Category — Foreign Affairs

After the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, the national mood was simmering. People were enraged and wanted decisive action by the Government… perhaps strikes inside Pakistan to bomb the terrorist camps proliferating there. Sensing the national mood, the Government of India decided to put the peace talks with Pakistan on hold. The reasoning offered was that unless Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf abides by his promises to end cross-border terrorism, talks were futile.

“India will ask Pakistan to fully adhere to President Pervez Musharraf’s announcement in 2004 that his country would extend all support to end cross-border terrorism as the terror strikes in Mumbai not only shook the country but invited sharp reactions from the world community,” Ahamed said.

And yet, less than 20 days later, India opted to resume the dialogue with Pakistan. One wonders what change in Pakistani attitude in the intervening fornight prompted the resumption of dialogue! On the contrary, Pakistan only strindently denied any involvement in the 7/11 blast and also brazenly asked for proofs of the existence of terrorist camps within Pakistan. The reason for resumtion of peace talks was the same old worn-out line that the MEA is so fond of!

”We are engaged in a peace process which is important to both countries and it is very important that in order to allow this process to move forward there must be a commitment to abandon cross-border terrorism in whatever form it occurs,” he said.

So why did the Indian government choose to resume the dialogue?! Armchair peaceniks will claim that sane heads within the government prevailed. Congress will put forth the argument that the Congress party is committed to peace. But of course, those are silly reasons. There are no more saner heads in this government than the preceeding one! And if at all, the Congress party is committed (and addicted) to power, not peace.

Surely the NDA government gave a marvellous example of a tough response when it ordered Operation Parakram after Vajpayee’s ‘aar paar ki ladai‘ claims in the aftermath of the Pakistan-sponsored Parliament attack in 2001. After all, Operation Parakram was the biggest and longest deployment of Indian military might on the border.

Hardly!

[Read more →]

Following foiling of a possible terrorist strike in UK, the US embassy in NewDelhi issued an advisory.

The Embassy has learned that foreign terrorists, possibly including members of Al-Qaida, allegedly intend to carry out a series of bombing attacks in or around New Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay) in the days leading up to India’s Independence Day on August 15, 2006 (i.e., a possible time frame of 11 - 16 August). Likely targets include major airports, key central Indian government offices, and major gathering places such as hotels and markets.

[Emphasis original. Source: OSAC]

It’s essentially an advisory for the US nationals (tourists, etc.) in India. But it’s effectively an indication that the US intelligence services have some information about possible strikes. Whether these likely attacks materialize or not is besides the point. Indian authorities should at least acknowledge this and try liaising with American intelligence authorities.

However, Indian authorities seem to be sure that the US fears are baseless and that the warning itself is “innocuous”

The government on Friday described as “very innocuous” the US Embassy advisory on possible Al-Qaeda attacks in the national capital and Mumbai but refrained from commenting on the presence of foreign terrorists in the country.

[Source: Rediff.com]

I fail to understand what is innocuous about the warning. The advisory is very clear on the possible timeframe of the attacks, the possible places of attack and even possibly the perpetrators. It’s quite clear and upfront. Now it is upto the Indian authorities to link up with the Americans and extract the details. But what do we have here? Indians want the intelligence to be delivered to their doorstep!!

Duggal repeatedly ducked questions whether there was any presence of al Qaeda in the country. “I have only seen the advisory and there is no intelligence input shared with us.

“It is normal for them to issue advisories for their mission staff to maintain a low profile. This is strictly their internal matter. I have no comments whatsoever,” he said.

[Emphasis mine]

What the hell?!! … how are possible terrorist strikes in New Delhi and Mumbai, an American internal matter?!! I fail to understand this completely!

On the other hand, it’s a classical Indian response. Go into denial to start with and then if incidents happen, then bemoan the lack of intelligence or better still, blame it all on Gujarat!

And all this is hours after the capture of two LeT terrorists (including a Pakistan national) at New Delhi station with five detonators!!

After the recent tit-for-tat round of diplomat expulsions, the Pakistan foreign ministry has expressed its hope that the peace process would not be affected.

The expulsion of an Indian diplomat from Pakistan amid allegations of spying should not affect the peace process between the two countries, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

[Source: IBNLive]

That makes me laugh! Surely they should know that if India is soft enough to continue peace talks after countless acts of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against itself, it will definitely not suspend talks over a piddly thing as expulsion of diplomats!

Not even when Pakistan does not have decency enough to treat a diplomat according international laws.

‘I was intercepted, picked up, roughed up and handcuffed by Pakistani officials while on the way to Wagah to receive my family,” Kaul said.

”I am disappointed with the way Pakistan treated me,” Kaul said of the five hours that he was held.

Don’t worry Mr. Kasuri… we have very little self-respect!