The Pakistani Spectator

There was not much expected from the Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan that concluded few days back at New Delhi. However, it is encouraging to note that the Foreign Secretaries of both the countries did talk and there was no walk out. The tolerance shown by Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her counterpart Salman Basir is sufficient to continue the future talks. India has asked Pakistan to handover a serving and a retired Pakistani Army officer namely Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali along with 32 others including Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) leader Hafiz Saeed. Ironically, the demand of these two Pakistani Army officers came in the wake of interrogation of David Headley, a Christian US national, arrested from Chicago who is presently under trial in a US Court. So far India’s evidences are based on hearsay from FBI and CIA as till now Washington has not permitted New Delhi to have any word or question with David Headley what to talk about investigations. Three separate dossiers were submitted by India; 1) First dossier – India demanded action against eight persons including Major Iqbal and Hafiz Saeed and their subsequent handing over to India, 2) Second dossier - India demanded seven Sikh militants and 17 Indian Mujahideen (IM) militants. India blamed Pakistan for helping militants of the Indian Mujahideen and Khalistan movement including Jagtar Singh Hawara alias Tara, Ranjeet Singh alias Neeta, Harminder Singh and Lakhvinder Singh alias Rody and 3) Third dossier – Demanded action against Harkat-ul-Hihad-al-Islami (HuJI) Chief Illyas Kashmiri and their subsequent handing over to India.

Pakistan, during the talks, dealt the matter with maturity and did not put forward demand of long list of serving Indian Military Intelligence (MI) officers including One Major General, two Brigadiers, three Lieutenant Colonels, three Majors and a number of others, who were involved in terrorism against the state of Pakistan. If we recall, one of the prime culprits of Malegaon blasts, Lieutenant Colonel Purohit had confessed before Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) and MOCCA that he carried out Malegaon, Nanded and Samjhota Express blasts. It is on record that on November 8, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Purohit gave his confessional statement before the MOCCA that he was not the only one involved in Malegaon and Samjhuta Express terrorism but there were two other serving Indian Army Colonels who formed part of General Premnath Hoon’s terror network. Later ATS confirmed that beside Major (Retired) Ramesh Upadhyaya, three other serving Indian Army officers namely Colonel Raikar, Colonel Bapaditya Dhar and Colonel Hasmukh Patel were also part of masterminding Malegaon blasts.

It would not be any surprise if persons mentioned by New Delhi in the dossier turn out to be innocent, in case an impartial trial in carried out in the court. However, it is on the record that terrorism carried out by officers of Indian Military Intelligence and RAW, who were directly involved in Malegaon and Samjhota blasts, confessed their crime before an Indian MOCCA court. Frankly speaking, there is no such thing as non-state actors as either someone is an actor or not, but blaming the country of origin for the crimes of such persons is, no doubt, some thing awful. In support of this point of view, we have two cases before us that happened quite recently in India. First we have case of Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash along with three others Major Generals, who were involved in the Sukna land scam. General Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Command, Kolkata recommended court martial of the officers involved but a lenient view was taken by punishing only one general officer. The question arises, should we take it as if Indian Army was involved in the scam and the whole Army should be declared corrupt? The second case is that of Lieutenant Colonel Purohit who confessed his involvement in Malegaon, Nanded and Samjhota Express blasts. Since he belonged to Indian Military Intelligence so should we declare Indian Military Intelligence as terrorist organization and get it banned from United Nation Security Council? If this matter is put up before any sane person, no doubt, he would not agree to convict an organization for a crime of individuals.

In case of Mumbai attacks, India is religiously propagating as if Pakistan is involved in state-sponsored terrorism. New Delhi needs to keep this thing in mind that the persons mentioned in the dossiers are innocent till the time court convict them. One wonders that in such a case how India can point finger towards Pakistan for Mumbai attacks. One feels that the major problem experienced by India and Pakistan in accepting the ground realities is how to cater the sentiments and emotions of their masses, who are not ready to accept ground facts. One wonders that it has become unavoidable for both the countries to go for a secret peace agreement, till the time the public pressure does not allow them to move forward. In the present scenario, what these countries can do at the most is to issue instigating statements to please the masses they represent. One fails to understand why general public and leaders of both the countries have adopted such an attitude? With regard to western countries they are ready to ink all sorts of deals, irrespective of the fact that with some of them they have worst kind of relations but when the matter is between India and Pakistan they feel proud in annoying each other.

If India thinks that by maintaining good relations with Pakistan, the separatist movements in India would gain strength and create security problems for the centre, it is wrong. If we trace back the history before the creation of Pakistan and even in we go farther before the imperialist intruded into Indian subcontinent, we would find inter state rivalries often resulted in full fledge wars. It is noteworthy that despite the painful division of Pakistan into two halves, as a result of conspiracy of fifth columnists in both the wings, Pakistan has never attempted to destabilize Decca, rather Islamabad always pray for blessings of Allah, good future and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh. However, one can forecast that in case ideology of Pakistan is enforced in the country, Pakistan and Bangladesh are going to unite again but the case of India is quite different. We must ponder that if Pakistan and Bangladesh can live as good friends and neighbours, why can’t India and Pakistan follow the same lines. Of course, we can solve our pending issue on the basis of principles of fair deal, justice and good will.  No doubt, if Pakistan and India are able to mend their fences, no one can stop them to become most powerful and prosperous countries of the world.