India demonstrates duplicity once again

Blog Friday, February 19th, 2010

THE euphoria created by the governmental circles in Islamabad over Indian offer of talks would surely subside with a clear message from New Delhi that the so-called talks would be unifocal and there would be no resumption of the Composite Dialogue process, which Pakistan yearns for. Foreign Office has sought clarifications after a statement to this effect by the Indian External Affairs Minister and hopefully things would soon become clear.

India behaved exactly like this immediately after the Sharam El-Sheikh meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh. The two leaders agreed to delink the dialogue process from the issue of terrorism but in the face of hue and cry by the Indian media, Dr Singh somersaulted and since then New Delhi has been non-committal about resumption of the Composite Dialogue process. We have been emphasizing in these columns that India made the offer under pressure of the international community but the offer is devoid of any substance if the talks have to be on the single point agenda of terrorism with obvious focus on Mumbai incident. As far as this issue is concerned, the two countries have been discussing it formally and informally and through exchange of so-called dossiers and, therefore, it would be nothing new. Pakistan must not enter into any phony dialogue that doesn’t address the core issues of Jammu and Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek and above all serious and blatant violations of Indus Basin Water Treaty by India. Pakistan has legitimately sought clarification from India and if New Delhi doesn’t convey in clear and unambiguous terms that all these items would be on the agenda then our authorities should review the decision to send the Foreign Secretary to the Indian capital. No one is against dialogue but there should be no compromise on principles and interests of the country.

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