been spent on eliminating the scourge. The CHOGM communiqué rightly expressed its commitment to prevent the use of its territory by any nation for promoting terrorism. It also called for suppressing funding sources for acts of terror.
How it goes about forcing certain countries like Pakistan to stop using terrorism for their geopolitical objectives remains to be seen. Terrorists may be down but they are not out. They continue to claim lives in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. India’s maintenance of its tight vigil has paid dividends.
Economic Issue
On economic front, the CHOGM communiqué noted the “impasse” in the Doha round and urged the trade ministers’ World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in December to make “substantive progress” as well as make a formal “anti-protectionist pledge”.
The leaders at the Perth Meeting also agreed to reduce the cost of remittance transfers by removing barriers to remitting and encouraging greater competition in the transfer market, by endorsing the World Bank’s General Principles for International Remittance Services.
International Security Problem
As regards the international security issue, piracy was another issue that figured prominently in the communiqué as the group maintained their commitment to a stable and secure national and international environment.
In addition to accelerating efforts to combat piracy and to strengthen maritime security, including through enhancing the capacity of coastal states, the communiqué also urged the international community to recognize that the menace of piracy in the Indian Ocean cannot be effectively tackled in the absence of political stability and security in Somalia.
The leaders at the meeting expressed the view that the international community must ensure stability in the poverty-stricken African nation. Poverty drove most Somalians to take to piracy. Thus, the cause of eliminating poverty wherever it exists, too, must get precedence along with the need for providing stability. They affirmed support to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and its Seventh Review Conference in December 2011 and pledged to continue tackling the root causes of conflict, including through the promotion of democracy, development and strong legitimate institutions.
The Perth Summit also agreed to combat people smuggling and human trafficking by clamping down on illicit criminal organizations and bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice, while protecting and supporting the victims of trafficking.
Grouping Reforms
The 11th CHOGM indirectly sent out the message that the grouping of 54 former British colonies would not allow any kind of discrimination on the basis of one’s sex. The call for reforms by the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) led by former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi needs to be given a serious thought.
The leaders at the Perth meeting agreed to adopt one third of the 106 recommendations of an eminent persons group to make the grouping more relevant in current times, but virtually rejected the proposal for a human rights commissioner. Faced with a tough task of ushering in reforms, leaders of the 54-nation bloc had asked their foreign ministers to work overnight on recommedations of the 11-member EPG, which had gone public with its criticism.
Climate Change
With many of the Commonwealth nations being low-lying islands, the Perth meeting agreed on a slew of measures to promote action on climate change, including a push to find better ways to fund mitigation and adaptation projects.
Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed said a number of the EPG recommendations touched upon the issue of climate change and all have been accepted by the CHOGM leaders.
The issue of climate change is not of the future. It is happening now and we must deal with it now
India's Development Agenda
India returns with a feeling of satisfaction from the CHOGM, having managed to keep the 54-nation grouping focused on the development agenda.
Dismissing the general perception that the meeting was a failure because it did not accept the reform agenda set by some countries, Vice President Hamid Ansari, who headed the Indian delegation at CHOGM, said the Commonwealth has been an organization that has evolved slowly and could not be pushed into “instant” action. “We reiterated our perspective on institutions - that we needed to strengthen existing institutions rather than create new ones,” Ansari said in a clear reference to the effort by some developed nations to push through the creation of a Commissioner for Human Rights. The contentious recommendation was contained in a report by an EPG comprising civil society members, and some member-nations had sought to link its acceptance to the success of CHOGM 2011.
Some of the EPG recommendations have been accepted, others have been kept aside for further discussions, with officials indicating that the opposition to them was so widespread that they were unlikely to be adopted.
In fact, dispelling the perception that only some countries - including India, Sri Lanka and South Africa – were against the creation of the Commissioner’s office, an Indian official said that more than 30 of the 54 Commonwealth nations were opposed to the move.
Kamalesh Sharma Reappointed Chief
Seventy-year-old seasoned Indian diplomat Kamalesh Sharma was reappointed secretary general of the 54-nation Commonwealth grouping for a four-year term beginning April 2012.
India proposed Sharma’s name for a second term to the coveted post at the concluding session of the 21st Commonwealth heads of government meeting here. Pakistan seconded it. The proposal was accepted unanimously by everybody.
Sri Lanka would host its next Commonwealth Summit in 2013.

Whither Al-Qa'ida After Osama?

US President Barack Obama announced to the nation and the world that Al-Qa'ida leader Osama Bin Ladin was killed in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad by US special force called Navy Seals and his remains were buried at sea. On 2 May evening, addressing his nation and the world, Obama said that today is a historic day for the United States. Referring to Osama as the guilty party in the 11 September 2001 attacks, he said that justice had been done.
US Mission Fulfilled
Again Obama said that the United States was not against Islam. In his statement telecast all over the world, Obama said: "Osama, for over two decades, has been the visible face of Al-Qa'ida. To defeat Al-Qa'ida, the death of Osama was very important for us."
After the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9 September 2001, it took nearly 10 years to finish Osama. When Obama was addressing the nation outside the White House, the crowd was jubilant, waving the US flag and chanting "America, America!" After the WTC incident, Osama managed to flee the Tora Bora caves in the mountains and there was speculation that he was hiding in Pakistan. Obama said that the US special force had taken out Osama in a targeted killing and have taken possession of his body. He said that he had spoken to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari about the matter who said that this is a great achievement for the United States and Pakistan.
Impact of Osama's Death
Now that the US President himself has confirmed Osama's death, the question that arises is whether Al-Qa'ida is gong to be influenced by his death. Most probably this answer will be given in the negative, for after the attack on Afghanistan for practically 10 years Osama has been in hiding and as far as his video tapes are concerned that used to appear from time to time as the occasion demanded, the guiding force of Al-Qa'ida had become its No 2 leader Ayman-al Zawahiri. Therefore, there should be no two opinions about the efficacy of Al-Qa'ida continuing. Even Obama has expressed his apprehensions about it.
After his first term, former US President George W. Bush started provoking Afghanistan that had formed a government on Islamic lines. It should be kept in mind that Mullah Omar presented a model of a government on Islamic lines. Bush then immediately termed the destruction of the WTC a "crusade" (jihad) and without collecting any proof blamed Al-Qa'ida for the destruction and peremptorily asked the Afghan Government to hand over Osama in an aggressive manner without giving any proof and then started a reign of destruction in Afghanistan in the guise of wiping out Osama that still continues.
Here the question arises why the United States did not investigate the WTC destruction. And if it did so, why did not the United States reveal the proof. That is why the needle of suspicion points toward the United States, that it in the guise of fighting terrorism has actually declared war on Islam. It was during Bush's time that the United States turned its sights on Islam in the guise of fighting terrorism and actually declared a war on Islam. It was during Bush's tenure that the whole world started looking at Islam and Muslims with suspicion. Bush kept repeating that the United States was not against Islam but regardless of what he said the United States is very involved in a war with Islam. The scheme is to isolate Muslims in all parts of the world. Now that Osama has been killed, the purpose of the war has been served and it should announce its departure from Afghanistan, because the war it started was ostensibly for the purpose of handing over Osama. Now that Osama is dead it should have no concern with Afghanistan. But nothing of the sort will happen.
US, Western World's Domination
The United States and its allied Western nations want to dominate the world. This is their agenda. After the break-up of the Soviet Union and the wiping out of Communism from Eastern Europe, it is the Muslim countries that are in their sights. If Muslim leaders do not learn to dance to the US tune, there is no guarantee for their survival. What is the connection between Al-Qa'ida and terrorism? Leaders of Muslim countries should think about the matter long and hard, so that the campaign against Muslims in the guise of fighting terrorism comes to an end and the propaganda against Muslims stops.

Osama Bin Laden Killed: Future Prospects

The world was shocked when United States President Barack Obama announced that Al-Qa'ida's top leader Osama Bin Laden was killed. Al-Qa'ida's leader who was born in Saudi Arabia and lived in hiding was reported to be killed in a special operation by the Unites States military at a house in Abbotabad near Islamabad, Pakistan.
News of Bin Laden's death was greatly welcomed by the United States and its allies. Such reaction may be different from those who sympathize with Bin Laden's cause.
Believed To Be Mastermind Behind 9/11
Bin Laden is believed to be the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks against the United States that lead to Wshington's invasion of Afghanistan as the Taliban regime was beleived to be sheltering the Al-Qa'ida leader.
For a long time the United States lead the operation to hunt for Bin Laden but failed to track him down. If it is true that Bin Laden was successfully killed, would his death be enough to bring back peace to the world?
World Reactions
The entire world media turned their attention to the news of the death of Usama Bin Laden after it was announced by US President Barack Obama. British Prime Minister David Cameroon said that the death of Usama would bring peace in the entire world. Former US President George W. Bush said that justice was done by the death of Bin Laden.
Former US President Bill Clinton said that the death of Bin Laden was news of peace and security for the entire world. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is hopeful that the death of Bin Laden will bring about a more peaceful, safe and just world.
People's Expectations
Similarly, Muslims are also hopeful that a world free of terrorism will become a reality. Most important of all, as stated by many people across the world, is that Bin Laden's death will help restore the good name of Islam that was tainted by the negative image brought on by the al-Qa'idah leader. Since the September 11 tragedy we have witnessed violence and suicide bomb attacks at tourist attractions in the West that have become targets for Al-Qa'ida.
Each time violence is carried out by loyal followers of Bin Laden, the name of Islam is tarnished. Islam is viewed as a religion that endorses violence, despite the fact that it does not.
Future Prospects
Although reports have said that Bin Laden is dead, his absence is no guarantee that terrorism has ended. Peace and destruction of this world is not in the hands of Bin Laden whom was made a scapegoat during the era of former United States President George W. Bush.
This is the greatest concern of all. Will the world witness peace, or a new series of terror attacks as part of a retaliation from supporters of Bin Laden and Al-Qa'ida? We have seen many times that the use of military action to counter the threat posed by terrorists have failed to reduce activities related to terrorism.
We have to look at the root cause of terrorism from various surrounding aspects such as injustice, poverty, and economic disparity.
Nevertheless all parties should remain calm in the wake of Bin Laden's death. This is the time for the global community to erase their misperception and misunderstanding toward Islam and terrorism. The world must stand united against terrorism.

India Must Continue Efforts To Bring Conspirator Headley to Country

Finally, the US national of Pakistani origin David Coleman Headley admitted to the crime of his involvement in the conspiracy of the Mumbai attack before a Chicago-based court. Even before his admission to the crime, news reports has started emanating about it due to which the entire world had got to know that a deal was struck between him and the US Government.

According to it, if he divulges to the US Administration all information about the Mumbai strikes and other terrorist activities linked with it then he will not be awarded capital punishment. Simultaneously the United States announced its decision that Headley will not be handed over to India and Indian agencies can only interrogate him.

Activities in Pakistan
It clearly manifests that the US Administration, for special reasons, is trying to save him. Headley has been facing the charge that he acted as a double agent between the US Administration and the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. Earlier, he was once apprehended for smuggling heroin from Pakistan to the United States. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on admission to the crime. He was subsequently set free to resume his activities in Pakistan.

The situation in respect of Headley is so complex that it is hard to readily perceive it. Yet, it has once again raised finger to the US tactics. It is intriguing to note a country leading the global war on terror is adopting double standards on terrorism.

Tackling Terrorism
The state of affairs of the US Administration by and large is such that while it feels the heat of fire when it engulfs its own house, but when some other house is set ablaze then it looks to it as if some sport is being played. The way the United States has saved a person from going to the gallows who led the conspirators of the Mumbai attack leaving more than 166 people dead and wounding hundred others and the way it exonerated him by making him confess to the crime and refusing to hand him over to India, the US Administration can be termed a major culprit.

The calculations of the US Administration to tackle terrorism are such that in order to restrain Al-Qa'ida leaders it is securing the support of Pakistan which intelligence agencies are in collusion with the terrorist organization for carrying out terrorist activities in India, but it is turning a blind eye to it. The United States will realize all this only when the heat of terrorism is once again felt by its own country in some form or the other. Even as an attempt has been made to save a dangerous conspirator like Headley, it does not realize that he can continue to be a cause of headache for itself also because seven US nationals were also killed in the Mumbai mayhem.

If it had not happened then the mindset of the US Administration would not have been confined to saving Headley and instead he would have been set free after a brief term of imprisonment. Now, if Headley is given the death sentence then the chief reason behind it would be the killing of some US nationals in the Mumbai attack.

Conspiracy Against Mumbai Attacks
In the wake of Headley's admission to the crime, the Pakistani Government also stands exposed, for until now Pakistan has been harping on its stand that the Mumbai attackers were not its nationals or the conspiracy for the Mumbai attacks was not hatched in Pakistan. It has come to the fore that Headley had been frequently visiting India with a view to survey the spots that were to be targeted by the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. He had, in fact, taken a video footage of those locations. He has been frequenting Pakistan in order to feed intelligence inputs to Pakistan-based terrorists.

It should be clear to the Indian Government from the sequence of events that instead of depending on others to counter terrorism it should gear up on its own. It would be futile to carry out war on terror in such a way. We feel that India should not relax its endeavors on the issue of bringing Headley to the country because he is the prime accused for India, and not the United States.

Islamic Awakening in Turkey

"Islamic awakening" is not being tolerated nor digested anywhere and how can it? If "political Islam" overpowers, then would not the declining secular and liberal politics be buried forever! After the burial of communism, secular and liberal politics are waiting for their turn. It is struggling for the continuance and preservation of its artificial and unstable power. After public rejection and defeat on the political and democratic front political and military death is visible.

Unsuccessful Conspiracies
Accordingly, through military uniform and military hardware they are busy in unsuccessful conspiracies to stop the peaceful storm of Islamic awakening and are active in bringing down the representative and elected governments. But it seems that the movements and forces of the Islamic and public awakening are determined and have decided to bury the secular and liberal politics forever.

A practical demonstration of the same has been witnessed in the unsuccessful conspiracy of a military revolt against a pro Islamic government in Turkey in the past few days.

The Turkish Government thwarted a conspiracy hatched by a secular group of senior Army officers against the elected and representative government of Prime Minister Rajab Tayeb Erdogan's pro-Islamic Justice party and about 50 senior Army officers were caught red handed. This Army group had prepared a conspiracy plan to carry out activities of destruction and terrorism, bomb explosions in important mosques in Turkey and destroy a Turkish aircraft. The aim was to create fear and confusion in the country to prove that the government is unstable and produce a reason for military revolt and intrusion. This Army group since 2003 remained busy in different conspiracies against pro Islam government and there are indications of contacts and backing of the US officials and planners with mutineer Army officers.

According to some information this Army group had met former US President George W. Bush but before they could do any action, the government had made this conspiracy of mutiny unsuccessful.

According to the details of this mutiny conspiracy which have come forward, the Turkish security officials in the light of the matters carried out a crack down in eight provinces of Turkey, raided the houses of serving and retired Army officers and arrested them. Those arrested include senior Army officers of Turkish Army, former deputy chief of Army, former chief of the the Air force and chief of the Navy.

Government's Courageous Action
Recently, a Turkish court has sent seven senior Turkish military officers to jail. They include four admirals, one Army general and two colonels. After the courageous action of the government against Turkish Army for allegations of conspiracy and revolting against the government, tension between pro Islam ruling party and secular Army has increased. Exchange of harsh words has also taken place between the opponents.

The chief of Turkish Army made short his visit to Egypt and returned to Ankara where he presided a meeting of all the generals of Turkish Army and admirals at the Army headquarter. Whereas the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan during his tour of Spain while giving a statement on the arrest of Army officers said that this is not a political issue but a matter of security and destiny of Turkey.

Although after the arrest of mutineer Army officers, tension and friction between pro Islamic government and secular Army had immensely increased but according to the latest information, during a meeting and negotiations between the Prime Minister of pro Islamic government and Chief of secular Army it has been agreed to bring to an end the tension and friction.

An announcement issued from the presidency says that this matter will be resolved while remaining within the constitutional and legal limits. Erdogan has declared meeting to have been pleasant.

Since the time justice party has come to power, a struggle continues between pro Islam government and Turkish secular Army. The Turkish Muslims want an end to the secular reforms of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk and an enforcement of Islamic values and traditions whereas Army is continuously disgracing the public mandate.

It is active in conspiracies for the downfall of pro Islam government sometimes with the strength if its own power and sometimes with the connivance of judiciary. But the people have strongly and with heavy majority rejected the alliance of secular Army with judiciary against the pro Islam government.

The present military revolt which reached its end prematurely; is this revelation not amazing that directly or indirectly it had the US support. The United States after 9/11 is unhappy with that decision of Turkish parliament of not sending its troops for attack on Iraq and in the war against terrorism.

Military Revolt and Intrusion
Since the last decade in this struggle between the pro Islam government of justice party and secular Army, the political leadership showing extreme prudence, intelligence and sagacity has made the military revolt and intrusion unsuccessful. This success of Turkey's political leadership is not being digested by the secular and liberal elements.

It is incorrect to understand that after the present crisis the struggle continuing between pro Islam people and secular Army has finished. Rather the political leadership will have to further struggle for a complete Islamic awakening in Turkey and an end to the remains of secularism. Finally the secular elements will have to surrender before the Turkish Muslims because the sense of awakening with regard to "political Islam" in the Islamic world that has been created cannot be finished by the alliance of Army and judiciary.

India-Pakistan Talks: A Review

A number of problems between Pakistan and India have been awaiting solution since the partition of the Indian-Pakistani subcontinent. Major problems among these are Kashmir, Sir Creek, distribution of water, Siachen Glacier, and now terrorism is also a problem that has contributed to widening of the gulf between the two countries.

In addition to leadership-level talks between the two countries, dialogues were also held at ministerial and secretaries level between the two countries during the last 63 years to solve the problems. During the course of time, wars were also fought, which broadened the gulf of mistrust further, and the Mumbai attacks in the year 2008 pushed the level of mistrust to an extreme end.

The latest, the foreign secretary-level talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir was held after a long time, which ended without any positive results. The Pakistani Government is making efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue and other disputes. However, the Indian Government's stance was limited to talks on terrorism only. Now, these talks again proved meaningless and serving no purpose, and became a thing of the past like those held previously.

Salman Bashir declined to hand over the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, to India, saying that it is futile to link the Hafiz Saeed issue with the dialogue process. Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao raised the terrorism issue at the talks with Salman Bashir and demanded the arrest of Hafiz Saeed because India has been the victims of terrorism attacks from the Pakistani side since a long time. India also entrusted to Pakistan a dossier of the list of 40 terrorists, but whether Pakistan would make any comment on it, is doubtful.

The manner in which the two sides were engaged in filling the blanks shows that the dialogue was held without much preparation. Those who consider this to be another failure of India's foreign policy cannot be totally dismissed. This is because our rival country, which had made India agree to talks even if that meant coming to New Delhi, seems to have been successful in claiming this to be a diplomatic victory. It could achieve this feat without changing its viewpoint after 26 November 2008.

Ministerial Level Talks
The first session of Pakistan-India ministerial level talks was held on 27 December 1962 in Rawalpindi. Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and India by its Foreign Minister Suran Singh. These six-phase talks concerning the Kashmir issue remained inconclusive. The second phase of these talks was held in New Delhi from 16 to 19 January 1963, while the third phase from 8 to 11 February ended inconclusive in Karachi. However, it was decided to hold one more meeting in Calcutta (Kolkata) to find new ways for solution to the problem. Hence, the fourth phase of talks kicked off on 11 March in Calcutta where the proposal of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was agreed on, saying the Kashmir problem should be solved on the basis of economy and not religion. Yet, no permanent solution to the problem was reached, and it was decided to take the matter forward and holding of another session of talks was agreed.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru once again emphasized on solution to the Kashmir and other issues. The fifth phase of ministerial-level talks began in Karachi on 22 April 1963, which ended without yielding any results. The sixth and last phase of these talks began in New Delhi on 15 May 1963, which proved unsuccessful on 16 May when Pakistan suggested making the Kashmir an international issue. In this way, these ministerial-level talks comprising six phases concluded without yielding any results.

There had been no ministerial or diplomatic contact between the two countries for almost seven years; rather, India attacked Pakistan in 1971, resulting in disintegration of the country into two parts (inception of Bangladesh); Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the Indian prime minister signed Shimla Pact thereafter.

On 31 July 1971, the Pakistan-India diplomatic staff held bilateral negotiations at Rawalpindi to bring the political situation to normalcy. On 29 November 1974, the diplomats from the two countries held negotiations at New Delhi to remove ban from the bilateral trade, imposed in 1965. On 24 January 1975, Pakistan and India signed a trade agreement at Islamabad. Negotiations on Pakistan-India trade were arranged at Karachi from 12 to 13 January 1976.

The Indian cricket team, after a 17-year gap, came to Pakistan on a two-month long tour on 24 April 1978. On 4 February 1980, Indian Foreign Secretary R.D. Sethi along with a four-member delegation came to Pakistan to hand over Indira Gandhi's letter to President Ziaul Haque, in which meetings with Pakistani Foreign Secretary S. Shah Nawaz for bringing relationships of both the countries to normalcy and situation of Afghanistan were discussed.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ghulam Ishaq Khan and his Indian counterpart Narasimha Rao held a two-phase meeting on 10 June 1981, in which discussions were made on the international situation and the bilateral relationships. Pakistan and India held negotiations on No-War Pact and bilateral relationships on 30 January 1982.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Yaqub Khan held a 50-minute meeting with his Indian counterpart Bali Ram Bhagat to discuss bilateral relationships. The second round of this meeting was held in New Delhi on the issue of Siachen Glacier.

In October 1978, the two countries arranged negotiations at Islamabad on the Wooler Barrage dispute. On 31 December 1988, multiphase meetings were held between Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi. On 1 January 1989, Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi signed three bilateral accords: No attack on each another, solution of bilateral taxation dispute, and cultural cooperation.

Secretary-Level Negotiations
The first round of the secretary-level negotiations between the two countries was held at Islamabad on 17 July 1990, in which Foreign Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Khan represented Pakistan, while Indian Foreign Secretary Machkana Darbe represented his country. These negotiations were of seven phases. The second round was held in New Delhi from 10 to 11 August 1990, third round in Islamabad between Pakistani Foreign Secretary Sheheryar Khan and his Indian counterpart Machkana Darbe and J.N. Dixit from 18 to 20 December 1990 and seventh round in Islamabad from 2 to 3 January 1994.

In these negotiations, which were held after a 17-month gap, nuclear nonproliferation, Kashmir, and Siachen disputes and reduction of weapons were discussed. However, these negotiations didn't bear any fruit. On 28 March 1997, Pakistan-India negotiations at the foreign secretary-level resumed in New Delhi after the lapse of three years. Shamshad Ahmed Khan represented Pakistan, while Salman Haider represented India. The second round of these talks was held in Islamabad from June 19 to 22 1997.

Negotiations at the foreign secretary-level restarted at Islamabad on 15 October 1998 after a gap of 13 months, in which Shamshad Khan represented Pakistan, while Raghunath participated from the Indian side. Discussions were made for the restoration of confidence building environment. As a result of these meetings, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan in 1999.

In 2003, the Pakistan-India contacts were restored at the foreign secretary-level, in which the India forwarded 12 suggestions for confidence building and stress was laid on the reopening of land, water and air routes. Pakistan showed positive response to almost all of the suggestions. However, it partially rejected one of the suggestions, and also imposed some conditions.

Also, in addition to this, four suggestions were presented from Pakistan's side: Increase in the number of delegation staff and starting Lahore-Amritsar bus service in place of increase in number of buses on Lahore-Delhi route were suggested. On 6 January 2004, a meeting was held between General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the SAARC leaders' conference in Islamabad where both of them agreed to hold purposeful negotiations in February for restoration of relationships.

As a result, negotiations at the secretary-level were held from 15 to 17 February 2004 in Islamabad, which broke down the three-year deadlock. The second round of these talks started in Islamabad from 27 to 28 December 2004, in which Foreign Secretary Riaz H. Kokar represented Pakistan, and from the Indian side Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran forwarded 20 suggestions for restoration of confidence over strategic and regional issues and the Kashmir dispute.

This peace process fell in jeopardy after the seven bomb explosions in Mumbai trains on 11 July 2006, in which approximately 200 people were killed. As expected, India put the responsibility of the explosions on Pakistan and talks at the foreign secretary-level were halted. And it is also said that the Pakistani diplomatic staff was deported from India. However, the deferment lasted for a very little duration and, once again, negotiations started at the foreign secretary-level in New Delhi from 14 to 15 February 2006. In the third phase of this meeting, the Khokhrapar Monabao border was opened on 1 February 2007.

An agreement was signed in March 2007 to prepare combined mechanism against terrorism. However, important, complicated and solution-seeking issues between the two countries remained unresolved. And most importantly, India kept rolling back on its own 12 suggestions that it had forwarded for confidence restoration in October 2003.

During the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting on 7 December 2007 in New Delhi, Pakistani Caretaker Foreign Minister Inamul Haq met his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and emphasized on negotiations. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Pakistan from 21 to 22 May 2008, and another meeting was held in Islamabad for the evaluation of the fourth round of Pakistan-India negotiations.

On 27 June 2008, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited India and invited his counterpart for negotiations, after which the fifth phase of negotiations at the foreign secretary-level started on 21 July 2008. Under these negotiations, friendly cooperation in various sectors was ensured and discussions were made on suggestions of availability of resources for easy issuance of visas and increasing people-to-people contacts.

Pakistan and India agreed for confidence rebuilding over the Kashmir dispute and steps for amalgamation of the divided families. However, no agreements over the Kashmir dispute and other issues came to forth.

Disastrous Point
26 November 2008 proved to be a very fatal day for the Pakistan-India peace process when approximately 170 people lost their lives in the massive terrorist activities in the Indian city of Mumbai. India held Pakistan responsible for these activities and one again the negotiation process suspended. And now India is laying stress on negotiations only over the agenda of terrorism.

And news published in various dailies show the bias that India at the moment does not want to deviate from its stance and talk about other issues. One this occasion, we are recalling/remembering these words of the Indian prime minister, which he had spoken on 12 July 2001 for war: "If India and Pakistan remain busy in peaceful and sincere bilateral negotiations for removing mutual differences, then none of the problems could linger unresolved."
Assessment
If the responsible people sitting on the negotiations tables recall these words of Vajpayee, without any doubt, peaceful environment will be established in the region, which will guarantee development of all.

The most important aspect of the 25 February talks is that Pakistan's foreign secretary came here and our foreign secretary talked to him. Even if both of them repeated their old allegations full of resentment, at least it broke the silence. It should be noted here that during the time when formal talks between the governments remain stopped, politicians on both sides spread much more hatred among their people. Before leaving, Pakistani foreign secretary extended an invitation to the Indian foreign secretary to come there. We must continue this sequence.

To conclude, I am also recalling a quote of Jawaharlal Nehru, which he had uttered soon after independence: "A prosperous and secure Pakistan would benefit India; with which (Pakistan) we can establish close and friendly relations." In the light of these words, India should not miss this opportunity at any cost. And it (India) should take such steps that help Pakistan become a stable and prosperous country, so that it also has positive impact on India.

Atrocities Against Sikhs in Pakistan

In Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, the Taliban killed two Sikhs by beheading them, which has exposed how hollow the Pakistani Government's claims are. The Taliban have already imposed Jazia tax (tax on non-Muslims) on Sikhs.
Every Sikh has to pay Rs1000 annually to practice his religion. These Sikhs are Pakistani citizens and have been living there from before partition. Until 2009, there were more than 10,000 Sikhs in this region, who have left their homes and shifted to cities like Peshawar after the Jazia tax was imposed. Now, only around 500 Sikhs remain in the tribal areas because of the Taliban's terror rule.

India's Initiative
Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram has stated that Sikhs who had gone abroad during the phase of militancy in Punjab and wish to abandon militancy like Kashmiri militants can be considered to stage a return to the national mainstream. Chidambaram's observation can be termed a welcome statement though it cannot be said whether it can be implemented.
Its chief reason is that the attitude of successive union governments, especially of the Congress-led governments, toward Sikh issues has been cynical all through in the past. Hence Sikhs cannot expect much of the claims made by the federal government.
The Indian Government has condemned the killing of Sikhs by the Taliban and has strongly criticized Pakistan. Democratic politics is also on the boil on this issue. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked why the Indian Government did not do anything when these people were abducted. It is but natural for India to be angry with this kind of brutal killing, but it should not be termed as the government's diplomatic failure. These Sikhs are Pakistani citizens and the Indian Government cannot do anything about abduction of Pakistani citizens in Pakistan. It is the Pakistani Government's failure that its laws have no value in its own country. The world community should exert pressure on Pakistan to give guarantee of security to the minorities in that country.

Militancy in Punjab
In 1980s and 1990s, militancy in Punjab was at its peak. Sikhs took up arms at the behest of foreign countries, yet the then Congress-led federal government can be held entirely responsible for meting out injustice to the struggle. Then, Indira Gandhi was at the helm of affairs and she never liked such political parties that posed a challenge to the stable federal government by speaking in terms of granting more powers to the state governments.
In Indira Gandhi's views, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was a political party to which she desired to impart a lesson. It was such mindset that led to militancy in Punjab.
The phase of militancy in the state was linked to the attack on the Golden Temple, Amritsar, assassination of Indira Gandhi, and killings of Sikhs. In reality, all these incidents are interconnected.
During militancy in the state, Sikh youth migrated to foreign countries because of terrorism in the state. Since then Sikhs have never been meted out justice in any case. The Congress leaders responsible for the killings of Sikhs have not been punished so far.
Recently, terrorist activities in India's Punjab have intensified. Several arrests and recovery of arms and explosives indicate that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence is again trying to incite Sikh separatists. The religious tax shows how safe Sikhs are in Pakistan, which provides shelter and encouragement to terrorist organizations and still advocates the rights of Sikhs.

Golden Temple Targeted
Indira Gandhi targeted the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the most sacred religious seat of the Sikh community, by razing the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs. The Indian Army killed thousands of innocent Sikhs.
It was as a reaction to the attack that Indira Gandhi was assassinated. In the wake of her assassination, Sikhs were murdered in a well-planned manner.

Fulfilling Sikhs' Desire
It has been repeatedly demanded that Sikhs settled abroad desire to return to India and join the national mainstream. The blacklist should, therefore, be scrapped. Nevertheless, the blacklist continues to be kept intact.
If even moderate Sikhs are not allowed to return to India, how can it be expected that hard-liner Sikhs would be provided an opportunity to stage a comeback to the country and join the national mainstream.
The issue of safety of Sikhs could also be raised in the India-Pakistan talks to be held this week. Pakistani citizens' security is an internal matter of that country and respecting that position is in India's interest, otherwise Pakistan, which is supposedly concerned about the Indian Muslims' safety would get a chance to raise that point. If India wants the security of Pakistani Sikhs, it should provide visa and citizenship to those who want to come and settle here.