Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
1
P AKISTAN -I NDIA P EACE P ROCESS
(2008-2009)
E DITOR
D R N OOR UL H AQ
A SSISTANT E DITOR
N ARGIS Z AHRA
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IPRI Factfile
C ONTENTS
Preface
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Indus Water Treaty Will Not be Abrogated: India
Accord to Exchange Security Information Signed with India
Soomro Stresses Need for Including Kashmiris in Peace Process
Accord with India to Double Flights
The Future of Peace Process
Fourth Round of Composite Dialogue
Pakistan-India Relations
Looking Out for Pakistan First
Prospects of ‘New Era’ of Relations with India
Advani Admits he Sabotaged Agra Summit
Foreign Minister Level Review of the Fourth Round of
Composite Dialogue
Energizing the Normalization Process
Indo-Pakistan Water Talks
Indo-Pakistan Ties: Management of Contradictions
The Water Bomb
Kishanganga Dam Controversy
What was Achieved in India-Pakistan Talks
Damaging the Peace Process
Dialogue Under Stress
The Wrong Dialogue
Tension Vitiates Build-up to SAARC Summit
Pakistan-India Peace Process; The Way Forward
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
Pakistan and India Clash over Kashmir at UN
Baglihar is Back
India was Ready to Attack Pakistan: John McCain
Indo-Pakistan Tensions and U.S Options
Pakistan Offers Grand Reconciliation: Qureshi, Mukherjee
Singh Reiterates Tough Stance: Talks at Secretaries’
Level Planned
Text of India-Pakistan Joint Statement at Sharm-el-Sheikh
Indo-Pakistan Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism
U.S. Requests China to Help Develop Indo-Pakistan Ties
India not Sincere about Resolving Dispute: Foreign Office
U.S. Wants Resumption of Indo-Pakistan Talks: Hillary
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Pakistan-India: A Year Since Mumbai Attack
India Placed a Pause on the Composite Dialogue: Foreign
Minister of Pakistan
India Fuelling Terrorism in Pakistan: Foreign Minister
of Pakistan
Ending Indo-Pakistan Impasse
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India not Sincere about Talks: Prime Minister of Pakistan
Track-II Forum Floats Idea of Siachen ‘Peace Park’
Pakistan Delegates for Improved Trade Ties
Joint Indo-Pakistan Watershed Management Proposed
for Chenab, Jhelum
Climate of Distrust
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Eyewash Efforts of USA to Defuse Indo-Pakistan Antagonism
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Indian Designs
The Road to Peace
Indian Army Reworks War Doctrine for Pakistan, China
Fully Alive to Threats
Deepak Kapoor’s Statement Absurd, Irresponsible:
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
India's Provocative Military Doctrine
India’s Challenge
Water Woes
Krishna, Qureshi Discuss Terrorism on Phone
India’s Unhelpful Attitude
Pakistan Warns India Against Hegemonic Mindset
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P REFACE
The composite Dialogue Process between Pakistan and India was initiated
by Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and General Pervez
Musharraf, President of Pakistan in January 2004. They had identified
eight issues, i.e., Peace and Security including CBMs, Jammu and
Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Terrorism and Drug
Trafficking, to be discussed bilaterally between the two countries.
Although the process moved at a snail’s pace and failed to solve any of
the issues, it was termed as irreversible. As late as July 2009, Prime
Minister of India Manmohan Singh and the Prime Minister of Pakistan
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in a joint statement at Sharm-el-Sheikh agreed
to a “way forward in India-Pakistan relations” and de-linking peace talks
from action against terrorism, but no headway has been made. The
Indians have made the peace process hostage to the terrorist attack in
Mumbai in November 2008 and have refused to resume it unless,
according to them, Pakistan takes “credible action against alleged
perpetrators”. They ignore the fact that Pakistan has outlawed the alleged
militant groups and their network has been dismantled. But it would be
legally difficult to punish any person or persons without evidence.
Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism1 more than any other
country in the world. The country is facing Mumbai like attacks almost
every other day. The terrorists are attacking all conceivable places: hotels,
mosques, educational institutions, playgrounds, bazaars, graveyards,
funeral processions, political dignitaries, security personnel and
installations that to date include the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad and
the General Headquarters of the Army in Rawalpindi. The economic cost
of the war against terror during the last eight years comes to US$ 35
billion and has caused several thousand casualties of civilians, and
members of police and armed forces; more than 3000 persons during the
last year, i.e., 2009 alone. The security forces have killed and arrested
several hundred terrorists. Pakistan armed forces have fought terrorists in
1
The roots of terrorism in this region can be traced to Afghan Jihad against the
Soviet Union, which commenced in April 1978 and was sponsored by the
U.S., the West and Pakistan, which, in turn, became a victim of terrorism after
September 11 attacks on U.S. twin towers.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
5
Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in the heart of the capital in July 2007, later in
Swat and are presently chasing them from Waziristan.
Although it is alleged that Indian Consulates in Afghanistan,
located close to Pakistan’s borders, are engaged in a proxy war against
Pakistan by supporting the terrorists, Pakistan is still keen to commence
the peace process. It appears that the interests of the terrorists and Indians
have converged in as far as hurting the Pakistan Armed Forces and
weakening the country is concerned. Pakistan’s commitment to fighting
terrorism provides a heaven-sent opportunity to Indians to pressurize
Pakistan to submit to the solution of issues on Indian terms, which
Pakistan does not accept.
The recent provocative statement2 by the Indian Army Chief
General Deepak Kapoor announcing Indian Army’s revision of its
“doctrine” and “pro-active strategy” to fight a possible “two-front war”
with Pakistan and China, and a tit for tat reply by the Pakistan Army
Chief, only stiffens respective positions and prolong the stalemated IndoPakistan peace process. Already, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf
Raza Gilani, has observed that India is “not sincere in resuming
composite dialogue”, and attempts to “normalize relations between the
two countries were being stalled.”3 Both countries should realize that it is
in their mutual interest and in the interest of the region as a whole to
fight jointly against terrorists operating in each country to a lesser or
greater degree, avoid blame-game, and negotiate for resolving, and not
simply managing, disputes. There is no alternative to resolving all issues
including Kashmir and river waters, for the overall peace and progress of
the region.
The Factfile contains selected articles, statements and media
reports on the subject published from January 31, 2008 till January 14,
2010.
January 14, 2010.
2
3
Times of India (New Delhi), Decmber 30, 2009.
Dawn (Islamabad), December 1, 2009.
Dr Noor ul Haq
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
I NDUS W ATER T REATY
WILL NOT BE
1
A BROGATED : I NDIA
Indian Water Resources Minister Professor Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday
announced that there was no chance of abrogating the Indus Water
Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference here [New Delhi] , Soz announced
that India would harness the irrigation and hydroelectric potential of the
country’s Western rivers to the fullest. Referring to the World Bank’s
verdict on the Baglihar Dam project, he said it had been clearly
established that India could use its water for irrigation and other
development purposes. He said two more projects — at Burser on River
Chenab and at Ujjh on a tributary of River Ravi — were also in the
pipeline.
The minister said that India, in 2007, had sent the daily flow data of
280 hydrological sites on the Indus Basin, along with flood warnings, to
Pakistan under the aegis of the IWT.
On the preservation of water bodies in Kashmir, he cautioned
against some “fake NGOs” riding on sentiments and issues. Calling for a
movement to dislodge encroachers, he asked the Jammu and Kashmir
government to fight for the restoration and preservation of water bodies
in the valley.
The minister said he has termed certain rivers “national assets” to
address water disputes between the country’s states. He said a group of
ministers had finalised their recommendations on the issue and these
would be put before the cabinet soon.
Iftikhar Gilani, Daily Times (Lahore), January 31, 2008.
A CCORD
TO
E XCHANGE S ECURITY I NFORMATION S IGNED
WITH I NDIA
India and Pakistan on Monday signed an agreement to exchange security
information, officials said, opening up a new channel of communication
between the two countries.
The accord clears the way for regular contact between India’s
military-funded Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) and
Pakistan’s state-run Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS).
“The purpose is to build channels of communication at the level of
scholars, because exchanges of security studies had been limited because
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of the strained ties we have had,” ISDA director Narendra Sisodia told
AFP.
The former Indian defence secretary, who signed the accord with
his counterpart in the ISS, Shireen Mazari, said it was a landmark deal
because “except for contacts at international forums, we never had open
discussions on security issues.” The pact, first mooted by India in 2004,
stipulates that the two think tanks will send experts to participate in statesponsored workshops in India and Pakistan and later engage in joint
military research projects.
The dialogue has led to closer political contact and greater transport
links, but the two armies have shunned direct contact except for annual
discussions on unresolved disputes.
The two sides hailed the agreement as an “important” deal and said
it would contribute to the peace process.
“This collaborative arrangement is considered an important
confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan,” an official
statement issued after the signing said.
The pact would help “establish direct academic and scholarly ties,
exchange of ideas on issues of common concern and conduct of scholarly
conferences, seminars and round-tables,” it added.
IDSA’s Sisodia however cautioned the accord between the IDSA
and the ISS would not replace any official dialogue.
“We should not expect this to be a surrogate for anything official,”
he said.
“Holding any dialogue with Pakistan on a non-official level had
never been easy and hence huge gaps still exist,” added Sujit Dutta, the
head of IDSA’s South Asian Studies unit.
“However, this may help us to achieve some frank exchanges of
views which will see where our thinking goes,” he said.—AFP
Dawn (Islamabad), February 5, 2008.
S OOMRO U RGES F LEXIBILITY FOR K ASHMIR S ETTLEMENT :
S TRESSES N EED FOR I NCLUDING K ASHMIRIS IN P EACE
P ROCESS
Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro on Tuesday said that
Pakistan believes that the key to an amicable solution of Kashmir issue
lies in getting the Kashmiri leadership from both sides to come to a
common platform and display flexibility to achieve a durable solution.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
3
"We have made it clear to the Indian side that the Kashmiris are a
stakeholder in the bilateral dialogue process and they must, therefore, be
the principal beneficiaries of any eventful outcome," he said while
addressing a function held here at Pakistan National Council of the Arts
on the Kashmir Solidarity Day here Tuesday.
He said that history of Pak-India relations is a testimony to the fact
that without resolving the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the
confidence building measures (CBMs) and improvement of relations
prove to be fragile and even short-lived.
"We believe that the peace process has to move beyond the CBMs,
which are largely a means towards an end and certainly not an end in
themselves, therefore, we need to address the malaise and not just the
symptoms," he added.
He stressed the need for associating the Kashmiris with the peace
process to enable all sides to reach a mutually acceptable and sustainable
solution. "Despite the enormity and magnitude of the task involved, we
are firmly committed to the peace process and would not be found
lacking in our resolve for the resolution of all outstanding issues with
India, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
The caretaker prime minister said Pakistan has demonstrated its
willingness to move beyond conflict management and towards conflict
resolution. "It remains the core issue between Pakistan and India. Its just
resolution can change the destiny of over one billion people of our
region."
He said that an amicable solution to the lingering problem would
also significantly contribute to international peace and security. The
interim premier lamented the fact that over 700,000 Indian security forces
are stationed in the held Kashmir which act with impunity.
He said these forces, empowered with draconian laws, deny the
fundamental rights especially the right to self-determination to the
Kashmiri people. "It is our firm belief that final disposition of the
Kashmir dispute will be in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of
Kashmiri people," he added.
Prime Minister Soomro expressed the hope that the spirit and
flexibility showed by Pakistan will be reciprocated by India, which will
open new vistas of cooperation and development of the two peoples.
He greatly lauded the exemplary strength and fortitude Kashmiris
have demonstrated, against all odds, towards their ultimate goal. Earlier,
speaking at the function, AJK former President and former Prime
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Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum said that the four-point suggestion of
President Pervez Musharraf would be the first step towards the resolution
of Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, peaceful demonstrations were held here in
the federal capital as elsewhere to mark the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Political parties, religious groups and NGOs organised various
programmes to show solidarity with the people of Occupied Kashmir and
expressed the resolve that support to the just cause would continue till its
liberation.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) also held a rally from the
Foreign Office to the Indian High Commission where Kashmiri leaders
in their speeches threw light on the significance of the day, asking India
to shun double standard. They staged a sit-in there for some time.
Kashmiri leaders asked New Delhi to set aside its double standard,
as on the one hand it wanted to win a permanent seat in the UN Security
Council, while on the other, it was reneging on the commitment to
honour the UN resolutions towards the settlement of Kashmir issue.
APHC Convenor Syed Yousaf Nasim and others said that
Occupation of Kashmir and denying the Kashmiris their right to selfdetermination was a slur on the face of India. They flayed New Delhi for
continuously abusing the human rights of Kashmiris and sought its
forces' pullout from Held Kashmir, paving way for restoration of
normalcy and giving the right of self-determination to them.
As in the past, February 5 was a public holiday, and there was
hardly any activity at commercial centres, markets, and traffic also
mostly stayed off highways and roads. Earlier, speaking at a function at
his residence, People's Muslim League President and former Prime
Minister Azad Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mehmood noted that it was time
to push proactively for the resolution of Kashmir problem.
He paid homage to those who had laid down their lives as well as to
Kashmiri women and youth languishing in jails. He noted that political
instability in Pakistan was also one of the major reasons and maintained
that strong and democratic Pakistan was a key to resolution of Kashmir
problem.
Asim Yasin & Mumtaz Alvi, Dawn (Islamabad), February 6, 2008.
A CCORD
WITH I NDIA TO
D OUBLE F LIGHTS
Pakistan and India have agreed to increase the number of flights,
destinations and airlines operating between them.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
5
According to a memorandum of understanding signed here on
Friday after two days of talks, both sides would be able to use three
airlines each, instead of the present one, for operations on designated
routes.
Weekly flights will be increased from 12 to 28 for each side.
New destinations planned under the agreement are Chennai (India)
and Islamabad.
Currently flights operate only between Karachi and Lahore and
New Delhi and Mumbai.
The agreement to increase the number of airlines is an opportunity
for private airlines to exploit the potential market. The revised
arrangement would be reviewed after one year.
“Both delegations agreed to meet again at a mutually convenient
date within one year to review the capacity, frequency framework and
additional destinations in each other’s territory, keeping in view the
market demand,” the foreign ministry said after the talks, adding that the
current revision had been made because of developments that had taken
place in the aviation industry over the past few years.
Officials hoped that the revision would increase people-to-people
contacts and business and trade between the two countries.
Dawn (Islamabad), February 16, 2008.
T HE F UTURE
OF
P EACE P ROCESS
The outcome of February 18 elections is nothing less than a revolution.
The verdict reflects the ardent desire of the electorate to make a complete
overhaul of the policies, both internal and external, pursued by the
previous regime. But there are certain measures taken by the previous
government that deserve appreciation. One of these initiatives is the ongoing composite dialogue and peace process with India resumed more
than four years ago. It would be, therefore, a good gesture on the part of
the leaders of the triumphant parties if they announce their pledge to
continue the peace process for the resolution of bilateral disputes.
On the face of it, there should be no problem with the PakistanIndia peace process under a PPP-PML-N coalition. Both parties support a
process of talks with India for peacefully resolving all outstanding
bilateral disputes, including the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir. The
slain leader of PPP, Benazir Bhutto had unreservedly supported the ongoing peace process with India. PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif had
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criticized Musharraf for showing extra-flexibility on Kashmir without
any reciprocity from India. But we should not forget that the stalemate
persisting since 1994 in Indo-Pak dialogue was broken under Nawaz
Sharif as Prime Minister, when both Islamabad and New Delhi agreed to
hold bilateral talks without any pre-conditions in 1997. The process led to
Vajpayee’s historic journey to Pakistan and the issuance of Lahore
Declaration in February 1999. Knowledgeable sources are of the opinion
that the two leaders had agreed on a timeframe for holding a focused
discussion on Kashmir, and had the Nawaz government not toppled in
1999, the two countries might have achieved some tangible progress on
Kashmir. The ongoing peace process is a continuation of the Lahore
Declaration in which Pakistan and India had committed themselves to
promote peace and security in the region by agreeing on a number of
nuclear and non-nuclear CBMs.
Last year Pakistan and India routinely kept the schedule of bilateral
talks under the Fourth Round of Composite Dialogue Process by holding
expert level meetings on Sir Creek (May,17-18, Rawalpindi), Promotion
of Friendly Exchanges (June, 28-29, Islamabad), Terrorism and Drug
Trafficking (July, 3-4, New Delhi), Tourism and Culture (July, New
Delhi), Economic and Commercial Cooperation (July 31-August 1, New
Delhi), Wullar Barrage (August 30-31, New Delhi), and on Nuclear CBMs
(October 19, New Delhi). The turbulent political conditions in Pakistan
created by the declaration of emergency on November 3 and assassination
of Benazir Bhutto on December 27 had inevitably caused the peace
process to slow down. The announcement of the election schedule had
also put the peace process on hold. A peaceful and orderly election and
the positive moves by winning parties towards forming stable coalition in
the centre provide enough reason to hope that the new government
would pick up talks with India under the on-going peace process from
where the previous government left it without wasting much time.
The talks under the new dispensation in Islamabad, however,
should prove more meaningful and fruitful. Hitherto, the peace process
has achieved progress only on the CBMs front; but so far as the area of
conflict resolution is concerned, Pakistan and India have not been able to
secure any tangible success. The two countries have not even inked
agreements on Siachen and Sir Creek, although, reportedly, major
differences over these two issues have been removed. Similarly, there has
been no forward movement on Kashmir, despite the fact that the two
sides have exchanged a number of ideas and proposals on the settlement
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
7
of the dispute. Indian Prime Minister’s observation that Kashmir has
never been so intensively discussed between Pakistan and India as under
the on-going Composite Dialogue Process notwithstanding, in practical
terms there is no change either in the on-ground situation in Kashmir or
in the traditional Indian position on the issue. Just as democratic
transition in Pakistan was the focus of international community due to its
implications for the war against terrorism, the world would now closely
watch how Pakistan and India ensure further progress of the on-going
peace process by moving forward in the area of conflict resolution. On its
part, Pakistan has done every thing possible to create a conducive
atmosphere for the resolution of bilateral disputes, including the dispute
over Jammu and Kashmir, but the absence of reciprocal response from
India has led to disappointment and dismay in Pakistan and apparently
stalled the peace process. The success of the peace process would not only
serve the most vital interests of Pakistan and India, indeed, the whole
region is going to benefit from it.
Major powers like the US, Japan, EU, China, Russia and Canada,
who are eager to promote investment and trade relations with the
countries of South Asia are held back due to the uncertain prospects of
security in the region. This would certainly adversely affect the economic
development in the region without which the menace of terrorism cannot
be eliminated. The most distinctive feature of a democratic government is
that it is more responsive to the needs of the people. What the people of
South Asia need is peace, security, development and progress so that they
are able to get rid of grinding poverty. Since the new democratically
elected government in Pakistan would not be facing any crisis of political
legitimacy, it is hoped that that it will pursue the process of peace and
normalization with India with greater confidence.
Dr. Rashid Ahmad Khan, Nation (Islamabad) February 26, 2008.
F OURTH R OUND OF C OMPOSITE D IALOGUE
I NDIA TO C ONTINUE T ALKS WITH N EW FM
The Indian government has informally conveyed a message to Pakistan
that it would hold the review meeting of the 4th round of the composite
dialogue process with the new foreign minister, sources privy to the
Foreign Office told The Post on Monday.
After the completion of 4th round of the composite dialogue
process, a review meeting is pending which was to be held at the foreign
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IPRI Factfile
ministerial level to analyse the whole dialogue process and initiate the
next round under the composite dialogue.
The sources disclosed that despite efforts from the Pakistani side to
hold the review meeting, the Indian side is reluctant to sit with Caretaker
Foreign Minister Inamul Haq. The sources held that Indian think tankers
were waiting for the new democratic set up in Pakistan to start the
dialogue process. Pakistan and India has started the fourth round of the
composite dialogue process in order to resolve all bilateral issues with
mutual understanding in January last year. Though no significance
progress has been made so far, both sides have agreed to continue talks in
a positive sense.
Pakistan and India have completed talks on eight important
subjects.
However, after the election the Pakistani side contacted India for
holding the review meeting but the Indian government conveyed
informally that the meeting would be held with the new foreign minister
of Pakistan.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the
Lok Sabha on Monday that India ''stands ready'' to resume the composite
dialogue process with Pakistan ''as soon as'' a duly-constituted
government is in place in the neighbouring country.
Iqbal Choudhry, Post (Islamabad), March 4, 2008.
P AKISTAN -I NDIA R ELATIONS
In the present century, South Asia happens to be one of the insecure
geographic regions of the world. South Asia is the abode of more than
one and a quarter billion people, which is nearly one fifth of the world's
total population. Poverty, illiteracy and corruption dominate the lives of
the people. These problems have remained unresolved over the years.
The major political barrier that stands in the way of solutions is the
mutual rivalry of the states of this region.
Since the birth of India and Pakistan in 1947, deep-rooted mistrust
and hostility have always jeopardised relations between the two states.
They have fought three full-scale wars and numerous border skirmishes
and, who knows, currently they might have reached on the brink of the
fourth war that in all probabilities might be a nuclear conflict. There are a
number of conflicting issues between India and Pakistan but Kashmir is
the core issue that has decisively led to the deterioration of their
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
9
relationship. The disputed Kashmir State has assumed much strategic
importance for both countries and has become the cause of arms race
between them. Over the last six decades, a number of series of direct and
indirect talks have been held between India and Pakistan to normalise the
relationship for seeking a just solution of Kashmir dispute but every
attempt has failed primarily due to Indian indifferent approach towards
the issue.
Even in the post-cold war era that has marked a decisive
international shift away from conflict to cooperation, there is yet no
hopeful sign for a change in Pakistan-India relations. Instead, in the
backdrop of years Kashmir insurgence, Pakistan and India have appeared
more and more entrenched in acrimonious relationship. In the past all
efforts for bringing them closer and creating conducive environment have
went in vain.
As discussed earlier, since partition, India-Pakistan relations have
highly been violent and conflict prone. Besides three wars, nuclear
explosions, Kargil crisis and other gruesome incidents such as shooting of
Pakistan's Navy aircraft, demolishing of Babri Mosque, brutal killings of
innocent Muslims in Indian Gujrat and constant killings in occupied
Kashmir have added multiple dangerous dimensions to Pakistan-India
relations.
It may be recalled that the end of Kargil crisis following the
meeting between the US president and prime minister of Pakistan, on
July 4, 1999 did not induce a new spirit to India-Pakistan relations to
come to its normal course. Thereafter, the situation turned from bad to
worse. After the Kargil episode, India took a big step to accelerate the
arms race by increasing its budget, which continues to increase every year
and it is feared that it can result in possible danger of low intensity war
between India and Pakistan at any critical moment. India has been
wrongfully viewing Pakistan responsible for this entire situation and in
view of the understanding reached in the Lahore Declaration in 1999,
Pakistan's attitude had been characterised as a 'betrayal of trust' by the
Indians.
It may be recalled that India used the 'trust' factor as a diplomatic
ploy to decline the Pakistan's offer for dialogue and also to ward off the
then growing international pressure from an early commencement of
bilateral talks with Pakistan. Earlier, by adopting a policy of holding talks
with freedom fighters and occupied Kashmir political parties, India had
altered the situation in its favour. India's deceptive policies and
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uncompromising attitude towards the Kashmir issue particularly its ill
response to hold plebiscite in held Kashmir has sabotaged all previous
attempts for peace in South Asia. Thus the normalisation process
between India and Pakistan had been ceased. It was revived during the
early phase of the current decade but it too has failed to produce any
fruitful result especially in the context of Kashmir.
Only recently, efforts for normalisation were made through back
door politics and adoption of some CBMs. It may be noted that the
CBMs are supposed to create trust between rival parties for the
management and resolution of conflicts but in case of India and Pakistan,
the absence of trust is the basic hindrance for the successful
implementation of CBMs. There exists basic mistrust and suspicion
between India and Pakistan on historical, religious, cultural and political
grounds.
Keeping in view the past record, it appears that the CBM exercise
cannot be very successful in South Asia, particularly between India and
Pakistan. The Kargil crisis signalled that how fragile was the status of
CBMs in Indo-Pak relations. With this reality in mind, there is a need for
Pakistan to be very cautious of the Indian mindset. During the recent
years, politics of CBMs between the two countries has been on rampage
which has caused considerable damage to the interests of Pakistan.
We must not forget that India is merely interested in trade and has
least interest to solve the Kashmir question. This is a sort of "one way
CBM track" policy which should be outrightly discouraged.
It is quizzical that India, on one hand, promotes CBMs while on
the other, enters into a jointly build surface-to-an missile programme
with an anti-Pakistan country namely Israel. More importantly, it has
shown its muscles conducting its first test of a nuclear-capable missile
from an undersea platform thereby completing its goal of having air, land
and sea ballistic systems. In this way, India has whistled an arms race in
South Asia. In this scenario, what would be the impact of the ongoing
CBMs between India and Pakistan which discourage such adventures.
Very recently, India has jacked up defence spending by 10 percent to
$26.4 billion, the deepest hike since the Independence of Bharat. What
does this predict? This should serve as an eye-opener for Pakistan who
must immediately get alarmed and shun off the CBM strategy which is a
useless effort to exchange friendly gestures with an unfriendly country
who holds an olive branch in one hand while a sword in the other.
Dr. Sarfaraz Hussain Mirza, Nation (Islamabad), March 6, 2008.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
L OOKING O UT
FOR
11
P AKISTAN F IRST
As a Pakistani I am outraged at the killing of an innocent Pakistani (given
that his guilt was never proven) by the Indian state and then twenty days
later the dumping of his body at Wagah border -- what else can one call
this concluding action on the part of the Indian state?
However, I am more angry at my own government for its lack of
care regarding its citizens arrested by other countries, especially India, but
also the US. Just a few days earlier, we had Mr Ansar Burney making a
sickening drama about the release of an Indian prisoner, who later
admitted he was a spy, when he did not have the basic decency to at least
show up to receive Pakistani Khalid Mahmood's body at Wagah. For that
matter, no official government representative was present to receive the
body. Nor was there any demarche issued from the Foreign Office to the
Indian High Commissioner. Is international publicity and kudos all that
matters to our politicians and bureaucrats? Even more distressing is the
state of our human rights champions who have yet to take up the cases
like Khalid Mahmood's even as they make much of Indian prisoners in
Pakistani jails. And what of our High Commission in New Delhi? Why
were they so inactive on this count? Now one is being told that PTV, the
state's propagandist network, refused to take up and project the issues
raised by the killing of Khalid Mahmood. Utterly shameful, when you
think of the publicity Ansar Burney garnered for himself in the case of
the Indian spy's release.
So for those of our leaders who have already declared their intent to
cosy up to India, regardless of issues like Kashmir, let the killing of
cricket fan Khalid Mahmood be a warning about the chasm that exists
between our over- enthusiastic passion for embracing India and India's
continuing suspicions and hostility towards Pakistan. A more realpolitik
approach to dealing with India would stand us in much better stead. Let
us learn our lesson from the price we are paying as a result of coming to
the aid and assistance of the US with simply no preconditions or sober
considerations post-9/11…
Shireen M Mazari, News International (Rawalpindi), March 12, 2008.
P ROSPECTS
OF
‘N EW E RA ’
OF
R ELATIONS
WITH I NDIA
There is a consensus in both countries for having close and cooperative
relations and a framework for enduring peace. The newly elected leaders
12
IPRI Factfile
in Pakistan can quickly move forward with us on this. We would
welcome this and meet them half way.”
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh: In a reaction to PPP
co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s interview to an Indian newspaper in
which he reportedly called for a new approach to deal with the Kashmir
issue and argued that the two countries cannot remain a hostage for
another generation to that intractable conflict, Manmohan Singh has felt
upbeat and hoped a new era in Indo-Pakistan relations was about to
begin. The sentiments may however go a long way in seeking a
qualitative change in approach held by the two sides on unresolved issues
for the last six decades.
During the last one year, domestic crisis of Pakistan caused delay in
efforts seeking meaningful progress in composite dialogue. Singh’s hope,
which he expressed during his address to the Indian parliament on March
5, saying that he saw a ‘ray of hope’ in the statements of new leaders of
Pakistan’s main political parties is however not backed by any concrete
evidence. It is assumed that a new chapter in Indo-Pakistan relations will
open just because there will be a new, civilian, government in Pakistan.
Singh’s call for putting the past behind and striving for collective security
and prosperity is a rhetoric used again and again. The reality on the
ground is quite different.
When Asif Zardari suggested that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir
be left to future generation to resolve, there was a sharp reaction from
various Kashmiri groups based in the Indian controlled Kashmir. They
challenged the commitment of both PPP and PML-N on supporting the
cause of Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. While Zardari tried to
make his position clear amidst the hostile reaction, the fact remains that
Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir, like that on the nuclear issue, Afghanistan
and the United States will continue to be the privileged domain of the
establishment. Does it mean that despite having two-thirds majority in
the National Assembly, the PPP and PML-N will not have enough say in
shaping key foreign policy matters and, as in the past, will not be able to
have a policy of their own in areas considered the sole jurisdiction of the
security and state apparatus? Only time will tell how democratic Pakistan
has takes it course.
Regarding Kashmir, however, the positions of New Delhi and
Islamabad can be analysed in three perspectives. First, the historical
perspective which means continuing with the parochial mindset which
already prevails in New Delhi and Islamabad. More than Pakistan, it is
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
13
the Indian mindset which is intransigent to the core and is devoid of
flexibility. Rigidity on the Kashmir issue is deep rooted in the Indian
psyche.
In a sense, India lost a rare opportunity in October 2004 by refusing
to accept President Pervez Musharraf’s pragmatic and flexible ‘out of box’
solution which called for demilitarisation of the regions of J&K, soft
borders through travel and trade, granting of maximum autonomy to the
five regions of J&K and withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani forces. New
Delhi failed to reciprocate these proposals and continued with its age-old
policy of considering Kashmir as its integral part. If Pakistan insisted on
seeking the resolution of the Kashmir issue under the UN Security
Council resolutions, India continued with its uncompromising stance of
turning the line of control into an international boundary and calling the
Kashmiris’ liberation struggle acts of violence and terrorism.
Second is the political perspective under which no government in
India can take an independent position from the military. Theoretically,
the Indian military is subservient to the civilian regime, but in the last
two decades, one can observe compliance of civilian leadership with the
military as far as issues of national security and J&K are concerned.
Indian military is not supposed to indulge itself in politics or issue
political statements. But, recently, the Indian Chief of Army Staff
General Deepak Kapoor in a CNN-IBN interview remarked that, “with
the elections now having taken place, I think the security situation in
Pakistan, if it now gets stabilised, should improve.”
Such statements are the domain of the civilian government and not
of the military. But, General Kapoor in the interview went to the extent
of stating that “when the things were turbulent we were a little worried
and therefore we were very vigilant on the borders. But now that
elections have taken place and, hopefully, in the next few days we would
be able to work with a democratically elected government to solve some
of our differences.” In a sense, the Indian army chief undermined the
position of the elected civilian regime in Delhi.
With the Indian army’s growing vested interest in the Siachen,
Jammu and Kashmir and in other regions where insurgency is going on,
it seems the political parties in the ruling coalition are unable to restrain
generals from giving policy statements. In case of Siachen, historical
record shows that during the period from the government of Rajiv
Gandhi till that of Manmohan Singh, Indian army has resisted the
initiative of different governments in Delhi to pursue a flexible approach.
14
IPRI Factfile
Earlier, the former Indian Chief of Army Staff, General J.J. Singh
had advised an Indian prime minister not to pursue a flexible approach on
Siachen which resulted in sabotaging the Indo-Pakistan understanding
which was almost reached in the previous round of composite dialogue.
Therefore, it will not be a matter of surprise if the Indian military, on
account of the fragility of coalition governments for the last 12 years,
gains enough space to prevail on security issues, particularly those
relating to J&K.
It is not the Indian army which is a major impediment in efforts for
resolving the Siachen conflict and the issue of J&K, political leaders
belonging to both the Congress and BJP are also responsible for
sustaining stalemate in the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir. Imbued
with overconfidence because of India’s burgeoning economy and New
Delhi’s growing relations with Washington, the Indian leaders are simply
not interested in reciprocating to Pakistan’s proposals or seeking a
departure from their age-old stance of J&K being the integral part of the
Indian Union.
Neither New Delhi wants to withdraw around half a million
regular and border security forces from its controlled parts of Jammu and
Kashmir, nor dies it favour to give autonomy to J&K as was envisaged in
article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Taking advantage of the post-9/11
political climate in which New Delhi successfully depicted jihadi groups
fighting against the Indian security forces as terrorists, India is in no
mood to relinquish its advantageous position by giving up its control
over the territory.
International and regional perspectives also impact on the Kashmir
issue and Indo-Pakistan relations. Unlike the cold war days when one
superpower was pitted against another in a proxy war, no major player in
international community would allow an outbreak of hostilities in South
Asia. It was for this reason that in the winter of 2001-2002 and summer of
2002 the United States, along with Britain, China and European Union
made serious efforts to diffuse Indo-Pakistan tension.
Now, after the launch of a composite dialogue, the holding of
ceasefire along the LoC and normalisation of New Delhi-Islamabad ties,
there is no likelihood of global actors supporting policies which can again
upset status quo in the subcontinent. India has certainly taken advantage
of international community’s passive role in J&K and consolidated its
position by denying the people of that state an opportunity of having
freedom.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
15
When India prefers to maintain a status quo in the disputed state at
all costs and reject any new idea or proposal which aims at resolving the
age-old issue, how can there be a ray of hope for peace in Indo-Pakistan
relations? When there is still much mistrust between the two sides, the
future shape of relations between Islamabad and New Delhi may not be
much different from what it has been in the past. Mere emergence of a
democratic dispensation in Pakistan will not make much difference.
India’s casual attitude and delaying tactics in resolving the urgent
issues with Islamabad became possible because of Pakistan’s domestic
instability and turmoil. Pakistan’s growing bad image abroad because of
the state’s ruthless handling of lawyers’ struggle for the restoration of
judiciary, the imposition of emergency, uninterrupted cycle of violence,
terrorism and suicide attacks had helped Indians form a discriminatory
attitude. If New Delhi thinks of opening a new chapter in relationship,
then it should seriously negotiate with Pakistan to settle all the burning
issues in a just and fair manner.
Dr Moonis Ahmar, Dawn (Islamabad), March 15, 2008.
A DVANI A DMITS H E S ABOTAGED A GRA S UMMIT
Indian opposition leader Lal Kishan Advani has claimed that inviting
President Pervez Musharraf to Agra in July 2001 was his idea, but he also
admitted in comments published on Monday that it was his rejection of
the draft agreement discussed between the two sides, which torpedoed the
summit talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
The Times of India quoted Mr Advani as saying in his new book
My Country, My Life that the failure of the Agra summit “was a huge PR
disaster for the NDA government.”
Mr Advani said that “the Pakistan leader’s televised breakfast
meeting with Indian editors, blasting India’s position on cross-border
terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir ensured the collapse of the summit in
acrimony and mutual blame-game.”
Consequently, the Vajpayee government was “accused of poor
planning and allowing Musharraf to launch an audacious bid to ambush
Vajpayee on commitments which would recognise Kashmir as the core
issue between India and Pakistan with no references to cross-border
terrorism or Islamabad’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the
dispute under the Shimla Agreement.”
16
IPRI Factfile
Mr Advani recalled in his book that President Musharraf in his
book, In the Line of Fire, had accused the BJP hardliner of scuttling the
summit. Mr Advani’s book offers a rare admission by him that President
Musharraf was not entirely wrong.
From India’s point of view, two unwelcome things happened at
Agra, he writes. “Firstly, the exercise of drafting a joint declaration
proved highly unsatisfactory. The inconclusive draft, which (foreign
minister) Jaswant Singh brought from his meeting with Pakistan’s foreign
minister, Abdul Sattar, was discussed at the informal meeting of the
(cabinet committee on security) that the prime minister convened in his
suite on the evening of the July 15. I noticed that there was no reference
to cross-border terrorism in the draft. ‘This cannot be accepted,’ I said.
My view was unanimously endorsed by all present in the room.”
Similarly, Mr Advani claims credit for the genesis of the summit
following a bloody standoff with Pakistan over Kargil. “The six-monthlong break in combat operations was soon drawing to a close, and Atalji,
in informal discussions with Jaswant Singh and me would ask us ‘Ab aage
kya karna chahiye’. (What should we do now?).” I too had been thinking
about the issue for quite some time. During those days, I was in close
contact with a senior Pakistani diplomat... On the Pakistani side, it
seemed that Gen Musharraf, who had since then assumed the tag of
President from CEO, in June 2001, was keen on ending his country’s
isolation.
“For that purpose, he too was keen on resuming talks with India. I
said to myself that we should test the mind of this military ruler who
does not carry political baggage and seems to be his own master in a
country where democratically elected leaders have never exercised real
power...Thus, one day in May 2001, when the Prime Minister had called
Jaswant Singh and me for lunch at his residence to discuss the next course
of action, I suggested to him, “Atalji, why don’t you invite the General to
come to India for talks? It does not matter that your Lahore initiative
failed. It was highly appreciated both at home and abroad. Similarly, your
invitation to him will be welcomed as an act of statesmanship, both
within India and internationally.” Jaswant Singh concurred with the
suggestion and the prime minister accepted it.”
Mr Advani describes his first meeting with Gen Musharraf at the
Presidential Palace in Delhi thus:
“Our initial banter was centred around the fact that both of us had
studied at St Patrick’s high school in Karachi which I have mentioned
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
17
earlier. After exchanging pleasantries, I said, “General, although you were
born in Delhi, you are visiting your birth place for the first time in 53
years... there are lakhs of families on both sides that are not even as
fortunate as we are; they have never visited their native places. Isn’t it odd
that this should be the case even after the passage of more than a halfcentury? Shouldn’t we find an enduring solution to the issues that are
keeping our two countries and two peoples apart?”
“Of course, we must,” Musharraf observed. “What are your ideas?”
“The most important thing is to build trust in each other.” He nodded in
agreement, and again asked how that could be done. “Well I will give you
an example. I have just come back from a fruitful visit to Turkey. I
understand that you have a special liking for Turkey, having spent your
formative years in that country.”
“Yes, my father was posted there. I can speak fluent Turkish.” “I
had gone there to conclude an extradition treaty between India and
Turkey.Now, what great need does India have to have an extradition
treaty with Turkey? If an extradition treaty is needed, it is between India
and Pakistan, so that criminals committing a crime in one country and
hiding in another can be sent back to face trial.”Musharraf’s first
response, not quite knowing where the conversation was headed, was:
“Yes, why not? We should have an extradition treaty between our two
countries.”
“Even before we conclude a formal extradition treaty, you would
be making a great contribution to the peace process if you handed over
Dawood Ibrahim to India, who is the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai
serial bomb blasts case and who lives in Karachi,” I
continued.Musharraf’s face suddenly turned red and unfriendly. Hardly
able to conceal his discomfort, he said something that I regarded as quite
offensive.
“Now, Mr Advani, that is small tactics,” he remarked. I could sense
a sudden change in the atmosphere of the room, in which five Indian
officials were seated on one side and five from Pakistan on the other...
Musharraf, his unease palpable, replied assertively: “Mr Advani, let me
tell you emphatically that Dawood Ibrahim is not in Pakistan.”
Mr Advani then gives an interesting reason for disbelieving Gen
Musharraf, saying: “Several years later, one of the Pakistani officials who
was present during the meeting said to me. The statement recalled the
initiatives by the two governments to improve the situation for very
18
IPRI Factfile
much that it can quickly resume.”
Dawn (Islamabad), March 18, 2008.
F OREIGN M INISTER L EVEL R EVIEW OF THE F OURTH R OUND
OF C OMPOSITE D IALOGUE , I SLAMABAD , 21 M AY 2008
PR. No.134/2008
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi,
and External Affairs Minister of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, met in
Islamabad on 21 May 2008 to review the progress made in the Fourth
Round of Pakistan-India Composite Dialogue.
1. This was preceded by a meeting between the Foreign Secretary of
Pakistan , Mr. Salman Bashir and Foreign Secretary of India , Mr.
Shivshankar Menon, on 20 May 2008.
2. The talks were held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere.
3. They reviewed the progress made in the Fourth Round of the
Composite Dialogue encompassing
(i)
Peace and Security, including CBMs;
(ii) Jammu and Kashmir;
(iii) Siachen;
(iv) Sir Creek;
(v) Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project;
(vi) Terrorism and Drug Trafficking;
(vii) Economic and Commercial Cooperation; and
(viii) Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in Various Fields.
4. They noted the positive contribution to improvement of relations by
the Composite Dialogue process since its resumption after the joint
statement of 6 January 2004 and the subsequent Summit Statements of 25
September 2004, 18 April 2005, 14 September 2005 and 16 September
2006. The Ministers reaffirmed their determination not to let terrorism
impede the peace process and take all necessary steps to eliminate this
scourge against humanity. They further resolved to carry forward the
peace process and to maintain its momentum.
5. The Ministers noted that in 2007 and over the course of the Fourth
Round of Composite Dialogue there had been a number of important
bilateral achievements, including:
• MoU to increase the frequencies, designated airlines and
points of call in either country.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
•
19
Agreement for the trucks from one side to cross the border
up to designated points on the other side at the Wagah-Attari
border.
• Increase in frequency of Delhi- Lahore bus service from two
to three trips per week.
• Signing of Agreement on ‘Reducing the Risk from Accidents
relating to Nuclear Weapons'.
• MoU between the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
(SECP) to facilitate the sharing of information between two
agencies.
• Completion of the Joint Survey of Sir Creek and adjoining
areas.
• Two meetings of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism.
6. The two sides signed the Agreement on Consular Access, which was
finalised during the Fourth round of Composite Dialogue.
7. They exchanged views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed
to continue discussions to build on convergences and narrow down
divergences. They also agreed to continue with the implementation of
Cross-LoC CBMs with a view to enhancing interaction and cooperation
across the LoC. In this regard, they decided:
a) To increase the frequency of Muzaffarabad - Srinagar and
Rawalkot-Poonch Bus service from a fortnightly to a weekly
basis.
b) To finalize modalities for intra-Kashmir trade and truck
service as early as possible.
c) To implement other measures to expand and facilitate travel a
meeting of Working Group on Cross-LoC CBMs would be
convened within two months .
8. They reaffirmed the importance of ceasefire in place since November
2003 and the commitment of both sides to cooperate to safeguard it.
9. They agreed that progress has been made under the Composite
Dialogue process on promoting a stable environment of Peace and
Security including CBMs. The Expert Groups on Nuclear and
Conventional CBMs should consider existing and additional proposals by
both sides with a view to developing further confidence building
measures in the nuclear and conventional fields.
10. Both sides exchanged views on Siachen and reiterated their
commitment to seeking an early amicable solution.
20
IPRI Factfile
11. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the progress made on Sir Creek,
with the completion of the joint survey, the exchange of maps, and the
discussions thereafter. They agreed to further facilitate the process for an
early resolution of this issue .
12. Both sides reiterated their commitment to fight terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, and re-emphasized the need for effective steps
for the complete elimination of this menace. In this context, it was agreed
to continue cooperation in the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism whose
next meeting would be held within two months . Both sides agreed to
refrain from hostile propaganda.
13. Both sides emphasized the need for further strengthening cooperation
to eliminate drug trafficking and welcomed the finalization of an MOU
on Cooperation between Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force and Narcotics
Control Board of India.
14. Both sides reiterated the importance of enhancing mutually beneficial
economic and commercial cooperation and agreed to discuss further steps
for facilitating trade and redressing the trade imbalance. In this regard,
Indian and Pakistan Railway officials would meet in June for resolving all
technical issues to enable increase in to and fro freight movement. They
also agreed to facilitate the process of early opening of bank branches in
the two countries.
15. Both sides appreciated the work being done by the Judicial
Committee on Prisoners, which will meet in Pakistan shortly; welcomed
the finalization of the Consular Access Agreement that will help
addressing humanitarian aspects relating to persons under detention in
each other's country and; agreed to provide on a regular basis updated
and comprehensive list of prisoners in each other jails.
16. Both sides agreed to the need for promoting friendly exchanges
between the two countries.
17. Both sides agreed to the early finalization of the Visa Agreement
which will help liberalize the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people
contacts.
18. The two Ministers reiterated their commitment to the Iran-PakistanIndia gas pipeline project and had a useful exchange of views in this
regard.
19. The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on promoting the
Pakistan-India peace process, reinvigoration of SAARC and agreed to
work towards promoting regional cooperation for enabling South Asia to
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
21
realize its full development potential. It was agreed to work for
promoting sustainable development and food and energy security.
20. It was decided that the two Foreign Secretaries will launch the Fifth
Round of the Composite Dialogue in New Delhi in July 2008.
21. The External Affairs Minister of India , Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, called
on the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
May 21, 2008.
http://www.mofa.gov.pk/Press_Releases/2008/May/PR_134_08.html
E NERGISING
THE
N ORMALISATION P ROCESS
Enhanced economic activity between the two countries will help in
partially reducing impact of the current global economic downturn and
help in building peace constituencies.
India and Pakistan have made reasonable progress since 2002 in
normalising their relations by undertaking a host of significant
Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). Effective implementation of
ceasefire on the Line of Control; introduction of the “Missile
Notification Regime” and limited nuclear risk reduction measures;
opening of border crossing points and increase in trade to 2 billion dollars
are some of the gains. This has been achieved at the government-level in
the four rounds of composite dialogue and complimented by efforts of
Track-2 and back channel diplomacy. Interestingly, the people of both
countries are the main drivers of the peace process.
There is no doubt that internal compulsions and global events did
influence India and Pakistan to abandon confrontation and take the path
of dialogue. Overt nuclearisation of India and Pakistan in 1998; the
impact 9/11 and the “war on terror”; and the requirement of peaceful
borders for economic growth in a globalised environment were major
contributory factors.
Moreover, Pakistan’s support of insurgency against Indian rule in
Kashmir became untenable when the US and other major powers started
accusing the Kashmiri mujahideen of having ties with terrorist
organizations. The policy also backfired due to its adverse socio-political
fallout in Pakistan. The Indians had also started to use the Balochistan
and Afghanistan cards besides using international pressure to countervail
Pakistan’s support for the militants. These events made the two countries
realise that there is no military solution and a political dispensation has to
be found for dispute resolution.
22
IPRI Factfile
Despite the “marked improvement” in Pakistan-India relations as
characterised by President Bush, the two key countries of South Asia
have to do a lot more to establish a balanced, mature and functional
relationship that would be in the interest of its masses and the region as a
whole.
In the span of six decades India and Pakistan have engaged in three
wars and several major skirmishes, including Kargil; nuclearised South
Asia; allied with competing powers; and fought endless diplomatic battles
in multilateral and international forums. Even now they never miss an
opportunity to blame each other for any incidence of terrorism, and
mistrust abounds in both establishments.
All this has to change. But how?
Of course resolution of the Kashmir issue is central to an enduring
peace. Pakistan has made several attempts at finding an equitable solution.
Abandoning reliance on the UNSC resolutions and accepting the reality
that a settlement of Jammu & Kashmir had to be carved out without any
change in the territorial limits of the two sides, President Musharraf
moved far ahead of the conventional position to the chagrin of
traditionalists.
New Delhi failed to respond even to these liberal offers. It is
prepared to build economic, political and cultural linkages between the
two sides of J&K, but incrementally, and examine proposals that would
improve the lives of the people without any change in borders. New
Delhi is aware that a settlement of the J&K dispute and improved
relations with Islamabad would enhance India’s regional and international
stature. But it has demonstrated a definite propensity to settle Kashmir on
its own terms directly with the APHC and other parties of the resistant
movement including militant groups. In essence it wants to present
Pakistan with a fait accompli.
Fearful of India’s dominance, in the past Pakistan supported
insurgency in Kashmir. In response, India has been supporting
insurgencies in Balochistan and deepened its influence in Afghanistan and
Central Asia. Islamabad, fearful of India’s expanding regional influence,
retains links with the Taliban to advance its interests. The two countries
are caught in a vicious circle that breeds mistrust and destabilises the
region. Pakistan and India should have an integrated security policy and
doctrines that combine both external and internal threats.
Moreover, strategic and military competition between the two
countries is depriving them of valuable resources for economic and social
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
23
development, and as Pakistan’s economic base is smaller, the impact is
greater.
It seems Islamabad will have to wait for an opportune time to press
for a resolution to the Kashmir dispute. Meanwhile, it should continue to
engage India to improve the human rights situation in Kashmir and seek
reduction of its security forces in the area. Ease of travel restrictions,
development of close cultural and trade linkages and cooperation in
energy, environment and tourism would be invaluable CBMs. The IPI gas
pipeline and similar projects in other fields will greatly enhance both
countries’ security.
It is expected that in the next (5th) round, efforts will be made to
ease visa restrictions and examine the possibility of opening new routes
between the two sides of Kashmir and on the international border.
Enhanced economic activity between the two countries will help in
partially reducing impact of the current global economic downturn and
help in building peace constituencies. The time is ripe for settling the Sir
Creek issue as the law of the seas convention stipulates that all maritime
disputes between countries be settled by 2009.
There is also scope for developing additional CBMs in nuclear and
conventional fields. Cruise missiles should be included in the Missile
Notification regime. Security dialogue should include formal discussion
of nuclear doctrines and India’s plans for building anti-ballistic missile
defence systems as these have a direct impact on Pakistan’s security.
Agreement on an annual meeting of the two chiefs of the army or joint
chiefs to review regional security would be a major CBM.
As regards countering India’s build up of strategic power, the best
option for Pakistan would be to develop institutional capacities for
achieving political stability, sustained economic growth and social
cohesion.
So far, what has been lacking is the political will of the leaders in
building momentum in the peace process. The establishments on both
sides have yet to cross the frontiers of their self-imposed inhibitions and
abandon the legacy of distrust. It is eventually the people’s pressure that
will drive the peace process forward. And once again an opportunity
presents itself for the two democracies to seize the moment.
Talat Masood, Daily Times (Lahore), May 22, 2008.
24
IPRI Factfile
I NDO -P AK W ATER T ALKS
IN
C ITY
ON
31 S T
India has finally agreed to send its 11-member team to Pakistan on May
30 to discuss threadbare the controversial water projects and take up
routine agenda, The News has learnt.“The 11-member team will reach
Lahore on May 30, 2008, to start formal 4-day session from the very next
day,” official sources at Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) and Ministry
of Water and Power confirmed.
Besides the routine agenda taken up on annual basis, the Pakistani
team will also raise the contentious issues with particularly focus on
Kishanganga and Baglihar hydropower cum water storage project of India
on the Chenab River coming from Occupied Kashmir.“The Pakistani
team will urge the Indian side to give an exact date for inspection of the
Baglihar project to determine whether or not the work is underway in
accordance with the decision of the World Bank appointed neutral expert
last year,” the sources maintained.
The PIC is only a permanent body that exists between Pakistan and
India since 1960 Waters Treaty was signed by the two rival countries with
World Bank playing a role of a facilitator.Pakistan’s major concern of the
day is to ensure, on the spot, inspection of the Baglihar Dam as early as
possible after the World Bank’s neutral expert had determined
“differences” and allowed its construction with some important
modifications.
The Commissioner of Pakistani side of the PIC Syed Jamaat Ali
Shah also confirmed that the Indian side of the PIC with its
Commissioner Aranga Nathan was arriving Pakistan on May 30. “All the
four days of the meetings would be in Lahore and not in Islamabad.”
…
Jamaat Ali Shah said that both sides of the PIC have to submit
reports to their respective governments in next month on the discussions
on the platform of the annual meeting of the body. “As our year starts
from April, we will try to settle the disputes within it (the year).”
Pakistan has been urging India for the meetings of Baglihar and
Kishangana in the last six months but received a cold response as New
Delhi may start commissioning of Baglihar project on the Chenab River
within the next two to three months.
In his Feb 12, 2007 report, the World Bank’s appointed neutral
expert, Prof Raymond Lafitte, had unfolded his decision determining the
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
25
“differences” between the two countries under the water treaty. Both
Pakistan and India claimed victory of their respective stands.
Pakistan, in its objections submitted before the expert, had raised
four concerns on the design of the Baglihar project and sought
modification on freeboard, level of power intakes, pondage and
spillway.“The neutral expert found that Indian calculation on freeboard
was inaccurate; it was determined by him (Prof Lafitte) that crest level
should be set at the lowest level by India. The expert directed India to
reduce the freeboard by 33 per cent from 4.5 metres to 3 metres.”
News International (Rawalpindi), May 26, 2008.
I NDO -P AKISTAN T IES : M ANAGEMENT
OF
C ONTRADICTIONS
The just concluded visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee to Islamabad (May 20-21), and the tenor of domestic
developments in both India and Pakistan over the past week, suggest that
many opposing impulses are at play in both polities and that astute
management of these multiple contradictions will hold the key to
nurturing stability in the troubled bilateral relationship.
The Mukherjee visit was important in that it was the first high-level
political contact by the United Progressive Alliance government with the
newly elected civilian dispensation in Pakistan, and while no major
breakthrough was expected, the commitment to the composite dialogue
process agreed to in January 2004 by the Vajpayee-Musharraf
communiqué was reiterated. Both sides repeated long-held positions as
regards terrorism and the ‘core’ issue of Kashmir respectively, and made
modest progress on issues of consular access to prisoners and increased
communication links — matters that will be further pursued in July in
keeping with the incremental nature of the bilateral talks.
It merits recall that the Mukherjee visit took place against the
backdrop of the Jaipur terrorist tragedy, and while it is encouraging that
there was no familiar finger-pointing, the reference to India’s concerns
and expectations as regards terrorism that flow from the January 2004
agreement were highlighted.
Interestingly, the Pakistani leadership noted that terrorism was ‘a
common menace’ that had to be ‘fought jointly’ and the Jaipur attack was
roundly condemned by Islamabad. Notice must also be taken of the
Mukherjee-Pervez Musharraf meeting where the Pakistani president
chose to stoke the ‘core’ issue of Kashmir even while extolling the virtues
26
IPRI Factfile
of conflict resolution through appropriate confidence building measures
(CBMs)…
It is equally significant that a Zardari interview made some very
radical observations about the relationship with India which include,
inter alia: ‘‘If the bilateral relationship can emulate Germany and France,
then Pakistan can be a ‘force-multiplier’ for India; Pakistan with its land
and water resources can feed India and the world; PPP and PML-N want
to do away with visa restrictions for India.’’ …
Sentinel (Guwahati), May 26, 2008.
T HE W ATER B OMB
We are all aware that Pakistan is faced with a number of serious problems
and threats, each of which seems to be more serious than the other.
However, of all the problems none is more threatening than the schemes
of Hindu India to block the water of Pakistan's Rivers, thereby causing
water famine in the country.
Unfortunately, awareness of this threat has been lacking on the part
of Pakistan's rulers in the past. But we cannot afford to ignore it any
longer because the consequences will endanger not just the agriculture,
economy and the stability of Pakistan but its very survival. India knows
this vulnerability of Pakistan and fired by its eternal enmity to this
country has been moving ahead with plans to hit Pakistan hard in the
sensitive sphere of water. India, as you would also know by now, is
constructing 58 dams and water reservoirs on Pakistan's Rivers, Chenab,
Jhelum and Sindh.
Realising the great danger that Pakistan is about to face through
acute scarcity of water, we have held several conferences and exclusive
sessions with professional experts in this field at the Nazria Pakistan
Trust. What role would Nazaria have if the country's survival was not
ensured first! The picture that emerged from the evaluation of the
situation by the experts is far grimmer than what we had generally
known through media reports.
History has acknowledged now that the unannounced dishonest
alteration in the Punjab boundary line made by Radcliff and
Mountbatten at the time of the Partition in August 1947, by which the
two very important headworks of Madhopur on the Ravi and Ferozpur
on the Sutlej were given to India, laid the foundation of depriving
Pakistan of the water resources that historically and geographically
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
27
belonged to it. The Indus Basin Treaty (IBT) of September 1960, whose
provisions clearly favoured India, and which the dictatorial Ayub regime
accepted although it was against our national interest, was, similarly,
designed to deny Pakistan even its rightful share of the water of the three
allocated Rivers in the years to come.
Added to the foreign sinister schemes is the painful factor of an
'India lobby' among our policymakers, which has let India go on
violating the Indus Basin Treaty by building dams and diverting/blocking
waters that belong to Pakistan.
To divert the water coming into the Mangla Dam, India is building
Ohrri Two Dam at River Poonch, Kishan Ganga Dam at River Neelum,
and 19 Hydel-Projects at River Jhelum, aimed to be completed by 2012.
Mangla Dam receives its stock of water from Rivers Jhelum, Neelum and
Poonch. If this water is stopped, Mangla Dam would turn into a dry clay
field.
India is going ahead with the controversial Baghliar Dam on River
Chenab, while Pakistan government, after raising belated objections, has
still not taken the decisive steps that are necessary to have this project
stopped. Its pathetic proof was seen at the fourth round of the so-called
Composite Dialogue between the two countries held in Islamabad from
19-21 May 2008. According to the officials, "The contentious issue of the
Baghliar Dam could not find place in the agenda of the foreign ministers'
talks despite Pakistan's insistence."
The government has all the experts and the data for evaluation of
the dangers that this Dam poses to Pakistan. Just the few details
mentioned below will give you an idea of the dangers to come, if the
government does not confront India on the water issue.
Baghliar Dam is of such a large size that, whenever it so wants,
India can block 7000 to 8000 cusec-ft of water per day. Besides, India has
already built 14 hydroelectric plants at River Chenab's northern part and
is building still more plants to enable it to block the entire water of
Chenab for 20 to 25 days. If India were to store the water of Chenab and
Jhelum for just 2 to 3 months, Pakistan's agriculture would be ruined,
with dreadful consequences for the nation. India plans to formally begin
the operation of Baghliar Dam on June 30, 2008.
If Pakistan fails to move quickly, the Indians, by completing their
ongoing projects would have a powerful weapon in their hands. Blocking
of the water of Chenab and Jhelum would result in:
28
IPRI Factfile
Denial of water to a vast region, including Multan, Jhang,
Faisalabad, Gujrat, Okara, Sahiwal, Vehari, Bahawalnagar,
Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan.
406 Canals and 1125 Distributaries will become dry,
rendering 35 lakh acres of cultivated land barren, and
eventually ruining a total of 70 acres of fertile land.
The Marala Headworks, through which water from
Chenab is poured into River Ravi that had dried up after it
went into India's control under the IBT, will stop
functioning. The Ravi feeds the Canals along the border,
which serve as a most important Defence Line. If Chenab's
normal flow stops, Ravi would have no water and the
Border Canals would become dry.
The Sindh Tas Water Council Pakistan, which has been engaged
since 1984 in the in-depth study of India's designs of denial of water to
Pakistan, has discovered that India is actually working on a secret megaplan that was drawn years ago with the aim of bringing Pakistan to its
knees, when the time came, by subjecting it to total starvation of water.
This mega-plan is being financed and implemented by a consortium
consisting of India and three other countries (one of which is Israel), two
multinational companies, one trans-national NGO and three secret
agencies.
I was not exaggerating when a few weeks ago I warned our
government to beware of India's "Water Bomb."
We have no option now but to urgently take bold and decisive
measures against the Indian schemes of subjecting Pakistan to devastation.
But, no measures can be effective nor can succeed if Pakistan's policies of
giving India the image of a close trading and social partner and a friendly
neighbour who poses no threat are not changed.
Indeed, we have seen these misconceived policies proving
demoralising and harmful to our country, while facilitating India in
promoting its schemes and strengthening its aims against Pakistan.
The "water bomb" is a reality that Pakistan's rulers must not
overlook in the artificial scenario created by the so-called "confidence
building measures."
Majid Nizami, Nation (Islamabad), May 27, 2008.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
29
K ISHANGANGA D AM C ONTROVERSY
Pakistan claims that the Kishanganga project would reduce the power
generation capacity of the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum plant by about
11 percent. It also contends that the diversion would result in an
ecological disaster for the area
When Pakistan and India signed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in
1960, it was thought that it would forever put to end water as an issue
between them. However, today it appears as if that promise was
unfounded.
This is borne out by the number of water-related disputes that keep
cropping up between the two countries every few years. First it was Sallal
Dam, then Wullar Barrage followed by Baglihar Dam.
Now it is the Kishanganga Dam that has embroiled the two
countries in a dispute. Their Indus Waters Commissioners have recently
concluded a second round of talks on the issue and are to meet again next
month in New Delhi for another round.
What is the nature of this controversy and what are the prospects
of a negotiated settlement?
The controversy owes its genesis to India’s plan to build a 330megawatt hydro-power plant in Indian-held Kashmir across the Jhelum
River. The dam site is located 160 km upstream from Muzaffarabad and
involves the diversion of Kishanganga River (called the Neelum River in
Pakistan) to a tributary named Bunar Madumati Nullah of Jhelum near
Bunkot. The diversion will change the course of the Neelum by about
100 km, which will then join the Jhelum through Wullar lake near the
town of Bandipur in Baramula district. As a result of this diversion, the
Neelum and Jhelum rivers, which at present join each other near
Muzaffarabad at Domail, will meet in Indian-held Kashmir.
Pakistan regards the project as a violation of the IWT. It raised a
number of objections in 2004 as a result of which India revised the design
of the dam in order to meet Pakistan’s objections. Pakistan, however, was
still not satisfied with the revised design and raised fresh objections.
During the current round of negotiations these objections, which
relate to gate structure, height and size, level, diversion plan, storage
capacity, power intact and free board were discussed. However, there was
no agreement on any one of them because the two sides refused to budge
from their stated positions. Discussions could not be completed on the
technical and legal aspects of the issue because of paucity of time.
30
IPRI Factfile
Of all the objections that Pakistan has raised, diversion of the
Neelum is perhaps the core issue. Pakistan argues that India can store
water but cannot divert it because under the IWT, it is under obligation
to release as much water downstream as it stores. In its opinion, the
diversion would reduce the flow of water into Pakistan by about 11
percent in summer and about 27 percent in winter, which would be
contrary to the IWT as the Western rivers that are in question belong to
Pakistan.
Similarly, Pakistan claims that the project would reduce the power
generation capacity of the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum plant by about
11 percent. It also contends that the diversion would result in an
ecological disaster for the area. It has no exact data at present but has
commissioned an international firm to prepare an environmental damage
assessment report.
Pakistan also objects to the construction of the Kishanganga project
on the ground that it would affect power generation capacity of the plant
that it is building on the Neelum-Jhelum confluence. Besides, it argues
that the feasibility study of the Neelum-Jhelum project that it has
completed entitles it to stop India from building a storage facility for
diverting water. In its view, the planned use of the river Jhelum by it is as
good as the term “use of water” in the IWT.
India categorically rejects Pakistan’s line of argument. To begin
with, it disputes the contention that the diversion would reduce the flow
of water into Pakistan. In its view, the quantum of water would remain
the same as before. The only difference that the diversion, in its opinion,
would make would be that instead of meeting in Azad Kashmir as is the
case at present, the Neelum and Jhelum rivers would meet in the Indianheld Kashmir.
India also rejects Pakistan’s contention that the completion of the
feasibility study of the Neelum-Jhelum project has created an acquired
right in favour of Pakistan. On the contrary, it asserts that
commencement of work on the Kishanganga project gives an edge to
India’s claim.
Examining the claims of the two countries regarding the superiority
of their right on the ground of “existing use”, we note that it is the
Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers which
cover the matter. Article 8(2a) defines “existing use” as “a use that is in
fact operational...from the time of the initiation of construction directly
related to the use.” Given the fact that we do not dispose of the requisite
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
31
information on the Kishanganga and Neelum-Jhelum projects based on
the definition of the “existing use”, it is not possible to pronounce in the
matter.
One thing is, however, clear. If Pakistan is to successfully challenge
India on the issue it would have to show that the diversion of the Neelum
would significantly reduce the flow of water into its territory and cause
appreciable damage to the environment of the area.
This brings us to the question of the possibility of a negotiated
settlement. India always advocates the bilateral approach as the best and
the only way for conflict resolution of IWT-related issues. It claims that
bilateralism rather than third party arbitration has emerged as the norm
between the two countries.
Pakistan disagrees with the Indian contention and insists on the
continuing validity of the IWT. However, it is ready to give the bilateral
approach a try on the condition that India spell out a timeframe for a
negotiated settlement. This is what it did during the negotiations on the
Baglihar issue and also during the recently concluded round of talks.
However, going by newspaper reports, India’s response to the
matter is unclear, though the latter has apparently agreed to resolve the
issue during the next round of negotiations.
We should take the Indian promise with a pinch of salt because it is
an old Indian tactic to keep Pakistan embroiled in an interminable
rigmarole of negotiations while continuing with the work at hand.
This is the lesson from the Baglihar negotiations where India used
all kinds of tactics to present Pakistan with a fait accompli. For example,
it did not let a Pakistani team make an on-site inspection of the dam for
quite some time on the ground of security. Then on two occasions, when
Pakistan was ready to seize the World Bank for arbitration, it made
requests for more efforts at bilateral settlement while all along it was
proceeding with mala fide intentions by continuing the work on the dam.
Finally, even after the appointment of a neutral expert, the Indian PM
termed it as “premature’ and the Indian Water Resources Minister asked
the World Bank to leave the two parties alone to settle the matter
bilaterally.
India seems to be employing the same tactics of procrastination in
the present case. For example, when, during the recently concluded
session, Jamaat Ali Shah, Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner, asked
that his six objections be treated as questions, which is a condition sine
qua non for invoking article 9 of the IWT relating to third party
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IPRI Factfile
arbitration, his Indian counterpart reportedly requested him to desist
from it and let them remain as objections.
This is just the start of the merry-go-round of dilatory tactics by
India. We will certainly see more of them in the months and years to
come. Will the Pakistani side be able to checkmate them this time? Only
time will tell.
Ijaz Hussain, Daily Times (Lahore), June 18, 2008.
W HAT
WAS
A CHIEVED
IN I NDIA -P AKISTAN
T ALKS
Here is the agreed outcome of the meeting between the foreign ministers
of India and Pakistan:
• The 5th Round of the Composite Dialogue would be
launched on 21-22 July with discussions on (i) peace and
security including CBMs, and, (ii) Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Technical Working Group on cross-LoC Confidence
Building Measures will meet in Islamabad on July 10 to
concretise decisions regarding bus services, trade and truck
services across the LoC announced in May.
• The Technical Working Groups of the India-Pakistan Joint
Economic Commission complete their meetings such that the
Joint Commission could meet by the end of the year.
• The respective deputy chairs of the Indian and Pakistan
Planning Commission had felt that an institutional
mechanism for regular dialogue and exchange of views
between them would be useful.
• The ministers noted the detailed discussions which took place
on issues such as wind and thermal power and power supply
arrangements and issues.
The mutually beneficial cooperation in Rapid Mass Transport
Systems was also noted.
• After completing their visit to jails in Pakistan, the IndiaPakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners will now visit jails
in India in the month of July to make further
recommendations with regard to issues concerning prisoners
and fishermen in custody.
It was agreed that the work of the Judicial Committee has proved
to be an effective way to proceed with the issues.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
33
•
The ministers noted that the Railway authorities had agreed
to increase interchange of rakes to five daily from current
levels of two daily.
The proposal of opening the Kokhrapar-Munabao route in freight
was also discussed and will be examined.
• They decided that henceforth the meetings of the AntiTerrorism Mechanism would be held regularly.
Dawn (Islamabad), June 28, 2008.
D AMAGING
THE
P EACE P ROCESS
It is not surprising for most Pakistanis to read or hear about Indian
allegations that Pakistan was involved in the bombing of the Indian
embassy in Kabul recently. In fact, what was somewhat surprising was
the time the Indian agencies took in putting the blame on Pakistan. The
past is studded with examples when the Indians lost no time in blurting
out accusations against Pakistan for almost all adverse incidents only to
realise later that these were undertaken by their own citizens.
Two different interpretations of who were involved in the tragic
incident of Indian embassy were published in Pakistani newspapers.
While the Americans indicated quite categorically that Pakistan was not
at all involved in the attack, the Indian media accused Pakistan but the
Indian officials refrained from making such accusations initially.
However, last Sunday the Indian Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan
accused Pakistan in response to a question by a TV channel.
Not only the National Security Advisor stated that India has “a fair
amount of intelligence” (on the involvement of Pakistan) but also
categorically stressed that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI was involved.
In the same breath he suggested that the ISI needs to be destroyed. He
even suggested retaliation and stated, “I think we need to pay back in the
same coin.”
Two questions deserve to be analysed at this stage. Why was the
Indian accusation delayed whereas past history is filled with prompted
accusations? Second, how would such unsubstantiated accusations impact
on the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan? The fifth
round of the Indo-Pak peace process is beginning tomorrow. Most
observers consider this round is going to be crucial as the newly elected
Pakistani government’s representatives would be participating in the
process this time.
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IPRI Factfile
Most neutral observers appear to be somewhat unanimous in
asserting that there exist combinations of factors that may have caused
the delay in Indian accusations. First, it has been Indian practice to
immediately put blame on Pakistan as not only because the hardcore
Hindus would quickly accept but many Indians easily fall prey to Indian
media’s propaganda barrage. Besides, in the past the Indian authorities
discovered that most of such incidents were undertaken by the
indigenous groups and not by any outsiders.
The over-projected attacks on Indian parliament and Mumbai blasts
are perhaps good examples of quick reaction and eventual discovery of
the truth. The Indian courts awarded sentences to perpetrators of attack
on Indian parliament to its own citizens. It needs to be reminded here
that initial Indian reaction was to put the blame on Pakistan-based groups
and accuse Pakistan’s effort to eliminate Indian leadership.
Similarly, many bomb blasts including the Mumbai train blasts
were initially attributed to Pakistani efforts only to discover later that
those were undertaken by the angered section of their own society.
Despite the existence of joint investigation of the burning of Samjhota
Express in which many Pakistanis were burnt to death, so far nothing
tangible has seen the light of the day.
Undoubtedly, putting the blame on a known adversary not only
buys time but also elicits sympathies and condemnation from India’s
friends. It is a known fact that most friends of India would express
sympathies not because they are assessing the situation objectively but
how best it could serve their national interests with regard to India. The
Afghan president’s recent outburst reflects not only his faithful
compliance to outsider influential elements in Kabul but also the level of
his helplessness in which he finds himself.
The practice of putting blame on others also enables to cover one’s
own inabilities and weaknesses. While the Indians have mastered this
approach over the troubled land of Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) when
they regularly pushed the notion of cross border terrorism, the Afghan
regime is also currently and religiously following their tutor’s practices.
Despite having recognised the fact that India was over-projecting the
notion of cross border terrorism, many important countries opted to
accept the Indian version of the events in IHK not because they believed
in it but their national interests dictated such a policy pursuit.
The second question whether or not such an approach could have
an adverse impact on the ongoing peace process is perhaps equally
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
35
significant if not more important. Asked by the TV channels whether
such acts would impede peace process, the National Security Advisor
dismissed the question by stressing that the ISI has never been part of the
peace process. He said that the improvement in India-Pakistan relations is
sought through a comprehensive dialogue mechanism and anti-terrorism
was just one piece of this mechanism.
Compared to the Indian National Security Advisor’s interpretation,
the Pakistanis seem much more perturbed over the Indian allegations of
Pakistani involvement in the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.
They believe that allegations without any tangible evidence tend to not
only take a heavy toll of overall atmosphere that has been secured during
the last four years’ concerted efforts but could also radically impact upon
the next round of composite dialogue.
The foreign ministers of the two countries are schedule to meet on
July 21 with the objectives of starting the fifth round of India-Pakistan
composite dialogue. Many observers are expecting that this round may
yield some tangible results. Already, disappointment, especially among
the Pakistanis, is on the increase as they feel that so far no real progress
has been witnessed in disputed areas such as Sir Creek, Siachin, Wullar
Lake and Kashmir.
Since the joint survey has already taken place over Sir Creek and
many observers are already optimistically predicting that an agreement
may be worked in this round over this particular dispute but an
irresponsible and a ludicrous statement like the one that has been issued
by the Indian National Security Advisor could not only vitiate the
atmosphere but could also damage the peace process. It is not too
farfetched to assume that once again the spanner has been thrown by an
important Indian official to delay the process like the one thrown by the
Indian army when the Siachen dispute was about to be resolved.
Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Post (Islamabad), July 20, 2008.
D IALOGUE U NDER S TRESS : I NDIA
Pakistan and India struggled to hide their exasperation with each other at
the start of a fifth round of composite dialogue between their foreign
secretaries here on Monday New Delhi warned that the recent attack on
its embassy in Kabul had put the talks under stress. Islamabad said given
its enormous sacrifices it could not be put on probation in the war on
terror. A source close to the talks between Foreign Secretary Salman
36
IPRI Factfile
Bashir and his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon described the
atmosphere at the Hyderabad House as unexpectedly muddied. Mr.
Menon is believed to have told Mr. Bashir that not only had the dialogue
been put under stress but the talks were also at risk following the
devastating attack in Kabul on July 7.
After the round of the dialogue on peace and security, Jammu and
Kashmir and other confidence-building measures (CBMs), Mr. Menon
told reporters that the talks were happening at a difficult time of our
relationship with Pakistan. Unfortunately, there have been several issues
in the recent past which have vitiated the atmosphere and the composite
dialogue process is under stress, Mr. Menon said.
In this context, he referred to recent alleged violations of the
ceasefire along the Line of Control, cross-border terrorism and alleged
incitement to violence in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been public
statements by some leaders in Pakistan, who are reverting to the old
polemics, Mr. Menon said, adding that all these things had culminated in
the suicide bombing at the Indian embassy. Our investigations so far
point towards a few elements in Pakistan to be behind the blast, he said,
but refused to identify the elements, saying investigations were
continuing.
At his separate news conference after the talks, Mr. Bashir tried to
give a positive spin to his meeting with Mr. Menon, whom, he said, he
regarded with considerable respect. However, a correspondent’s question
about the Kabul blast seemed to change the mood. Please don’t consider
Pakistan to be on probation. We do not have to prove our credentials to
anyone. We are engaged at the forefront of the fight against terror.
Pakistan is not the epicenter of terrorism, he declared. Mr. Bashir
obliquely blamed Afghanistan for starting the current round of
accusations. Though he did not name Kabul directly, he left no one in
doubt about the foreign location where Pakistan’s name was being
besmirched with unhelpful allegations.
If Pakistan were to get involved in the blame game, it too had a
litany of issues in Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas where it could point the finger at India, but this was not what he
had done in the talks, Mr. Bashir said. We have faced terrorism in our
cities and towns for far too long,? he said in response to a question from a
western journalist. More than 100,000 troops were engaged in fighting the
scourge, and many had been lost, he said.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
37
Please do not create impediments. I am not saying this to India but
to the international community... Please do not make statements that
make it difficult for us to address the issues at hand. Don’t make
statements that hurt us, he said. While Mr. Bashir said he savoured the tea
and biscuits as well as a sumptuous lunch thrown between the two
rounds of talks, there were those close at hand who thought that the
absence of an official dinner was a giveaway that relations needed a lot of
tweaking. Officials said the next opportunity could be in Colombo on
the margins of the SAARC summit in early August when the foreign
secretaries, their ministers and prime ministers might be able to stop the
slide.
Dawn (Islamabad), July 22, 2008.
T HE W RONG D IALOGUE
The fifth round of the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India has
gotten off to a rocky start. In the restrained world of diplomacy, the
events in New Delhi amount to a bucket of cold water poured over the
Pakistan foreign secretary, Salman Bashir. Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Memon’s blunt statement that Pakistan’s alleged involvement in
the suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul has put the
composite dialogue under stress has deepened the tension between the
two countries. While the Indian accusations and rhetoric have grown
sharper, no evidence has yet been forthcoming from the Indian or Afghan
side of Pakistan’s involvement in the deadly Kabul blast. So it is no
surprise that Mr Bashir responded testily to a reporter’s question about
the bombing, stating that Pakistan is not on “probation” and that we “do
not have to prove our credentials to anyone” in the war against terrorism.
It is not all bad news on the India-Pakistan front though. New CBMs on
cross-LoC movement of people in Kashmir have been announced;
Pakistan has permitted the expansion of trade with India; and the foreign
ministers of the two countries are to meet at the sidelines of the Saarc
summit next month. However, Mr Menon’s accusations that Pakistan has
fomented violence recently against India in Kashmir and Afghanistan will
certainly have vitiated the process of rapprochement. This will negatively
affect the moves to settle political disputes since an overwrought climate
does not help the diplomatic process. Most immediately, the flaring of
tensions on our eastern border with India just as the pressure on our
western border with Afghanistan has increased is a worrying strategic
38
IPRI Factfile
development. Pakistan cannot afford a confrontation with the ‘old
enemy’ — India — as it tries to convince a sceptical public of the threat
posed by the new enemy — militancy. This will play right into the hands
of the hawks in the establishment who still view India as Pakistan’s
foremost enemy and are alarmed by the growing Indian presence in
Afghanistan, which has long been considered Pakistan’s political and
military prerogative. A diplomatic row between India and Pakistan also
does not bode well for progress towards resolving the six-decade-old
Kashmir dispute. Incremental CBMs notwithstanding, there is little under
discussion between India and Pakistan at the moment that could yield a
long-term solution. The last big idea was President Musharraf’s four
points (identification of Kashmir’s regions; demilitarisation; selfgovernance; and a joint management mechanism) mooted two years ago.
The proposal received a cold reception in India and Prime Minister Gilani
has also distanced his government from it. But as long as relations
between Islamabad and New Delhi remain frayed, new proposals for a
durable peace will almost certainly not emerge. Therefore both India and
Pakistan must do more: India must back up its allegations with credible
evidence if any; Pakistan must work to convince India of its peaceful
intentions.
Dawn (Islamabad), July 23, 2008.
T ENSION V ITIATES B UILD - UP TO S AARC S UMMIT
I NDIA -P AKISTAN R ELATIONS
The 15th Saarc summit, which will open in the Sri Lankan capital
Colombo on Aug 2, is unlikely to focus on bread-and-butter issues
because of a trust deficit between Pakistan and India.
The tone of the summit has already been set in New Delhi, where
foreign secretaries of the two countries conducted the so-called composite
dialogue under “stress” just a few days before the summit in a country
which has been embroiled in a civil war for long and where, according to
Sri Lankan journalist Ayesha Wijeratne, 35,000 illegal firearms are in
circulation.
Hence terrorism, and not poverty alleviation and human
development, would top the agenda.
While Indo-Pakistan relations have fallen to a new low as New
Delhi accused Pakistan of complicity in the bomb attack on its embassy
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
39
in Kabul, Sri Lankan authorities have reportedly mobilised a massive
security net of around 5,000 soldiers for the summit.
According to reports, the Indians have also mobilised a massive
security entourage, including highly skilled Black Cats. India is
reportedly also deploying three warships and two guided-missile
destroyers and several helicopters to protect Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.
The meetings on the sideline of the summit would thus assume
greater significance as both India and Afghanistan would like to isolate
Pakistan and bring it under greater pressure on terrorism.
After surviving a no-trust move over the nuclear deal with the US,
India is pushing the Afghans to adopt a hawkish stand during the summit
vis-à-vis Pakistan.
This would pave the way for a greater Indian role in Afghanistan
and enhancement in its build-up in Kashmir. At the same time it would
help New Delhi divert attention from the growing disillusionment of the
left and the marginalised.
India has not only picked on Pakistan, but has also adopted a hard
line towards Bangladesh over transit trade. There were reports that New
Delhi had put Dhaka on notice for conceding its demand for allowing
overland transit facilities.But Dhaka has so far refused to allow Delhi land
transit facility, saying it is not in its “national interest”.
A Bangladeshi journalist was surprised at India’s stance towards a
LDC, a few weeks before the Saarc summit. Officials in the Sri Lankan
capital want South Asian leaders to address the energy problem. It is
expected that the summit would be contemplating ways to reduce
dependency on fossil fuels and hydro carbons as well as exploring
alternative methods of energy like solar power.
There is a need to build a South Asian identity based on diversity
and a common history. The meeting should also consider the idea of a nowar pact and declare the region nuclear-free.
Visa-Free South Asia
Free movement of people in the region or, in other words, a visa-free
South Asia should be their main concern. Another area that demands
urgent attention is the draconian security apparatus that gives a free hand
to authorities to commit atrocities against their own peoples.
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IPRI Factfile
It is time to ensure rights to all workers, especially women, in
accordance with the International Labour Organisation Convention,
United Nations covenants and national constitutions.
Among other issues that should be discussed are enhanced
cooperation among member states in combating terrorism, climate
change and poverty alleviation.
Creation of alternative regional trade and economic cooperation
framework that meet the needs and aspirations of small producers and
labour is also a need of the hour. This will ensure the defeat of neo-liberal
instruments such as the World Trade Organisation and regional free trade
agreements.
Unless countries in the region have more trade among themselves,
on the pattern of European countries, they cannot confront the negative
fallout of globalization and neo-colonialism.
The 15th Saarc summit is being held at a time when the world is
threatened by a long period of recession and denial of political, economic
and other rights to the poor. It is also being held at a time when
governments of the region are increasingly invoking draconian security
laws.
It is time to revoke such laws if the region has to survive and make
progress. It is time to evolve no war pacts not only between countries but
also between different communities within a state.
The Saarc leaders will fail if they do not take decisions for improving
rail, road and sea links. It is time they ensured food sovereignty by
building alliances of peasants and agricultural labour. This would involve
the creation of seed and grain banks, promotion of participatory research
and sustainable technologies and the rejection of monopolistic and
environmentally destructive technologies.
Shamim-ur-Rahman, Dawn (Islamabad), July 31, 2008.
A DDRESS
BY THE F OREIGN M INISTER OF P AKISTAN AT THE
I NTERNATIONAL C ONFERENCE ON
“P AKISTAN -I NDIA P EACE P ROCESS : T HE W AY F ORWARD ”
Dr. Professor Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema,
President, Islamabad Policy Research Institute,
Mr. Richard Asbeck, Resident Representative, Hanns Seidel Foundation,
Distinguished scholars,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
41
I would like to thank the Islamabad Policy Research Institute for
providing me this opportunity to share my thoughts with the
distinguished participants of this conference on “Pakistan-India Peace
Process: The Way Forward”. I am delighted to address this august
gathering.
Ladies and Gentlemen
A glance at the map of our region will show that Pakistan lies at the
confluence of some of the most well endowed and resource-rich but
conflict afflicted regions of the world: South Asia, West Asia, Central
Asia, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf .
Our geo-strategic location thus gives us an unrivalled relevance not
only in our own region but also the regions beyond. Simultaneously, it
places on Pakistan the onerous responsibility of prudent conduct of its
relations not only with its immediate neighbours but also with the rest of
the world. We confront serious challenges emanating from our geopolitical environment with equally serious implications for our security
and development. Seen in this perspective, our relations with India
assume pivotal importance for the peace and progress of our entire
region.
Let me start by affirming the high importance that Pakistan
attaches to the peace process with India . Our Government is fully
committed to carrying forward the process. All major political parties
and the Parliament sincerely desire improvement of bilateral relations.
We have reaffirmed this resolve at multiple levels of our
interactions with the Indian leadership including the recent meeting
between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan , on the sidelines of
the Colombo SAARC Summit.
Ladies and Gentlemen
For over four years, Pakistan and India have been engaged in a
Composite Dialogue process. Discussions have been held on eight
segments ranging from cooperation in bilateral trade to people to people
contacts to addressing all outstanding issues including Jammu and
Kashmir .The overall objective has been to construct multi-faceted good
neighbourly relationship with India and build durable peace in the
region.
Consequently, there has been significant improvement in the
atmospherics between the two countries. High level visits have been
42
IPRI Factfile
taking place frequently. People to people contacts have deepened.
Bilateral trade has increased. And communication links like bus and train
and air services between the two countries have been enhanced.
While bilateral relations have improved in several fields, all tracks
of the process have not proceeded at the same pace. Bilateral disputes
remain unresolved, inluding the issues of Sir Creek, Siachen, and Jammu
and Kashmir.
Lately, there have been some adverse developments. Unhelpful
rhetoric has increased, particularly with regard to the bombing of the
Indian Embassy in Kabul and the ceasefire violations on the Line of
Control.
While we understand the concerns expressed and the need to
address them, it is important to avoid hostile statements. We must not
allow the positive atmosphere to be vitiated. On the bombing of Indian
Embassy in Kabul on 7 July, let me state here that it is a highly
regrettable incident, which we have condemned. Our own Consulate in
Herat has also been subjected to a terrorist attack. We feel that if there is
any evidence it should be shared with us to enable us to look into the
matter.
Recent reports of ceasefire violations at the LoC are a matter of
common concern. We are fully committed to safeguarding the
understanding on ceasefire reached since November 2003. There should
be more effective coordination between the respective authorities on
ground, namely the sector commanders and Director Generals of
Military Operations, to prevent occurrence of such incidents.
The important point here is that we should not lose the gains made
through the four years of the Composite Dialogue process. It is
important to ensure that this process is not de-railed. It is in the interest
of the peoples of the two countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I would also like to underscore the need to resolve the Kashmir issue. It is
Pakistan 's principled position that there should be a just and peaceful
solution of this longstanding issue in accordance with the aspirations of
the people of Jammu and Kashmir . For its part, Pakistan has expressed
its readiness to engage constructively with India to find a solution that is
acceptable to all parties, in particular the people of Kashmir . However,
there is a growing public perception in Pakistan that a matching response
from India has not yet been seen.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
43
Meanwhile, Pakistan and India have agreed on a host of Kashmirrelated CBMs. We welcome these measures as these have enabled the
divided families to meet and bring relief to the lives of Kashmiri people.
On the eve of the launching of the fifth round of the composite dialogue
and the Foreign Secretary-level talks on Jammu and Kashmir, several new
steps have been announced for more effective implementation of these
CBMs. These include increase in the frequency of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad
and Poonch-Rawlakot bus service from fortnightly to weekly,
introducing triple entry travel permits, expeditious processing of travel
requests in emergency cases and transfer of application forms through emails. We are also currently seized with efforts to start cross LoC trade as
soon as possible. I would hope that a delegation from the AJK Chamber
of Commerce would visit its counterpart in Sri Nagar as soon as possible
and make concrete recommendations about starting the cross LoC trade.
Recent events of unrest and violence in Kashmir have once again
underscored the need to find an early solution of the Kashmir issue in
accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We have
expressed our concern over the excessive use of force to suppress the
protests and killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a senior Hurriyat leader. We
believe it is important that human rights of the Kashmiris are respected
and their voices heard. We regard it important that an enabling
environment, free of violence, is created to sustain discussions on this
issue under the Composite Dialogue.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Pakistan attaches considerable importance to our substantive talks on
issues of peace and security.
As responsible nuclear weapon states, both Pakistan and India must
continue their endeavors to promote strategic stability and restraint. It is
a matter of satisfaction that considerable progress has been made in agreed
nuclear CBMs including the Agreements on Pre-Notification of Flight
Testing of Ballistic Missiles, and Reducing the Risk from Accidents
Relating to Nuclear Weapons. Likewise, substantial progress has been
made to build confidence in the conventional field. We must continue
this process of confidence building and think of new and creative
proposals. On its part, Pakistan would continue to implement, in letter
and spirit, all the related understandings and agreements in the nuclear
and conventional fields reached between the two countries.
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IPRI Factfile
I also wish to underscore the importance that we attach to the early
resolution of Siachen and Sir Creek issues, which in my view are ‘doable'.
All that we need is the political will for their expeditious resolution.
Progress on these two issues is necessary to assure the people of the
sub-continent that the Composite Dialogue process is result-oriented. It
will also enable us to move speedily in other areas.
On Siachen, Pakistan has offered a package proposal on
disengagement of troops, their redeployment, and monitoring of the area.
The proposal is intended to bridge the differences. The resolution of this
issue can truly turn the area into a “mountain of peace” as suggested by
the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
On Sir Creek, engagement at the level of experts has been
constructive. We have completed the joint survey of this area and have
exchanged the maps. A final solution can now be well within our reach.
We must give earnest attention to arriving at a mutually acceptable
solution as soon as possible.
Over the past four years, good progress has been made on
promoting friendly exchanges in various fields. This has contributed
towards building better understanding which is of immense importance.
Both the countries now intend to liberalize the visa regime in order to
facilitate the people to people contacts.
Ladies and Gentlemen
It will be our endeavor to make our engagement on economic and
commercial cooperation a win-win proposition. There has been a
significant increase in the volume of bilateral trade from around US$ 200
million before the beginning of the peace process to US$ 1.98 billion in
2007-08. This is one of the tangible results of the peace process. We have
recently announced an increase of 135 items in the Positive list for trade
with India . The changes announced in our trade policy should augur well
for bilateral trade to the mutual benefit of the two countries. Presently,
the heavy trade imbalance against Pakistan is a matter of concern. Both
countries need to work towards a more balanced trade as well as address
the non-tariff barriers impeding Pakistan 's exports to India .
Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me reiterate that Pakistan remains committed to fighting terrorism
and extremism. We are cooperating with the international community to
fight this menace. Pakistan and India are addressing the issue through
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
45
multiple channels, including at the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism
whose third meeting was held in Islamabad on 24 June, 2008. Interior
Secretary-level talks are another important forum.
Ladies and Gentlemen
On water issues, it is important to adhere to the Indus Waters Treaty. In
addition, I believe that the two countries should engage in constructive
cooperation, in such areas as conservation of water resources through
research, capacity building, and sharing of technology and best practices.
We should be able to think ahead and address together the looming crisis
of water scarcity that could confront us in the not so distant future.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The issue of prisoners held in the each other's custody has a humanitarian
dimension. We welcome the excellent work being done by the Judicial
Committee on Prisoners. Both sides must implement the
recommendations of the Committee to ensure humane treatment of
prisoners and expeditious release of all those prisoners who have
completed their sentences. We should also fully implement the Consular
Access Agreement, signed during the ministerial review of the Fourth
Round of the Composite Dialogue on 21 May this year
Ladies and Gentlemen
Pakistan 's national priority is ensuring socio-economic development for
which we require a stable and peaceful neighbourhood. We are hopeful
that a sustained engagement between the two countries would not only
help in promoting bilateral cooperation but also regional collaboration.
To this end, we are happy to note that regional cooperation under
the ambit of SAARC has picked up momentum. We welcome in
particular the Colombo Statement on Food Security. Pakistan remains
fully committed to making SAARC an effective vehicle for promoting
regional cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Normalization of Pakistan-India relations is of critical importance, in
realizing the vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia: fast joining
the ranks of more developed countries of Asia; well positioned to benefit
from the trends of our times; and well poised to meet common challenges
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IPRI Factfile
such as poverty alleviation, sustainable development, climate change, and
food and energy security.
As developing countries, Pakistan and India share common
perspectives on a number of issues. In a fast changing global environment,
we need to consult and coordinate our efforts to achieve the goals of
peace and development. I believe it is the shared intent of the leadership
of our two countries to endeavour for achieving a bright and prosperous
future for our peoples and for South Asian region, as a whole.
I thank you all.
August 26, 2008.
http://www.mofa.gov.pk/FM_Speeches_Briefings/PakistanIndiaPeace%20Process.htm
P AKISTAN
AND I NDIA
C LASH
OVER
K ASHMIR
AT
UN
Pakistan and India clashed in the UN General Assembly’s open debate on
Monday over the disputed Kashmir territory after an Indian delegate
called it a part of India.
“Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed
territory according to several UN resolutions. The Security Council’s
demand for free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices still remains to
be implemented,” Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon said rejecting
Indian claims.
Citing the current violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir, Mr
Haroon said the occupation forces had brutally killed innocent
protesters.
The Kashmiri political leadership has been put behind bars to
silence their call for freedom. Such actions, he said, created tension and
aggravated the situation on the ground.
Mr Haroon exercised his right of reply to a statement by Indian
delegate Rajeev Shukla claiming Kashmir to be a part of India, and
insisting that an earlier speech by the Pakistani ambassador amounted to
“unwarranted” interference in the Indian internal affairs and that it was
also “factually incorrect”.
Mr Shukla said: “The people of Jammu and Kashmir exercised their
right to self-determination at the time of India’s independence and have
since then repeatedly participated in free, fair and open elections at all
levels. In contrast, Pakistan pretends to be concerned over human rights,
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
47
yet denied even a semblance of such rights to the people of Pakistanoccupied Kashmir.”
In a hard-hitting response, Mr Haroon said the Indian claims about
Kashmiris’ exercise of the right to self-determination through elections
had been rejected not only by the UN Security Council but also by the
people of Kashmir.
“The current response to announcing elections is in front of the
whole world. The Kashmiri leadership has once again rejected the socalled elections, they have been put behind bars, and widespread protests
in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are going on”.
As regards human rights violations, Mr Haroon said Pakistan had
only echoed what had been said and reported both by the international
and Indian human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
media about Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan remains committed to the ongoing dialogue between the
two countries and considers it an important vehicle for promotion of
cooperative and good neighbourly relations as well as peace and security
in the region. It is, however, important that the process of engagement
produce results in addressing the outstanding issues. It should move from
a stage of conflict management to conflict resolution,” he added.
While participating in the committee’s debate on “Right of peoples
to self-determination”, Mr Haroon said the exercise of that right had
empowered suppressed and disenfranchised peoples to strive to achieve
equality before the law and to determine their own political, economic,
social and cultural systems.
Today, he said, the existence of that right continued to engender
hope among millions of the poor and vulnerable, whose fundamental
rights to chart their own destiny had been the suppressed or denied.
In strengthening the right to self-determination, he said the
following principles must be constantly reaffirmed: first, the forcible
occupation of a people’s territory whose right of self-determination had
been mandated by the United Nations should be recognised as a clear
violation of international law; second, the right to self-determination
must be exercised freely and unfettered by overt and covert coercion or
influence; third, the right was immutable and could not be extinguished
by the passage of time; and fourth, the legitimacy of a people’s struggle
for self-determination could not be compromised by tarnishing it with
accusation of terrorism levelled by occupying powers.
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IPRI Factfile
Turning to the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, he said that
six decades had passed since the Kashmiri people were promised they
would be able to exercise their right to self-determination by the United
Nations Security Council. However, the inability to remove troops from
that area had delayed self-determination and, now, the complete removal
of troops ordained by the Security Council resolution could not be
ignored.
An improvement in the human rights situation in the Indianoccupied Kashmir, he said, would facilitate and enhance the dialogue
process between India and Pakistan. He called upon all parties to seize the
opportunity provided by the ongoing dialogue to find a negotiated
settlement on the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
Masood Haider, Dawn (Islamabad), November 5, 2008.
B AGLIHAR
IS
B ACK
While India officially maintains that it never violated the Indus Waters
Treaty, the Indian commissioner, during the recent commission meeting,
reportedly confessed that India did violate the Treaty by filling the
Baglihar reservoir
After the neutral expert’s verdict on Baglihar Dam, if we thought
we were done with the issue, we were sadly mistaken. This time, the issue
is in the shape of water — about 200,000 acre feet of it — that Pakistan has
accused India of ‘stealing’ while filling the Baglihar reservoir. The matter
is so serious from Pakistan’s perspective that President Asif Zardari took
it up with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September.
The national security advisor of Pakistan also broached it with his
Indian counterpart last month in New Delhi. Then Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani raised it with Singh in Beijing on the sidelines of the
recently concluded Asia-Europe summit. And now President Zardari has
decided to write to the Indian prime minister, asking him to redeem the
promise made to him in New York to resolve the issue.
The controversy began when India allegedly filled the dam in
contravention of the Indus Waters Treaty. According to Pakistan’s Indus
commissioner, Jamaat Ali Shah, India released between 30,000 and 35,000
cusecs of water (and at one point, 23,000 cusecs) between August 19 and
September 5. This was in violation of Article 18-C of Annexure E of the
Treaty, which obligates India to undertake the filling of a dam on the
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
49
Chenab between June 21 and August 31, and release at least 55,000 cusecs
downstream at Marala headworks.
This was also in violation of the understanding that the Indus
commissioners of the two countries had reached according to which India
was to fill the dam during the rainy season. As far as reparation for the
loss is concerned, Pakistan has refused to consider monetary
compensation and insists on the ‘water for water’ formula. Jamaat Ali
Shah cities the Sallal Dam precedent where India compensated Pakistan
under this formula.
As expected, India’s official position on the matter is diametrically
opposed to Pakistan’s. Its Indus commissioner, G Arangnathan,
maintains that India filled the dam within the timeframe laid down in the
Treaty, and is hence not in violation of it. He contends that Pakistan
received less water than stipulated under the Treaty because there was less
than normal rainfall this year. He has accused Pakistan of politicising a
‘technical’ issue and of playing ‘arithmetic gymnastics’.
During the meeting of the two commissioners in October in New
Delhi, Arangnathan proposed a visit to the Marala headworks to which
Jamaat Shah agreed.
Will this visit help resolve the issue, or is it simply a delaying tactic
as believed by many Pakistanis? What options are available to Pakistan to
get the matter resolved to its satisfaction?
It is not clear how the Indian commissioner’s visit will help resolve
the conflict. He has explained the purpose of the visit as verification of
the data regarding the water flow that Pakistan claims to have received at
Marala during the period in question.
Jamaat Shah is justified in questioning the timing of the visit. In his
opinion, it would be useless now as the right time for such an inspection
was August-September when Pakistan made the charge about reduced
water flow. In fact, undertaking a visit at this point in time looks like a
delaying tactic. Besides, the idea behind the visit looks utterly dubious
when the Indian commissioner concedes to Pakistan’s claim that water
flow was reduced. Incidentally, if he is certain about his ‘reduced rainfall’
explanation, he should not have refused to share the hourly data of water
flow in the period in question, which Shah had requested him to furnish
during the commission meeting.
While India officially maintains that it never violated the Indus
Waters Treaty, the Indian commissioner, during the recent commission
meeting, reportedly confessed that India did violate the Treaty by filling
50
IPRI Factfile
the reservoir as charged. He, however, justified it on the ground that it
was compelled to do so because of ‘unavoidable structural constraints’.
However, when Pakistan’s commissioner proposed that he commit
to compensating Pakistan through the water-for-water formula (Shah
wants water from the Sutlej for the next Rabi crop), based on Pakistan’s
claim but without accepting the violation of the Treaty, the Indian
commissioner refused to oblige. The two sides then agreed to refer the
matter to their respective political leaderships for settlement.
What options are available to Pakistan to get compensation from
India?
First and foremost is the continuation of the political dialogue at
the highest level. It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistani
commissioner’s recent visit to the dam site and the commission meeting
in October were made possible due to the green signal from the top
Indian leadership. This is a cause for concern rather than celebration
because it means that instead of these being technical matters, any issue
arising under the Indus Waters Treaty is dependent on Indian goodwill
for its resolution.
Incidentally, this is a legacy of the BJP government, which turned
the Baglihar Dam issue into a political dispute, instead of keeping it
technical, as was the case in the past, by frustrating Pakistan’s repeated
requests for on-site inspections and commission meetings.
The Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson has declared that a
settlement of the water issue would be forthcoming ‘in a few days’. Given
the absence of concrete evidence in the matter, and India’s past record on
keeping its promises, we simply cannot share this optimism. It would be
wise to tread with caution. Perhaps conscious of this reality, President
Zardari has indicated that in case he fails to get the desired response from
the Indian leadership, he would approach Muslim countries, the ‘Friends
of Pakistan’ and the UK to put pressure on India. Perhaps he should also
approach members of the UN Security Council currently not among the
Friends of Pakistan.
The second option available to Pakistan is invoking Article 9 of the
Indus Waters Treaty on conflict resolution. After the debacle Pakistan
suffered in the verdict on Baglihar Dam, many Pakistanis may be wary of
invoking this clause. This may be more so keeping in mind that the
option is very expensive, tedious and protractive.
However, we cannot afford to take this attitude for two reasons:
First, we need to remember that if we lost the Baglihar case, it was
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
51
because we did not argue it well. Second, we should not be haunted by
the above-mentioned incubi when it comes to affirming that the waters of
the western rivers belong exclusively to us. We need to remember that
Article 9 is the ultimate guarantor of our rights under the Indus Waters
Treaty.
Ijaz Hussain, Daily Times (Lahore), November 5, 2008.
I NDIA
R EADY TO A TTACK P AKISTAN
SAYS J OHN M C C AIN
WAS
US Senator John McCain has voiced his deep concern over tense South
Asian situation, saying India was preparing for some kind of attack on
Pakistan in the wake of last month’s Mumbai attacks.The former
Republican presidential candidate’s statement preceded a relative deescalation in the tension as both Islamabad and New Delhi stressed
avoidance of war and talked peace over the weekend.
“The Indians are on the verge of some kind of attack on Pakistan,”
such as an air attack on suspected militant camps, he told a daily
newspaper in his home state Arizona published Monday.
Pakistan saw some positive signs over the last two days in Indian
leaders’ statements but recommended New Delhi de-activate its forward
air bases and move its ground troops back to peacetime locations to
resume friendly atmosphere.“I think it’s a very dicey situation,” McCain
told The Daily Courier, noting how both countries have nuclear
weapons.
“We’re going to be in for a very difficult time there,” added
McCain, who earlier this month visited both New Delhi and Islamabad as
part of US efforts to avert any standoff between them.
The world capitals including Washington and Beijing have been
making diplomatic efforts to urge Pakistan and India to ease the situation.
McCain’s remarks corroborated Islamabad’s position last week on New
Delhi readying its forces as the Pakistani officials said India had resorted
to some “potentially dangerous” moves.
Meanwhile, leaders on both sides have called for peace with
Pakistan emphasizing cooperative efforts against violent extremism.
Nation (Islamabad), December 31, 2008.
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IPRI Factfile
I NDO -P AK T ENSIONS
AND
U.S O PTIONS
In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Pakistan’s government is
scrambling to show grief-stricken Indians and the world that Pakistan is
actually able and eager to mount successful counterterrorist operations. In
the meantime, India is still considering its military options, and the US is
finding itself in the awkward position of biased mediator, but a mediator
with options, nonetheless.
Indian ire in the immediate aftermath of the attacks was so
unmistakable that it prompted Islamabad to sound the loudest alarm bell
in its arsenal: insisting that it could only fight one war at a time, Pakistan
warned Washington that a vengeful India would compel Islamabad to
redeploy the 100,000 troops currently assisting the US war on terror in
northwest Pakistan to its eastern border.
Hearing the message, President Bush dispatched Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to Delhi to calm the Indians to ensure that Pakistan
has the resources and flexibility to fight the militants.
Yet from Washington’s perspective, both the political and military
implications of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan especially
the kind that involves Pakistani troop movements open many new doors
to a war on terror that appears increasingly bleak.
First, India is not alone in its profuse criticism of Pakistan’s failure
to fight the very terrorists it bred during the anti-Soviet Afghan jihad in
the 1980s. Seven long years into the war on terror, Washington remains
convinced that Pakistan is still unwilling and/or unable to make good on
its counterterrorism commitments. It was difficult enough to compel
Islamabad to deploy 20 per cent of its roughly half-million-man army to
the northwestern border during President Bush’s first term, and that
contribution only led to a steadfast resurgence of the Afghan Taliban and
the near-steroidal growth of the Pakistani Taliban.
Facing dim prospects, over the last 18 months the Americans have
begun taking matters into their own hands and dispatched much-resented
unmanned aerial vehicles to kill senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders with
greater frequency. With president-elect Barack Obama insisting that he
will allocate more US soldiers and resources to the real war on terror in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, Washington’s relationship with Islamabad has
nowhere to go but down, especially as the Pakistani Taliban rip the
country apart. It is in this context that a redeployment of Pakistani
troops frightens Washington.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
53
But according to a flood of recent press reports, if India seems likely
to attack Pakistan, then both the Pakistan Army and the militants they
are supposed to destroy could find themselves facing the same grave
threat in India. Various militant factions and supporters of the Taliban all
the way from South Waziristan to the Swat Valley could put their wars
with Nato and Islamabad on hold and find their way to Kashmir or the
Indian border.
In the meantime, US and Nato forces in Afghanistan would be in
the unfamiliar position of having neither friends nor foes on the other
side of the Afghan/Pakistan border. And this would present Washington
with equally unfamiliar flexibility.
The US presidential transition could alter this dynamic, but under
these circumstances, the most likely benefit to the US would manifest in
southern Afghanistan, where the resurgent Afghan Taliban would face
potentially crippled supply lines of weapons and equipment, which are
currently flowing from the Pakistani Taliban and the tribal clans loyal to
them in the NWFP and especially Fata. If those middlemen are busy at
Pakistan’s eastern border, there will be fewer available at the western
border.
Another possibility is that, like their Pakistani counterparts, the
Afghan Taliban might also flock to the Indian border or LoC to fight the
Indians. Numerous Taliban leaders and foot soldiers are foreign-born and
tied to the militant Pakhtun world by marriage and lifestyle; but many
are jihadists at heart and would drool at the prospect of a glorious war on
numerous fronts. Though less likely, in either scenario, the Afghan
Taliban would be stretched uncharacteristically thin without support
from across the border, and the US/Nato/Afghan forces would be less
hindered to improve security and perhaps earn a little loyalty from local
Pakhtun tribes in southern Afghanistan. At the very least, there would be
fewer obstacles to US intelligence gathering and infiltration, which is
always in desperate need of a boost.
Either way, however, a substantive contingent of the Pakistani
Taliban and their supporters will probably remain in the NWFP/Fata
and continue supporting the Afghan Taliban.
In the end, Pakhtuns are notoriously territorial, and some will not
be interested in repelling the Indians from the land of their ethnic rivals
in Pakistan’s eastern provinces. In this case, Washington would be able to
test Pakistan’s claim that has limited as Islamabad’s assistance has been
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since 2001 the war on terror would be in a far worse state without
Pakistan’s help.
Willfully testing this claim has always been too risky for the US
because the price of being wrong could be frightfully high. But if
Islamabad refuses to keep its contingent of soldiers on Pakistan’s western
border anyway, then as a silver lining, Washington might be able to test
this notion and use it as a basis for strengthening or drastically altering
the US-Pakistan relationship.
After all, even if every observant western official already knows
that little will change on the ground without the Pakistani soldiers, then
mounds of supporting evidence for such assertions would be critical for
the Obama administration to justify greater and deeper incursions into
northwestern Pakistan to eliminate Al Qaeda and its support structure.
Naturally, Washington will have to test these waters more before
diving in, but the situation in Pakistan is likely to get much worse before
it gets any better.
Given the presidential transition in Washington, it is still unclear if
the US will be in a position to improvise its military approach to
southern Afghanistan, at least in the near term.
Nevertheless, if tensions remain high between India and Pakistan,
the US might benefit in the long term from the internal solidarity in
Pakistan and the decreased intensity of conflict in the tribal regions on
both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Obviously, a calamitous war between the two South Asian rivals is
far too high a price to pay to obtain a temporary calm in western
Pakistan that may or may not benefit anyone. But if escalation is the path
that India chooses despite Washington’s calls for restraint then highoctane sabre-rattling on both sides of the Indo-Pak border (especially if it
lasts for many months) could actually suit Washington rather well.
David H. Young, Dawn (Islamabad), January 13, 2009.
http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/13/op.htm#2
P AKISTAN O FFERS G RAND R ECONCILIATION :
Q URESHI , M UKHERJEE
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is ready
for grand reconciliation with India and the next round of peace talks will
begin in mid-July in New Delhi. Our government is ready for grand
reconciliation for the resolution of longstanding issues that need to be
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
55
resolved peacefully through dialogue and in a manner that is dignified and
commensurate with the self-respect of the involved parties, Mr. Qureshi
said at a joint press conference with Indian External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee after the political review of the fourth round of
?composite dialogue on Wednesday. Although the foreign minister did
not unveil the specifics of the grand reconciliation offer, it was a clear
Indication that Pakistan was ready to show flexibility on some thorny
issues that had been straining their relations and impeding progress in
talks taking place since 2004, if India reciprocated. Mr. Qureshi said
Pakistan was open to innovative ideas that could facilitate the dialogue
and create a more enabling environment. ? We don’t have a shut mind.
Mr. Mukherjee said India was equally determined to resolve all core issues
and overcome hurdles in improving its ties with Pakistan. I’m going back
with a sense of satisfaction, he said. Notwithstanding the cheerful mood
of the two ministers, it was apparent that they had made no substantial
progress on major issues and were banking on the working relationship
they had built during the talks to make progress in the next round.
The only highlight of the talks held after a hiatus of seven months
was the signing of an accord to provide consular access to prisoners in
each other’s jails and agreement on some minor confidence-building
measures. Both sides avoided making any statement that could vitiate the
cordial atmosphere in the dialogue. The two countries were hopeful of
progress on certain major issues in coming months. Mr. Qureshi said the
schedule of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Pakistan
later this year would be announced after ?some more progress?. The
foreign minister will visit New Delhi in June. He said there were certain
areas where progress had not been appreciable and which needed to be
focused. He specifically pointed out the Jammu and Kashmir issue saying
there had been no significant forward movement in this regard. Along
with the CBMs, this core issue has to be meaningfully addressed, he said,
adding that inclusion of Kahmiris in the process would be useful. Mr.
Qureshi emphasised that progress on all eight segments of composite
dialogue had to be in tandem.
Referring to Siachen and Sir Creek, the foreign minister said
resolution of certain issues was doable. He said Pakistan was hopeful
about them after the interaction. During the talks, Pakistan tabled new
proposals on Siachen, which Mr. Qureshi said could bridge the
differences and help the two sides move forward. Mr. Mukherjee said
progress had been made on Siachen but more time would be required for
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deliberations on the issue. He cautioned that no timeframe should be
fixed for progress.
He said economic cooperation was one of the principal subjects? in
his talks with Pakistani leadership. He said there was a lot of scope of
economic cooperation which could also complement the progress on
resolving major issues.
He said economic cooperation should not be held hostage to lack of
progress on unresolved issues. Negating the impression that India was
engaged in an arms race, he said the Indian government was more
concerned about pressing economic issues and addressing problems of
poverty and backwardness. But at the same time he observed that his
government could not be oblivious of the country’s defence
requirements.
Both sides agreed to enhance their counter-terrorism cooperation
by activating the Anti-Terrorism Mechanism and holding a meeting in
this regard before the fifth round in July.
Pakistan urged India to resolve the issue of transit fee for the IranPakistan-India gas pipeline, terming it a good CBM.The two ministers
agreed on making the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
more effective.
Joint Statement
A joint statement issued after the talks enumerated the Kashmir-related
CBMs agreed in the meeting,including an increase in the frequency of
Muzaffarabad-Srinagar and Rawalkot-Poonch bus services, modalities for
intra-Kashmir trade and truck service and implementation of other
measures to expand and facilitate travel for which a meeting of the
working group on cross-LoC CBMs would be convened within two
months.The two sides reaffirmed the importance of ceasefire along the
Line of Control and their commitment to cooperate to safeguard it.The
statement said the experts? group concerned should consider proposals by
both sides to develop further CBMs in the nuclear and conventional
fields.
Both sides agreed to finalise an agreement to liberalise their visa
regime and facilitate people-to-people contacts.Mr Mukherjee also met
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Pervez Musharraf.
Baqir Sajjad Syed, Dawn Magazine (Islamabad), May 22, 2009.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
S INGH R EITERATES T OUGH S TANCE : P AK -I NDIA T ALKS
S ECRETARIES ’ L EVEL P LANNED
57
AT
The Pakistan-India peace process, stalled for eight months, got a fresh
lease of life when President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) summit here on Tuesday. The two sides agreed that
their foreign secretaries would meet on “mutually convenient dates” to be
followed by another meeting of the two leaders on the sidelines of the
Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt in July.
“The two foreign secretaries will meet at mutually convenient dates
and discuss the steps to be taken on either side to deal with extremism
and terrorism and from those discussions the political leadership will reengage at Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt),” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi said after the meeting.
The one-to-one meeting between President Zardari and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh which began with a “warm handshake” lasted
for about an hour. Earlier, Mr. Mehmood Qureshi and Indian Foreign
Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and National Security Adviser N.K
Naraynan joined the two leaders for a photo session. Mr. Qureshi replied
in the negative when asked if the engagement between the two foreign
secretaries was part of the composite dialogue process, but said: “It is a
positive step forward.”He termed the meeting between the two leaders a
“positive development” and said “the only sensible course was to talk to
each other”.
He said the people of South Asia wanted peace, security and
development and wanted the two nations to live in harmony.Asked if
Pakistan would raise the water dispute with India, the foreign minister
said that all contentious issues could be raised when the talk process
began.The Foreign Office in a statement issued after the talks said: “The
two leaders among other things discussed the question of resumption of
the composite dialogue. Pakistan believes that the resumption of
composite dialogue, and addressing seriously and with sincerity, a range
of issues, is the only way forward.
“The president reiterated the desire of the government of Pakistan
to cooperate with India in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai
attacks to justice. It is imperative that the Pakistan-India joint antiterrorism mechanism be re-activated.”The president expressed the hope
that Pakistan’s relations with India would enter a new era and the existing
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IPRI Factfile
outstanding issues and disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, would be
resolved.
The statement said that Pakistan remained committed to friendly
and good neighbourly relations with India.“My mandate is to tell you
that Pakistani territory should not be used for terrorism against India,”
the Press Trust of India quoted Prime Minister Singh as telling President
Zardari.It said that after Mr Singh’s comments Mr Zardari immediately
asked journalists to be escorted from the room so the meeting could be
continued in private.PTI reported that Mr Singh was also understood to
have conveyed India’s “unhappiness” over Pakistani inaction against
terrorism aimed at India.
Mr Singh also expressed disappointment over the release of
Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed suspected by India of
being among the masterminds of the Mumbai attacks.
The two countries have already completed four rounds of the composite
dialogue, but the fifth round was halted by India after the Mumbai
attacks in November last year.President Zardari and Prime Minister
Singh are in Russia to attend as observers the summit of SCO that groups
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.The
two leaders last met in Sept 2008 on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly session in New York.—Agencies
Dawn (Islamabad), June 17, 2009.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/da
wn/the-newspaper/front-page/singh-reiterates-tough-stance-p
akindia-talks-at-secretaries-level-planned-769.
T EXT
OF I NDIA -P AKISTAN
J OINT S TATEMENT
The following is the joint statement issued after talks between the prime
ministers of India and The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh,
and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, met in
Sharm-el-Sheikh on July 16, 2009.
The two Prime Ministers had a cordial and constructive meeting.
They considered the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a view to
charting the way forward in India-Pakistan relations. Both leaders agreed
that terrorism is the main threat to both countries. Both leaders affirmed
their resolve to fight terrorism and to cooperate with each other to this
end.
Prime Minister Singh reiterated the need to bring the perpetrators
of the Mumbai attack to justice. Prime Minister Gilani assured that
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
59
Pakistan will do everything in its power in this regard. He said that
Pakistan had provided an updated status dossier on the investigations of
the Mumbai attacks and had sought additional information/evidence.
Prime Minister Singh said that the dossier is being reviewed.
Both leaders agreed that the two countries will share real time,
credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats.
Prime Minister Gilani mentioned that Pakistan has some
information on threats in Baluchistan and other areas.
Both Prime Ministers recognised that dialogue is the only way
forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite
dialogue process and these should not be bracketed. Prime Minister Singh
said that India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan, including all
outstanding issues.
Prime Minister Singh reiterated India's interest in a stable,
democratic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Both leaders agreed that the real challenge is development and the
elimination of poverty.Both leaders are resolved to eliminate those factors
which prevent our countries from realizing their full potential. Both
agreed to work to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence.
Both leaders reaffirmed their intention to promote regional
cooperation.Both foreign secretaries should meet as often as necessary
and report to the two foreign ministers who will be meeting on the
sidelines of the forthcoming UN General Assembly.
Times of India (New Delhi), July 16, 2009.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/default1.cms.
I NDO -P AK J OINT A NTI -T ERRORISM M ECHANISM
P ERSPECTIVES FROM P AKISTAN
Both leaders agreed that terrorism is the main threat to both countries.
Both leaders affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism and to cooperate
with each other to this end…. Prime Minister Singh reiterated the need to
bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice. Prime Minister
Gilani assured that Pakistan will do everything in its power in this regard.
He said that Pakistan has provided an updated status dossier on the
investigations of the Mumbai attacks and had sought additional
information/evidence. Prime Minister Singh said that the dossier is being
reviewed….Both leaders agreed that the two countries will share real time
credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats….
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IPRI Factfile
Dr. Manmohan Singh and Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, in a Joint
Statement, Sharm El Sheikh, 16 July 2009 India-Pakistan anti-terrorism
cooperation can rightly be classified as a ‘fisherman model’ that is, you
catch a fish when it comes to you! This implies an absence of a sustained
and pro-active interaction versus the issue of terrorism, undermining
peace and stability within and beyond their respective territorial
boundaries. Why it is so? How can both India and Pakistan jointly move
forward towards eradicating terrorism? How did India and Pakistan
resolve to form a bilateral or Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism? What
factors or variables have marred and continue to impact the smooth
sailing of JATM? Finally, how to ensure sustained Indo- Pak interaction
through Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism?
(I) Joint Mechanism: A Short History
Havana meeting of the Non Aligned Movement, in September 2006
concluded on a positive note. Manmohan Singh and Pervez Musharraf,
emphasized that the peace process must be maintained and it’s "success
was important" for both the countries . This marked a resumption of the
derailed “composite Indo-Pak peace dialogue” following the 11 July 2006
Mumbai multiple train blasts. Both sides “resolved to create a joint
institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism
initiatives and investigations." This marked a new beginning to tackle
terrorism as a “collective threat” in the Indo-Pak equation. It was a bold
step to move beyond finger pointing through media and engage directly
through an institutional framework. The first meeting of JATM (March
2007) was held in the backdrop of tragic Samjhotha Express incident and
defined the parameters of bi-lateral anti-terror cooperation. This meeting
defined the framework of the mechanism and agreed that specific
information to be exchanged for “helping investigations on either sides
related to terrorist acts and prevention of violence and terror acts in the
two countries.” It was also agreed that while the anti-terrorism
mechanism would meet on quarterly basis, any information which is
required to be provided on priority basis would be immediately conveyed
to the respective heads of the mechanism.
Second meeting of the JATM (October 22, 2007) led to the update
on the information shared in the earlier meeting and resolved to
cooperate with one another to identify measures, exchange specific
information and assist in investigations. However, prior to the meeting,
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
61
both sides traded accusatory remarks about subversive activities within
their respective borders.
Pakistan’s foreign spokesperson said: “We had indications of Indian
involvement with anti-state elements in Pakistan”. On the Indian side,
National Security Adviser MK Naraynan charged Pakistan, “for building
up and stirring Sikh militancy in northern Punjab State”. India also
blamed the ISI for bomb blasts in Hyderabad, Ajmer, and Ludhiana. This
love and hate relationship continued and prior to the third and last
meeting of joint anti-terror mechanism , Indian External Affairs Minister
Pranab Mukherjee expressed concern over the possibility of Pakistan’s
nuclear assets falling in the hands of radicals and threat of proliferation of
Weapons of Mass destruction.
Third meeting of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism held in
Islamabad on June 28, 2008 in the backdrop of the Kabul blast of Indian
Embassy; both sides exchanged fresh information about terrorism
incidents including Samjhotha Express. They reviewed the steps taken on
the information at the earlier meetings. Pakistan Foreign Office
Spokesman stated:
“The two sides agreed to continue to work to identify counterterrorism measures, assist in investigations through exchange of specific
information and for preventing violence and terrorist acts”.
(II) Will Joint Mechanism Work?: A Critique
Was joint-anti- terror mechanism a useful medium to exchange
information on the past terror incidents such as, Mumbai Train blasts
(2006) or Samjhota Express Feb 2007? There are multiple interpretations
ranging from severe criticism to highly optimistic notes. A critical
variable that marred the effectiveness of joint anti terror mechanism has
been a persistent divergence while interpreting the creation of joint antianti terror mechanism across the Indo-Pak border. For instance in case of
India, this development was interpreted as sign of giving into the
“Pakistan’s trap”. Yaswant Sinha condemned the joint statement by Singh
and Musharraf as “an unprecedented capitulation of India before Pakistan
on the issue of cross-border terrorism.” He added that “resumption of the
Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries in the
background of increased violence from Pakistan is not acceptable to us.”
Indian analyst B Raman reflected it as a double game of President
Musharraf; he wrote: “Musharraf is now prepared to revert to the preJuly, 2005 jihadi lull and co-operate with India in the investigation of any
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acts which have taken place since July, 2005, in return for Indian cooperation in dealing with what the Pakistani authorities’ project as crossborder terrorism in Baluchistan.” On the Pakistan side, Former foreign
secretary Ambassador Shamshad Ahmed observed: “In our anxiety to
have the dialogue resumed, we rushed into signing an unnecessary
agreement at Havanaon establishing a joint anti-terror mechanism. This
gives India another tool to manipulate the dialogues it did after the
Mumbai blasts. The peace process that we are following now is no longer
about resolving our disputes with India or redressing our grievances over
India’s transgressions in Siachen and Sir Creek. This peace process is now
all about “terrorism” which has become our betonies and which we have
undertaken to fight, first on behalf of the US and now on India’s behalf.”
On the other hand, there are numerous pronouncements particularly
from the government, media and academic side that termed the very
creation of JATM as a positive break from the past.
Foreign Minister Kasuri viewed this development as an “optimistic
trend that it would address concerns of both the countries and help
bridge the trust deficit” Likewise, Indian National Security Adviser MK
Narayanan also saw “it as an opportunity….. The mechanism could also
take care of certain issues such a money-laundering under a broader
framework” Benazir Bhutto was the most optimistic: “I believe that Indo
Pak relations can be creatively re-invented….there is a consensus amongst
the political parties of India and Pakistan, a consensus between our
military and security establishments that peace must be established. We
also agree that the one serious danger to the peace process comes from
militants and terrorists. Therefore the challenge for us is to dismantle the
militant cells so that they cannot hold the foreign policy of two
independent nations hostage to their acts of terrorism….. In this
connection, I welcome the decision by both India and Pakistan to work
together on anti-terrorism efforts and to share information in this regard.
This is a positive step forward….. Militancy and terrorism are the roots of
violence, senseless destruction and loss of lives….. With terrorism now a
global issue, cooperation between India and Pakistan to work on
eliminating terrorism from the region offers an important opportunity to
reinvent the relationship” At this juncture one must note that both sides,
India and Pakistan though committed to institutionalize abi-lateral
counter-terrorism mechanism were fully aware of the presence of
differences as natural to begin with. To quote former Pakistan’s Foreign
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
63
Minister Khurshid M Kasuri: “I think in both countries' interest, the
joint security mechanism is a success.
Whereas India has concerns, Pakistan also has concerns and it is
much better that we have a mechanism where both countries can voice
their concerns.”
This leads to another key point that divergence in perceptions
about the issues to be discussed under the new mechanism also existed
from the day one and explains the punctuated output of this interaction
to date. On the question of Kashmir dispute, while New Delhi pressed
for its inclusion as a ross-border issue”, Islamabad maintained “violence in
Kashmir is not part of anti-terror mechanism”. Similarly in almost all the
meetings both sides exchanged dossiers relating to the wrong doings or
involvement of one another in numerous terror incidents and
happenings. While the joint statements of all the three joint anti-terror
mechanism meetings (March 2007, October 2007and June 2008) reiterated
essential need to combat terrorism, no tangible solution of any major
terrorist incident was recorded.
One can argue that JATM is not a final platform to deliver
solutions but essentially a diplomatic and institutional framework to
exchange data while sitting across the table rather than communicating
through media only. This is the essence of its creation and its effectiveness
lies in not being trashed whenever terror hits either India or Pakistan. To
quote an Islamabad based research analyst, Dr Shaheen Akhtar: “JATM
has emerged as a shock absorber which pre-empts any derailment of
India-Pak dialogue process”.
(III) One Issue Different Expectations
Throughout 2008-09, Pakistan has been advocating are turn to “dialogue”
as critical to act jointly against the threat of terrorism. A briefing by
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Briefing said: There is a mechanism
which was put in place jointly by Pakistan and India. This is a mechanism
which is there to be invoked in order to take care of our mutual concerns
vis-à-vis security and terrorism….This is a mechanism which is kind of
embryonic at this stage and in order to strengthen it we need to make use
of it… Terrorism is a global problem and in order to deal with this
menace we ought to have a cooperative engagement. What we expect
from India is to resume the Composite Dialogue, to invoke the bilateral
arrangement which we have i.e. the Anti-Terrorism Mechanism with
view to addressing our mutual concerns in this regard rather than making
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IPRI Factfile
statements which are part of politicking and might be helpful only for
their election campaign.
New Delhi froze the dialogue process including the JATM
following 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan’s Foreign Minster Shah
Mahmood Qureshi expressing “shock and horror” at the terror attacks in
Mumbai Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi, called for “strengthening the
joint anti-terror mechanism and offered to set up a hotline between
intelligence chiefs of the two countries. …Warned against “making
insinuations against each other” in case of terror attacks and stressed the
need for a cautious approach towards tackling the common
scourge…..Pakistan wants to cooperate. We have to face the common
enemy in terrorism and it is a global challenge.”
At the same time Minister Indian Foreign Minister Pranab
Mukherjee observed: “There is a need for effective steps to address the
menace of terrorism which threatens societal and state stability in our
region. The institutions which we have set up within the Dialogue
framework such as Home Secretary level talks and the Joint Anti Terror
Mechanism have been meeting regularly. In fact the Union Home
Secretary had a meeting yesterday in Islamabad with his Pakistan
counterpart, and the Joint Anti Terror Mechanism had met in a special
session to discuss the terrorist attack on our Embassy in Kabul a few
weeks ago. We agreed that it is important that these institutions should
show concrete results”.
(V) Recommendations
The following key pointers can be deduced as a “Way Forward” for reinventing trust based bilateral equation:
• Issue of Counter-terrorism at the local, national, bilateral and
regional level is essentially a team work at the state and society
level. There is a dire need to invest in re-framing and projecting a
balanced image of one another. This in turn, requires political
will backed by institutional will to break from the “zero-sum”
mentality in perceiving and pursuing ones security policy.
• There is dire need to contextualize terrorism as a phenomenon
that is a product of not only external environment or work of
“foreign hand”. There is critical need to locate and address the
grievances (political, social, economic, etc) and bridge the
gaps/caveats within a system of governance that often result in
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
•
•
•
•
65
terrorist related incidents. Here, responsible behavior on part of
the policy makers should be exercised to the maximum. Plus,
media on both sides should exhibit prudent and pro-active
behavior to highlight the benefits of sustainable peace between
India and Pakistan. Both governments should not ‘abuse’ media
to gain national, bilateral and international attention and create
‘hostile image’ of one another.
The aforementioned recommendations must be complemented
by enlarging the spectrum of “security matrix” of both India and
Pakistan. That is, for a stable and prosperous mutual relationship
“security of people called human security” must be a key to the
strategic planning on both sides. This requires a judicious mix of
traditional and nontraditional security priorities. For example,
human security as postulated by the United Nations.
Thus, holistic conception of security is the best medium for
assuring a collective and coordinated approach towards counterterrorism. Here, one cannot contest the central role of security
residing with the state given a fact that present security challenges
(including Terrorism) are complex and requires broadening of the
security paradigm. Thus, it is strongly recommended that human
security must complement state security in practice for nurturing
a credible joint anti-terror Indo-Pak mechanism.
Another plausible recommendation to both New Delhi and
Islamabad is to learn from the experience of others. An
Innovative step can be to create “safety net or pool” of
intellectuals from both sides that should together undertake
analytical studies on how to remove trust deficit at the
institutional level by looking into the successful cases of conflict
resolution around the world. These studies should be considered
as essential reference material for the delegations to be engaged in
future bi-lateral discourses on the issue of terrorism.
Lastly, one must not judge the effectiveness of labeling JATM as
“not delivering much” institutional mechanism but should look
at it as “primary or sub stage” in the process of building a positive
and sustainable bi-lateral equation. Its success should be measured
in not being “discarded” but being “retained or paused
instrument” as point of contact between the India and Pakistan.
The ultimate goal should be use JATM as a preventative and
proactive forum to ensure peace in one another quarters.
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IPRI Factfile
•
•
There is urgent need to not build up media –hype regarding the
Peace process between the two neighbours – India and Pakistan.
Both sides need to be realistic, gradualist and pragmatic versus
their respective desired results from the Peace dialogue including
joint anti terror mechanisms. That is, policy practitioners should
understand that mutual distrust of decades cannot be removed in
one joint meeting but be prepared to invest time and energy in
keeping the bi-lateral mechanisms on track. Both sides must
recognize that elements against the direct dialing on issues such as
terrorism will always try to off-set the process by staging
terrorist attacks here and there. The effectiveness of any bilateral
interaction depends on its ability to survive the jolts and come
out more resolved in favor of “dialogue” than “military, political,
diplomatic stand off”.Both governments, should not be fixated in
laying out sketch of approaching or re-activating stalled bilateral
counter-terrorism mechanism. Here, statement of Indian External
Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, “any meaningful dialogue with
Pakistan can only be based on fulfillment of its commitment, in
letter and spirit, not to allow its territory to be used in any
manner for terrorist activities against India,” – does more damage
than repair a trust deficit equation between India and Pakistan.
That is, open-mindedness and willingness to listen and respect
each other standpoint must be followed in letter and spirit. Both
should perceive each other as “partners” engaging in a “collective
enterprise” versus terrorism. If interaction starts within the
framework of “us versus them” both sides will end up “only
talking” and not moving forward in a pro-active way. Plus, it
leaves a room to engage in rhetoric competition where both sides
deliberately engage in “war of words” and realpurpose of direct
and sustainable interaction is lost from the very beginning.
In nut shell, the starting point for an effective joint counterterror mechanism lies in recognizing the essential value of
“talking” directly than sliding into “confliction based syndrome”
– a persistent feature of past Indo-Pak relations. This fact is well
captured in the following words of the former British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill: “To jaw-jaw is always better than to
war-war”.
Shabana Fayyaz, IPCS (New Delhi), Issue Brief 126, Seprember 2009.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
U.S. R EQUESTS C HINA
TO HELP
67
D EVELOP I NDO -P AK T IES
The United States wants China to help improve relations between India
and Pakistan and to work with it to ensure that neither Pakistan nor
Afghanistan is used as a base for terrorism, says US President Barack
Obama.
Mr. Obama emphasised both points in his remarks in Beijing on
Tuesday and they were also included in a joint statement issued after talks
between the US president and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.
‘President Hu and I also discussed our mutual interest in security
and stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan. And neither country can or
should be used as a base for terrorism,’ said Mr Obama.
The text issued by the White House in Washington also quoted
him as saying that the two sides ‘agreed to cooperate more on meeting
this goal, including bringing about more stable, peaceful relations in all of
South Asia’.
President Hu, who spoke first in the briefing, however, did not
mention Pakistan or South Asia.
But a joint statement, issued after their talks, included both. A text
of the statement, also released by the White House, quoted the two
governments as saying that they welcomed all efforts ‘conducive to peace,
stability and development’ in South Asia.
‘They support the efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight
terrorism, maintain domestic stability and achieve sustainable economic
and social development, and support the improvement and growth of
relations between India and Pakistan,’ the statement said.
‘The two sides are ready to strengthen communication, dialogue
and cooperation on issues related to South Asia and work together to
promote peace, stability and development in that region.’
The joint statement is the product of weeks of discussions between
the two sides and that’s why it’s likely to be taken seriously in South
Asian capitals.
Diplomatic observers in Washington describe this as a significant
development as it indicates America’s recognition of China’s growing
influence in Asia.
In doing so, the United States also has accepted the fact that China
could play an important role in not only improving India-Pakistan
relations but also in bringing stability to Afghanistan. The
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acknowledgement runs contrary to predictions of US foreign policy
experts that the US would not accept China’s growing role in Asia.
Diplomatic observers, however, noted that the Indian government,
which has always opposed third-party mediation between India and
Pakistan, is likely to be worried about the new development.
Dawn (Islamabad), November 18, 2009.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/da
wn/news/world/19-us-requests-china-to-help-develop-indo-pak
-ties-hh-06
I NDIA
NOT
S INCERE
ABOUT
R ESOLVING D ISPUTE : FO
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Friday that India was not
sincere about resolving the Kashmir dispute and water-related issues with
Pakistan.
He said in an interview with PTV that the Indian attitude indicated
it did not want peace in the region.
Deploring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that
Pakistan had not taken adequate measures in connection with the
Mumbai attack case, Mr Basit said the entire world had praised Pakistan’s
sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, except India.
In this regard, he referred to the recent US-China joint statement
issued at the end of President Barack Obama’s visit to Beijing and other
similar statements by world leaders praising Pakistan’s sincere efforts in
combating terrorism.
Mr Basit dismissed as baseless a report published in Washington
Times about presence of Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan.
The report said that Taliban leader Mullah Omar was in Karachi.—APP
Our Correspondent adds from Washington: “The Washington
Times report is totally baseless,” said Nadeem Kiani, a spokesman for the
Pakistan Embassy in Washington.
“No Taliban or Al Qaeda leader is hiding in Pakistan,” he said.
Dawn (Islamabad), November 21, 2009.
US W ANTS R ESUMPTION
OF I NDO -P AK
T ALKS : H ILLARY
The United States is negotiating some measurements with both Pakistan
and Afghanistan to determine success in the fight against extremists, says
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
69
In three separate interviews to US, Afghan and British media
outlets, released by the State Department on Friday, the secretary also
acknowledged that the United States was encouraging India and Pakistan
to resume their efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir
issue.
“I don’t think that they’re benchmarks … what we’re trying to do
is create some measurements that can determine whether we’re
succeeding,” said the secretary when asked if the US was negotiating
specific benchmarks with Afghanistan and Pakistan to pave the way for
the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan.
Referring to her talks with the Afghan defence minister in Kabul
this week over better integration between the Afghan and international
forces in Afghanistan, she said: “That’s a good benchmark. That’s the
kind of benchmark we’re looking at, because what we want to see is how
we determine that we’re making progress on the path … where your
military will have what it needs to begin to take responsibility for much
of the country.”
Mrs Clinton said that over the last 10 months, the US and Pakistan
had developed a much higher degree of cooperation and communication.
She noted that only 10 months ago, the two countries didn’t have the
necessary trust that “you have to have in order to listen to the other side
and say, okay, I agree with you and I’m going forward”.
“The cooperation between our militaries, the personal relationships
that have been established between, for example, the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen, and chief of the army in Pakistan General
Kayani, are incredibly important in helping to break down barriers,” she
added.
“So when we said at the beginning of this administration that we
were disappointed that the Pakistani government was not going after the
Taliban — because we saw them as a direct threat to the Pakistani
government – and that then the Pakistanis themselves reached a
consensus they had to do that, we thought there was a very significant
change in attitude.”
The US, she said, would continue to press them to go after all of
the extremists in Pakistan.
“Are you looking at tackling the Kashmir problem to try to help
Pakistan really move its focus to the border with Afghanistan?” she was
asked.
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“Well, we’ve encouraged both countries to resume a dialogue that
they were engaged in which came to a halt and yet holds a lot of promise.
They had made progress, I’m told, in sorting through some of the
longstanding difficulties they face, and most particularly the status of
Kashmir. But it’s clear that any solution has to come from the two
countries themselves,” said the top US diplomat.
“You’re not pushing?
“Well, we are encouraging them to get back into dialogue. We
think that is important. But with respect to any resolution, that’s up to
them,” she responded.
Anwar Iqbal, Dawn (Islamabad), November 21, 2009.
P AKISTAN -I NDIA : A Y EAR S INCE M UMBAI A TTACK
About a week before the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's president during an
address to a conference in New Delhi via videolink made a proposal
regarding Pakistan's commitment to a "no first use nuclear weapon
policy". While speaking on the occasion he also made the famous remark:
"there is a little bit of Indian in every Pakistani and a little bit of Pakistani
in every Indian." At the time of the attacks, as the president was under
fire domestically for having made just the wrong proposal and equally
wrong remarks, the composite dialogue, a process initiated in 2004, was
already in progress on the Indian soil. Pakistan's foreign minister was
there on Nov 26, 2008.
One year on, things look different. Pakistan has hinted at several
forums the possibility of Indian interference in Balochistan and is now
openly suggesting Indian involvement in the current wave of terrorism
emerging from its tribal belt. This is exactly the reverse of how things
looked one year ago.
Several developments have taken place during the course of the year
and, unfortunately, not exactly in favour of the peace process. Apart
from a general election in India that kept the congress majority intact, the
composite dialogue remains stalled. The legal proceedings against the
suspects have not progressed to India's satisfaction. Jamaatud Dawa chief
Hafiz Saeed, the man blamed by the Indian side, remains at large after
what is seen in India as a "non-serious prosecution" nor is there a
"genuine crackdown on the Lashkar-e-Taiba." The arrest in the United
States of Tahawwur Rana and David Headley and their confessions about
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
71
working for Lashkar and plans to launch terror attacks in India is not
helping matters either.
Worst of all, neither side can predict a future where another
terrorist attack on Indian soil is impossible.
To sum it up, Indo-Pak relations remain strained for the time being.
On the Indian side, one view supports dialogue with the democratically
elected government of Pakistan and especially so when the country is
itself a victim of terrorism. The other side sees it as a futile exercise
because Pakistan's security establishment and the elected government, in
its view, are not on the same page. They cite the withdrawal of decision
to send the ISI chief for a joint investigation with Indians soon after the
attacks, the response of Pakistani media and the treatment of Hafiz Saeed
as examples to prove their point. The elected government is incapable of
taking foreign policy decisions, they say.
So where do we go from here. The solution, most probably lies in
talking to each other and not otherwise. As I.A. Rehman suggests the
sooner we do it the better. A resumption of composite dialogue contains
the seeds of a solution for peace in the region. The two neighbours must
shed this mistrust of each other because we do not want another Mumbailike tragedy ever again.
Editorial, News International (Rawalpindi), November 22, 2009.
"I NDIA P LACED A P AUSE ON THE C OMPOSITE D IALOGUE "
S HAH M AHMOOD Q URESHI , F OREIGN M INISTER
It was during your visit to India last year that the horrendous acts of
terror took place in Mumbai, the financial hub of our neighboring state.
Question:How do you look back at those events and what do you
think has their impact been on the Indo-Pakistan relations?
Shah Mahmood Qureshi: Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist
attacks. We even proposed to India that a Joint Commission be set up to
work together on the investigations. Besides, we offered a high level visit
to India. New Delhi did not respond positively.Later, we carried out
extensive investigations into the incident. Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (defunct)
training centres and four hideouts of the terrorists were hunted down.
Later, the boat on which the terrorists sailed from Pakistan was taken in
possession. Similarly, 11 bank accounts used by the terrorists have been
traced and action taken in accordance with our procedures.Indian
government shared some material on Mumbai attacks with us on January
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IPRI Factfile
5, 2009, whereas the attack took place more than a month ago, on
November 26, 2008. The material was carefully examined.Since the
information provided by India was inadequate and incomplete, our
investigating agencies sought further clarifications. The additional
information required by our authorities needs to be authentic which
could stand the scrutiny of law.In a significant and parallel development,
the trial of the seven accused in the Mumbai case continues. Statements of
more than 100 prosecution witnesses have been recorded. On October
10, the Anti Terror Court judge framed charges against the 7 accused
including Hammad Amin Sadiq, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi and others.
Hearings on the matter have been held whereas non bailable warrants
have been issued against Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari, who are in
custody in India.In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, India placed a
pause on the composite dialogue. Pakistan believes that resumption of
dialogue is in the best interest of the region. It is important that dialogue
should be put back on the track. Cooperative engagement between the
two countries is paramount to fighting against terrorism.
TNS: Pakistan and India have been unable to reach a major
breakthrough on Kashmir, Siachen or any other issue on the eight-point
Composite Dialogue agenda, despite long peace process launched earlier
in 2004. Earlier, the neighboring nuclear states held many rounds of
parleys. What, in your view, are the main reasons for these repeated but
unsuccessful negotiations?
SMQ: Pakistan wishes to have friendly, cooperative and good
neighbourly relations with India. We would like to continue to work
with the India to resolve all outstanding issues between our two
countries, peacefully and in a just manner. Pakistan is committed to a just
and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.The CBMs agreed upon
between the two countries on Kashmir have paid dividends. The crossLOC trade is continuing. So is the case with the bus serves between the
two sides of Kashmir. In our view, the resolution of Siachen and Sir
Creek would be a major CBM in the relations between Pakistan and
India. The resolution of these disputes will go a long way in ushering in
an era of peace and stability in South Asia.
TNS: To revive the peace process, which came to a halt after the
Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has arrested many people blamed for the
horrendous attacks but India is still not willing to restart negotiations.
Will Pakistan continue with what many believe is its 'appeasement
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
73
policy' towards India? Isn't it time to tell India that Pakistan has done
enough and now it's their turn to come forward and reciprocate?
SMQ: Pakistan is not following a policy of appeasement with India.
In our view, it is important that both the countries follow the path of
dialogue to address each other's concerns.Both Pakistan and India need to
patiently interact with each other. Both are important countries of South
Asia. Both are neighbours. This reality requires a mature and pragmatic
approach to resolve our issues.
TNS: What does the future hold for the Indo-Pakistan peace
process? Will both sides recommence their efforts to resolve their
bilateral issues?
SMQ: Pakistan believes that sustained dialogue is necessary to allay
each other's concerns. Breakdown of dialogue only works to the
advantage of those who do not want to see peace in the region. We are
convinced that continuation of composite dialogue is in the larger interest
of the people of Pakistan and India. It is our hope that India will also
realise this.
TNS: It was your predecessor Khurshid Kasuri who claimed that
Pakistan and India once came very close to settling the Kashmir dispute.
It was believed to be the result of a so-called 'secret diplomacy'. Presently,
is back-channel diplomacy going on to put the peace process back on
track and also to help resolve the Kashmir issue and other bilateral
disputes?
SMQ: Back channel issues need not be discussed through media. As
regards the progress made earlier, the question should be put to my
predecessor.
TNS: Water sharing is another major dispute between Pakistan and
India and now we hear Islamabad will seek international arbitration to
resolve issues on Kishenganga hydroelectric project. Is it true? Also, could
you tell us how deeply will the water disputes impact the Indo-Pakistan
ties in years to come?
SMQ: The water dispute between Pakistan and India is a very
important one. Wullar barrage is one of the subjects discussed with India
under the composite dialogue process. The fourth round of the Secretarylevel talks on Wullar barrage in New Delhi in August 2007 did not
translate in a forward movement.
For the commissioning of the Baglihar project, India filled up its
reservoir in August 2008 and did not abide by the specific provisions of
the Indus Waters Treaty. We raised the issue at various levels with the
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IPRI Factfile
Indian side, also with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Pakistan has also
raised objections on the diversion of flow and design of the Kishenganga
project. The issue has been discussed with the Indian side on various
occasions. The pending issues related to Kishenganga are, therefore, to be
resolved in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Indus Waters
Treaty.
TNS: What will be your message to India on the first anniversary of
Mumbai attacks?
SMQ: Pakistan offers commiseration and our sincere condolences to
those affected by the dastardly act of terrorism. Pakistan itself is a victim
of terrorism. Both the neighbouring countries must enhance their
cooperation in combating the menace. We believe that conflict,
confrontation and tension are exactly what the terrorists want. In this
regard, I welcome the recent remarks made by the Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh in which he expressed his readiness to resume talks
with Pakistan. This is a welcome reiteration of the understanding reached
at Sharm-El Sheikh.
We have always said that Pakistan and India should not allow
terrorists and militants to define and drive our agenda on issues of peace,
security and stability in South Asia.
News International (Rawalpindi), November 22, 2009.
I NDIA F UELLING T ERRORISM
IN
P AKISTAN : Q URESHI
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that India is
supporting terrorism in Pakistan, including in areas bordering
Afghanistan.
In an interview with the German news agency DPA, Qureshi
claimed that Pakistan was ‘compiling hard evidence of India’s
involvement and interference in Balochistan and FATA’.
Qureshi urged India to ‘refrain from such nefarious activities’,
adding ‘unless (India) dispenses with its visceral animosity towards
Pakistan, attaining viable peace and security in South Asia will be even
more elusive’, he added.
The accusation came two weeks after a joint Press conference by
Information Minister Qamara Zaman Kaira and Army spokesperson
Major-General Athar Abbas during which they disclosed that Pakistan
had concrete evidence of Indian involvement in the South Waziristan
militancy. Abbas told the newsmen that a huge quantity of Indian arms
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
75
and ammunition, medical equipment and medicines used by Taliban
militants had been recovered from the restive district.
Hundreds have died in bomb attacks and raids carried out by the
insurgents as well as by retaliatory actions by the country’s military and
paramilitary troops.
Qureshi noted that India was reluctant to resume peace dialogue
even though the seven Mumbai massacre accused belonging to LeT were
being prosecuted in Pakistan. The trial against them ‘has now begun and
we are pursuing it more vigorously, it is a very complex trial having both
internal and external dimensions’, Qureshi added.
“New Delhi should support Islamabad in its efforts against
terrorists who have killed thousands of people in several suicide
bombings and other strikes across Pakistan,” the FM said. “We believe
that sustained engagement and result-oriented dialogue is necessary,” said
Qureshi.
“Breakdown of dialogue only works to the advantage of those who
do not want to see peace in the region. There is no other alternative. It is
for India to respond and reciprocate,” he said, adding “Pakistan stands
ready to resume the Composite Dialogue anytime for lasting peace with
India.”
On Friday, Foreign Minister asked India to open its eyes and take
notice of terrorism in Pakistan. “India should not remain oblivious to this
situation. We are facing Mumbai-like incidents daily. India should review
the facts,” he added. “In my opinion Pakistan’s mindset is constructive as
it took immediate steps to improve the atmosphere after Mumbai
incident. Now the ball is in India’s court and she has to decide what she
wants in future,” he maintained.
Abdul Sami Paracha, Nation (Islamabad), November 23, 2009.
E NDING I NDO -P AK I MPASSE
Those who hoped that the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
recent statement, expressing his readiness to discuss all issues with
Pakistan would presage an end to the persisting diplomatic impasse were
bound to be disappointed. Mr. Singh actually said little that was
new.During his visit to Srinagar on October 26, he said he was not setting
pre-conditions but the "practical aspect" was that talks would not make
headway unless Pakistan took effective action against terrorism. His
readiness for talks was therefore placed squarely in the context of
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IPRI Factfile
Pakistan being able to create an "atmosphere that is fruitful for
negotiations". This pronouncement was neither accompanied nor
followed by any move by Delhi to re-engage Islamabad in a dialogue.
Quite the contrary. Delhi declined to respond to the 'road map' for
resuming talks that Pakistan had conveyed to Indian officials on the
sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
It is quite customary for Indian leaders visiting the troubled Valley
to talk peace. The timing of Singh's remarks provides an even better
indication of his intent. His peace rhetoric coincided with the visit to
Pakistan, of US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
The remarks also came ahead of his upcoming visit to Washington the first state visit of the Obama Presidency. Thus one aim could have
been to preclude the possibility of the US injecting itself into the
Pakistan-India equation ?on Kashmir.
Far from foreshadowing any resumption of the Pakistan-India
dialogue, suspended since the Mumbai terrorist attack a year ago, Singh's
statement signaled more of the same, albeit calibrated in a way that
prompted Islamabad to welcome it.
In actual fact, his government has rebuffed repeated Pakistani offers
to restart the formal dialogue.
In New York, when the Foreign Ministers of the two countries met
in September, Pakistan proposed that the foreign secretaries should meet
between September and November to pave the way for the resumption of
the composite dialogue that could be announced at the Port of Spain,
during the Commonwealth Heads of Government ?Meeting
(CHOGM).Not only did this proposal not fly but Delhi also said no to
the idea - encouraged by Washington and London - of renewing the
backchannel. The UNGA meeting between Foreign Ministers Shah
Mahmud Qureshi and S.M. Krishna failed to break the deadlock and
turned into a restatement of positions by both sides.
India insisted on Pakistan taking decisive action on the Mumbai
attackers before the start of any dialogue; Pakistan called for the
unconditional resumption of the composite dialogue process even as it
reassured Delhi of its commitment to deal with the perpetrators of the
Mumbai attack.India rejected Pakistan's argument that the peace process
should not become a hostage to acts of terrorism. Indian officials also
questioned the utility of the composite dialogue - the broad gauge
structure of Pakistan-India diplomatic engagement since this framework
was drawn up in 1997 - indicating that they now envisaged future talks to
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
77
be recast around the issue of terrorism. This notion of a selected and
fragmented dialogue has only deepened the impasse.
Bilateral exchanges have now been reduced to encounters on the
sidelines of multilateral conferences. Efforts by Pakistani officials to
invite the Indian foreign secretary, Nirupuma Rao to Islamabad for 'talks
about talks' have also come to naught.
The question now is whether the US-led international community
can encourage India to modify its no-talks posture. Prime Minister
Singh's visit to the White House on November 24, offers an opportunity
to the Obama Administration to play a role on an issue that impinges
directly on its regional goals, especially at a time when Washington is
about to roll out its new strategy.When Hillary Clinton visited Islamabad
last month, she heard a clear message from her Pakistani interlocutors
about the need for the US to engage with issues that are at the heart of
Pakistan-India tensions: Kashmir, India's escalating arms buildup, Delhi's
provocative 'cold start' military doctrine, and the water issue. The same
message was also conveyed to the American national security adviser
General James Jones.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Obama had repeatedly
spoken about the importance of devoting "serious diplomatic resources"
to resolve the Kashmir crisis as a way of stabilising the region to enable
Pakistan to focus on its western frontier. The Obama Administration
would do well to heed the counsel contained in a remarkable and richly
researched new book, written by an experienced American diplomat,
Howard B. Schaffer.'The Limits of Influence: America's role in Kashmir'
comprehensively charts the history of efforts made by the parties to the
dispute and the US to resolve Kashmir.
Howard Schaffer served in both Pakistan and India during the
Seventies, and twice as deputy assistant secretary of state responsible for
South Asian affairs. While disagreeing with his prescription for a
settlement - which can only emerge from a peace process that includes
Kashmiri representatives - his conclusion, that the time may be ripe for a
fresh effort to resolve the Kashmir dispute, is one that one fully concurs
with.
Schaffer argues persuasively why US perspective on resolving the
Kashmir deadlock should now change. Among the reasons he cites as
arguing for an enhanced US role are: vastly improved relations between
Washington and Delhi, the unresolved Kashmir issue acting as an
impediment to India's prospects for gaining a seat at the international
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IPRI Factfile
high table, and the fact that a Kashmir settlement has become even more
important to American interests in South Asia and beyond. With
Washington's stakes having substantially changed since the last time it
tried to seriously engage with the Kashmir dispute in 1962, the Obama
Administration, Schaffer says, may well be able to give the Kashmiris,
Indians and Pakistanis the ability to get across the "elusive finish line"
they have never reached on their own.
These recommendations are valuable ones for the Obama team to
review as the White House prepares to receive Singh later this month.
The Bush Administration squandered an opportunity to push a Kashmir
settlement when it was negotiating the nuclear deal with India. The
Obama White House should not pass up another opportunity to help
secure a durable peace in South Asia.
Maleeha Lodhi , New Nation (Dhaka), November 25, 2009.
I NDIA N OT S INCERE
ABOUT
T ALKS ,
SAYS
G ILANI
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Monday that India
was not sincere in resuming composite dialogue with Pakistan, adding
that attempts by Pakistan to normalise relations between the two
countries were being stalled.
“India is stalling the dialogue process and the European Union must
play its role to bring it back to the negotiating table for resolving all
outstanding issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, between the two
countries,” Prime Minister Gilani said during a meeting with German
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, soon after arriving here on a twoday visit.
The prime minister said that improvement of ties between the two
countries was crucial for stability in South Asia…
The prime minister said Pakistan had been facing frequent Mumbailike incidents and, therefore, the only way forward was to improve ties
with India by resuming the composite dialogue.
He appreciated Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s desire to
resolve core issues, including Kashmir, and said that Pakistan strongly
believed that a friendly environment should prevail for the continuation
of dialogue.
Dawn (Islamabad), December 1, 2009.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
T RACK -II F ORUM F LOATS I DEA
79
OF
S IACHEN ‘P EACE P ARK ’
Former foreign secretaries and a number of foreign affairs experts from
Pakistan and India are of the opinion that the entire Siachen glacier area
should be turned into an international peace park under the supervision
of United Nations.
The idea was floated at a three-day Track-II dialogue on conflict
resolution and peace-building held recently in Bangkok.
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, an Indian think-tank,
suggested that the required authentication of the actual ground position
line “could be achieved by attaching marked maps and satellite photos
obtained by national technical means with the demilitarisation
agreement”.
The dialogue was sponsored by the US Ploughshares Fund after the
composite dialogue process was stalled in the wake of Mumbai attacks.
The 11-member Indian delegation, led by Maj-Gen (retd) Dipankar
Banerjee of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), included a
number of former diplomats and researchers.
The seven-member Pakistani delegation comprised former foreign
secretaries Riaz Khokhar and Najmuddin Sheikh and former diplomats
and academicians.
They discussed a number of issues, including confidence-building
measures, cross-border interactions, Siachen dispute, sharing of Indus
river waters, possibility of forging a common strategy for Afghanistan,
expansion of trade and the challenge posed by religious radicalism and
terrorism.
Informed sources said that the Indian suggestion to demilitarise the
region was “an indirect admission that the melting of glaciers was because
of its military presence”.
The Indian side called for declaring the entire glaciated region
falling within the NJ9842, K2, KK pass triangle an international science
park and ‘peace zone’, making it the locus of weather studies, enabling
both sides to cope with climate change impacts.
“This will require political authentication of the actual ground
position line and delineation of the Line of Control from NJ1982 thence
north to the glaciers without leaving any no-man’s land as prescribed
under the Karachi agreement of July 1949,” the Indian side said.
The Pakistani perspective, presented by UNDP consultant Arshad
H. Abbasi, emphasised the link between military presence in the glaciated
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IPRI Factfile
region and the glacier’s “unprecedented rate of shrinkage”. It was
proposed that Siachen “should instead be turned into a peace park”.
The Indian side agreed that Siachen did not have a strategic,
political or economic significance and a roadmap for demilitarising
Siachen could be achieved over “two summers” according to plans laid
down by the DGMOs and foreign office representatives on both sides.
Pakistan, too, did not have a particular interest in staying at the
present position, according to an Indian paper.
”Demilitarisation can be achieved and the Indian army, as a
precaution, can keep a battalion in state of high alert,” said Brig Gurmeet
Kanwal – an Indian delegate.
He said that the region could be turned into an international
science park with the involvement of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and opened for mountaineering and skiing
expeditions with the presence of army officers from both sides.
Former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar did not give much weight
to Track-II dialogue because it was not officially acknowledged on both
sides and said it was not clear if the formal dialogue would start from
where it was stalled, adding that Indian attempts to hold negotiations
“directly with Kashmiris” had not worked.
He said the Indian desire for a permanent role in Afghanistans
affairs could lead to ”a 20-20 match between Pakistan and India”.
Indians, he said, also wanted to reopen Indus Waters Treaty but this
had been rejected by Pakistan, and even Indians agree that the treaty had
worked well.
Khaleeq Kiani , Dawn (Islamabad), December 3, 2009.
P AK D ELEGATES
FOR I MPROVED
T RADE T IES
“Pakistan and India can join hands and work together to enhance
bilateral business ties as there is immense scope on this front.” This is the
general opinion of the 90 delegates who crossed over to India through
Attari check post to participate in the five-day Punjab International
Trade Expo-2009 today.
As many as, 160 delegates were to participate in the event, but only
90 of them managed to reach the first day. The remaining delegates are
expected to reach tomorrow.
The delegates, led by the former senior vice-president of the Lahore
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sohail Lashari, were of the view
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
81
that both the Indian and the Pakistani governments should make joint
efforts to improve bilateral. “The increased trade ties could work as a
potent medium to ensure building up of peaceful atmosphere and usher
in an era of prosperity” they opined.
Trade between the two countries had suffered a severe setback after
the 26/11 terror attacks. From a meagre 350 million dollars in 2003-04, it
can, however, touch the mark of 10 billion dollars in 2010 in case
relations are strengthened.
“If both the countries want to grow economically, they have to
smash the barriers. We would be able to compete with the rest of the
developed world from the day when this happens,” said Sohail.
Tribune (Chandigarh), December 3, 2009.
J OINT I NDO -P AK W ATERSHED M ANAGEMENT P ROPOSED
C HENAB , J HELUM
FOR
With a view to save the future water in Jhelum, Chenab and Indus rivers,
Pakistan has proposed a joint Pak-India watershed management of the
said lifeline. The watershed of the said rivers lies in India. The same
watershed also stands for the Indian rivers of Ravi, Sutluj and Beas.
In the wake of zero management by the Indian authorities, which
had been burning down huge swaths of forests to flush out the Kashmiri
freedom fighters in the catchments areas of the said rivers, water flows
have alarmingly reduced in the River Chenab and experts are of the view
that the River Jhelum would become a seasonal river in case its watershed
was not properly preserved. The massive deforestation has devastated the
economy of the area, which damaged the water flows in both Pakistani
and Indian rivers.
In the 1970s, Pakistan used to receive a generous water inflow in
Jhelum and Chenab Rivers but now even in the summer season this
inflow stands reduced to dismal low levels. Experts attribute this drastic
reduction to the destruction of forests in the catchments areas by the
timber mafia in connivance with the Indian authorities. Pakistan, under
the proposal, offered to jointly develop and manage the watershed in the
catchments area.
The quantum of water flows in the River Chenab stood at 26
million acre feet in 1922-61 period, which has alarmingly tumbled to 20.6
MAF because of the massive deforestation in the catchments area of the
river.
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Pakistan came up with this prudent proposal during the Indo-Pak
track II dialogue on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Bangkok
from October 5-7, 2009, with support from the Ploughshares Fund,
according to the minutes of the meeting available with The News.
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies facilitated and organised
this vital and crucial dialogue with the aim to provide members of the
strategic community on both sides with a common platform to discuss
issues that plague the Indo-Pak relations and reflect on the possibilities of
charting alternative course in the near future.
The significance of this Track II initiative was further reinforced by
the stalling of the composite dialogue process at the Track I level in the
aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. The discussions, spanning over eight
sessions, touched a number of issues, including the bilateral ties ranging
from analysing Confidence Building Measures, cross-LoC interactions,
the Siachen issue, sharing of the River Indus waters, possibility of forging
a common strategy for Afghanistan, expansion of the Indo-Pak trade, to
evolving better joint mechanisms for countering terrorism.
Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said he was unaware of any
such meeting held in Bangkok from October 5-7, 2009. He said right now
there was no Track II diplomacy going on between the two countries.
“However, this meeting might be arranged privately.”
Asked if the proposal to jointly develop and maintain the
watershed of the said rivers carries the weight in favour of Pakistan, Basit
said he will only be in a position to answer when he will have a formal
outcome of the Bangkok meeting. However, in the meeting, Indian
experts came up with proposal to joint water management over three
western rivers allocated to Pakistan by the Indus Water Treaty signed in
1960, which Islamabad forcefully rejected.
News international (Rawalpindi) Decmeber 4, 2009.
C LIMATE
OF
D ISTRUST
I found a big difference between perceptions in India and Pakistan on the
anniversary of last year’s terror attack in Mumbai. India reconstructed
the 60-hour tragedy and vowed not to ‘tolerate’ any such act in the
future.
Pakistan said that it had expressed its horror adequately in the past
and that by dwelling on it India was avoiding the composite dialogue.
And there was a string of familiar accusations and counter-accusations.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
83
The reactions underline their mistrust of each other. The two
countries have more or less the same bent of mind as they did when the
British left in August 1947. The present stalemate only emphasises that
the curse of alienation has not ended despite the passage of time. Even
today, Pakistan remains the number one enemy in India as is the latter in
Pakistan. And governments on both sides go out of their way to hurt
each other at international forums.
Had we kept at least travel and trade separate from our disputes, we
might have retained some contact to build upon now. If nothing else, it
would not have allowed the situation to deteriorate to the extent it has.
The media in both the countries could have played a constructive role.
But it has not been able to rise above jingoistic nationalism and selfrighteousness.
In any case, Pakistan, although belatedly, has initiated the process
to prepare the ground for talks. India had laid down two conditions: one,
bringing the culprits of the Mumbai carnage to justice, and two,
dismantling the structure of terrorists in Pakistan. Islamabad has filed
cases against seven suspects in custody, including Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
However, it is Hafiz Saeed who is the face of the Laskhar-i-Taiba and
Jamaatud Dawa. For India, what Pakistan does to him is the litmus test of
its efforts to combat terrorism. This is also clear from President Barack
Obama’s letter to President Asif Zardari where he warns against using
militant groups to pursue policy goals. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
must have given a list of places attacked by the Lashkar. They included
Parliament House and Akshardam Temple in Gujarat. The arrest of
David Headley and Tahawwur Rana indicates the Lashkar hand behind
these attacks.
Unfortunately, Pakistan has taken its time to register cases against
the alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. This has given the
impression that Islamabad is dragging its feet.
However, Pakistan can also blame India for the slow court
proceedings against Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive. There is some
weight in Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s defence that it should not
appear as if the trial in Mumbai is before a kangaroo court.
Still the fact remains that one year has passed since the arrest of
Kasab. Now the defence lawyer has been changed for his tactics to go
slow. The case will be further delayed because there are 400 witnesses and
580 affidavits — all will have to be examined all over again. Was it
necessary to have so many witnesses testify? The delay may create
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suspicion in Pakistan which is already unhappy about information
regarding the Mumbai attack being given in bits and pieces.
The second condition put forth by India is that Pakistan should
dismantle the infrastructure of terrorists. I am confident that an assurance
by Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani can allay New Delhi’s
fears. When the Pakistan Army has claimed that it has dismantled much
of the terrorism infrastructure, including suicide-bomber training camps
in Waziristan, it can easily carry out the same operation against terrorists
operating against India.
Indian opinion would feel assured if Islamabad were to say
categorically that the terrorists would not be allowed to operate from
Pakistani soil against India. Here the security agencies come into the
picture. They seem to have ‘allowed’ the seven persons allegedly involved
in the Mumbai attack to be brought to book.
There may be realisation that terrorism against India is too heavy a
price to pay. The billions that Pakistan is set to receive under the KerryLugar Act is like a Damocles’ sword hanging over its head. Washington’s
special team is keeping a tab on what is going out in cash or kind and
how it is being utilised.
Coming to talks, their resumption would also benefit New Delhi.
Talks would send a message to the Taliban and other jihadis that relations
between the two countries are on the mend. What Pakistan is doing
against them is what the two countries should be doing together. Were
the two to combat terrorists jointly, it would be good for both.
Pakistan is our first line of defence. Such statements like a limited
war against Pakistan made by the Indian army chief are irresponsible and
provocative. They reflect poorly on India’s credibility.
Pakistan is in the midst of a war for its survival. However, its
people too need to sort themselves out. They have created a culture of
what might be called ‘subjective history’. Former foreign minister Sartaj
Aziz has said in his book, Between Dreams and Realities that ‘…events
are seen through coloured glasses, conclusions are rooted in preconceived
notions and heroes and villains are identified within this biased
framework….’
The rise of Islamisation may have its fallout in India, particularly
when the Taliban say that India is their next target. Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh has reiterated that people-to-people contact should
deepen. It is a welcome statement. But how can this be possible when it is
almost impossible for a Pakistani to get a visa? At least, the prime
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
85
minister can unilaterally lift all restrictions on the sale of Pakistani
newspapers in India.
(The writer is a senior Indian Journalist based in Delhi)
Kuldip Nayar, Dawn (Islamabad), December 4, 2009.
E YEWASH E FFORTS
TO D EFUSE I NDO -P AKISTAN
A NTAGONISM
OF
USA
Indo-Pakistan relations have remained strained since the inception of two
states in August 1947. Some of the reasons of undying animosity are the
Hindu-British nexus during the British rule in India which persecuted the
Indian Muslims and played a perverse role while dividing India. Pakistan
was loaded with innumerable complex problems so as to extinguish its
life during infancy. Kashmir was annexed forcibly by Indian forces in
1948 and the dispute has not been resolved to this date. Throughout 62
years of its history, Pakistan has remained the victim of Indian
machinations. Even after truncating it in 1971, it continued with its
expansionist and hegemonic policies to subdue Pakistan and to extract
peace on unequal terms. Indian political leaders have been winning
elections by castigating Pakistan and beating war drums. Pakistan being
small in size and militarily weak has all along endeavoured to normalize
relations with India but its efforts were either rudely spurned or subjected
to deceit.
Fixated by its ardent desire to be accepted as a regional power, it
has been incessantly building up its military muscles and has employed
covert means to keep Pakistan politically destabilized and economically
weak. Pakistan’s refusal to accept its hegemony has kept Indian leaders on
a war path. It considers Pakistan to be the sole stumbling block in its path
to attain regional ascendancy and big power status. Nuclearisation of
Pakistan has frustrated its evil designs since it can no more bully or
blackmail Pakistan by threatening to wage a war. It has therefore once
again resorted to covert operations coupled with propaganda warfare at a
massive scale to achieve its objectives. This time it has aligned itself with
USA, Britain, Israel and Afghanistan and is using Afghan soil to launch
clandestine operations in Baluchistan, FATA and NWFP including Swat.
Since India has already made deep inroads in Sindh, it is therefore
concentrating on other regions.
In pursuant of their common objectives, foreign powers have been
extending a helping hand to India for the last eight years despite the fact
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that Pakistan has been nominated as front line state to fight US war on
terror and has rendered maximum sacrifices. During this testing period in
which Pakistan suffered immensely at the hands of so-called friends, the
two antagonists came close to war twice.
Having inflamed greater part of Pakistan through sabotage and
subversion, India has the brashness to cry out that it is victim of Pakistan
sponsored terrorism. Hypocrisy of India can be judged from its habit of
blaming Pakistan for the crimes it commits against Pakistan. Any act of
terror, real or fabricated, taking place in India is promptly pasted on
Pakistan without even carrying out preliminary investigations. It bellows
and bawls loudly to gain sympathies of the world and to portray Pakistan
as the culprit. It had done so when it cooked up a terrorist attack on
Indian Parliament in December 2001 and termed it as another 9/11.
Media hype was created and every Indian bayed for blood of Pakistan.
Biggest ever troop mobilization was carried out and its forces stood in eye
ball to eye ball contact for ten months. Its subsequent in house inquiry
could not find any clue to substantiate its allegations blurted out at the
spur of the moment but by then the damage had been done.
India behaved in similar audacious and babyish fashion when
Mumbai incident occurred. Indian leaders removed the mask of
friendship, called off composite dialogue in a huff and reverted to their
obdurate and cantankerous posture. They are duplicitous, unprincipled
and shameless. While falsely blaming Pakistan of terrorism without
evidence, they haven’t felt even pinch of embarrassment after Pakistan
unearthed heavy involvement of RAW in all its troubled regions.
Likewise, India and its partners remain mum on wide scale terrorism
going on within India.
Indo-Pakistan antagonism did not cause any anxiety to USA as long
as US-NATO forces were keeping Afghan security situation within
manageable limits and India was conducting subversion against Pakistan
right under its nose. Once security conditions in Afghanistan deteriorated
and Afghan Taliban gained an upper edge over occupation forces from
2008 onwards, US leaders started preaching peace between India and
Pakistan. They are vainly trying to convince Pakistan that extremist
forces and not India pose an existential threat. Pakistan is being
continually pressed to shift bulk of its forces from eastern border towards
western border to defeat terrorists and to forget about Indian threat.
While giving verbal assurances, the US has not taken any practical steps
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
87
to allay fears of Pakistanis nor has India brought any change in its
attitude. US efforts are at best superficial and lack sincerity of purpose.
India at the cost of 70% poverty stricken people is spending large
chunk of its budget on its military to enlarge and modernize its forces.
Indian Army has 34 combat divisions, three armoured divisions, seven
independent armoured brigades, five RAPID divisions, two airborne
brigades, two artillery divisions, independent artillery brigades, over 200
nuclear bombs and wide variety of ballistic missiles. Besides, India has
formidable air force and navy. Out of thirteen Corps, seven Indian Corps
are poised against Pakistan. India refuses to shift its bias of military force
away from its western border on the silly plea that it is vulnerable to
terrorist threat from Pakistan. It has now deceptively expressed its
readiness to shift some forces from occupied Kashmir under fond hope
that it would impel Pakistan Army to shift its centre of attention towards
FATA. Gen Deepak Kapoor is eagerly awaiting such a move so that his
forces could exploit the imbalance at an opportune time.
India has become largest nest of terrorism where Hindu terrorists
and insurgents are on a rampage. In all terrorist acts taking place from
2006 to 2008, in which 40-60% victims were Indian Muslims, Pakistan
was blamed but it transpired later that Hindu terrorist groups duly
patronized by RAW and Indian Army were responsible. Apart from
Hindu terror, dozens of separatist and insurgent movements are raging in
various parts of India and shaking the very foundations of Indian Union.
All its nuclear and missile sites are located within the Red Corridor in
eastern India where uncontrollable Maoist movement is reigning
supreme. Indian Army is deeply involved in criminal activities including
racism, arms and nuclear fissile material smuggling. These ground realities
do not vex US and western leaders. Instead of declaring India as hub
centre of terrorism and most dangerous country in the world, biased
western leaders have given these titles to Pakistan and are hounding it
under the mantra of do more. Pakistan has been taken for granted and
made into a sacrificial lamb to cover up Indian subversive activities and to
hide failures of US military in Afghanistan.
Successes achieved by Pakistan Army in Waziristan as opposed to
dismal performance of US-NATO forces in Afghanistan have flummoxed
our detractors. To cloud the spectacular achievements, US leaders have
come out with absurd allegations that Osama led Al-Qaeda is based in
FATA since 2002 and Mullah Omar led Afghan Shura is in Quetta. To
overcome discomfiture of Helmand operation fiasco, frustrated Gordon
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Brown stated that Pakistan should highlight its military successes
modestly. He forgets the exultations and megalomaniac behaviour of
Bush and Blair after occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. We have also
not forgotten their exclamation ‘we’ve got em’ after Saddam was nabbed.
Reality is that Pak Army is playing its part commendably without
blowing trumpets. It is now the actors on other side of Durand Line who
have to do a lot more. If Obama sincerely wants to soothe Indo-Pakistan
antagonism and convert Pak-American relations into meaningful
friendship, he and his cronies should come out of superficial mode, stop
meddling into Pakistan affairs and earnestly work toward finding an
amicable solution to Kashmir dispute.
Brig. Asif Haroon Raja, December 5, 2009.
http://www.opinion-maker.org/navigation.do?mode=showArticles&id=1125.
I NDIAN D ESIGNS
It was good to see the Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, finally
realising the need to take up the issue of India's involvement in terrorism
within Pakistan and conceding that enough substantive evidence exists to
this effect. His statement came at a time when Pakistan and India
exchanged fire across the LOC. India has been targeting Kashmiris in
Occupied Kashmir and IHK marked twenty years of struggle which
broke out in 1989 and has been sustained by the indigenous Kashmir
people at the cost of thousands dead and disappeared at the hands of
Indian Occupying forces.
Meanwhile, India's aggressive intentions in the region have been
increasingly visible for some time now, with Pakistan as the main target.
It is not just Indian involvement in Balochistan and FATA through
Afghanistan that has become a source of instability for the region in
general and for Pakistan in particular. India's RAW has also been
intervening clandestinely within Pakistan's domestic political space for
decades now and funding a campaign against projects designed to improve
Pakistan's capacity in fields like agriculture - as in the case of the
Kalabagh Dam.
At the same time, to further undermine our agricultural potential
and development, India has been contravening the Indus Waters Treaty
with a regularity that suggests India's complete disregard for international
commitments and international law. Indian actions on the waters issue
now threaten Pakistan with a water crisis as India has not only continued
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
89
with illegal construction of dams but also blocked off water from the
Chenab River.
In recent times we are seeing India's opportunistic targeting of Pakistan's
nuclear capability with a concerted propaganda campaign in the West. At
the same time India continues to test more missiles and move forward on
a vast nuclear arms accumulation programme, aided by the US and Russia
in complete contravention of their NPT obligations.
India is desperate to acquire major player status in the region and
globally but is not succeeding too well on that count, especially in terms
of its desire to get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. But
then India's human rights record is murky to say the least. It has gone
against UNSC resolutions on Kashmir and continues to deny the
Kashmiri people their basic right of self-determination enshrined in the
UN Charter as well as UNSC resolutions on Kashmir. It continues to
oppress the Kashmiris with draconian laws and military occupation.
In fact, over the years India has become an increasingly
militarised state, building up its nuclear and conventional arsenals. While
China is often cited as the raison d'etre for all this arms accumulation, on
the ground the bulk of the forces and hardware are deployed against
Pakistan. India has to realise that unless it behaves like a responsible
power committed to conflict resolution with its neighbours, it cannot
move either in its region or beyond as a major player.
Editorial, Nation (Islamabad), December 15, 2009.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Opinions/Editorials/15-Dec-2009/Indian-designs
T HE R OAD
TO
P EACE
Expressing the view that the road to peace in the subcontinent lies
through the resolution of Kashmir, former US Ambassador to Pakistan
Ronald Spiers has called for bringing the issue off "the backburner" to the
forefront and settling it. From the Pakistani end, High Commissioner to
India Shahid Malik has bemoaned New Delhi's cold and escapist attitude
towards the composite dialogue with Islamabad, whose resumption could
help the two countries find common ground to peacefully resolve the
various contentious matters between them. Mr Spiers, who made his
observations in a letter to The New York Times that published an article
by Mr Zardari, endorsed the President's view that there could be no
lasting peace in the region without solving the Kashmir dispute. The US
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IPRI Factfile
Ambassador was also right in his assessment on another issue; i.e. he had
not seen any possible method of dissuading President Zia from
manufacturing the atomic bomb as long as India was on the same path.
Mr Malik, who was speaking to CNN-IBN, shied away from
using the words, "India has backed out" of its commitments made at
Sharm El-Sheikh when the interviewer wanted to put them in his mouth;
instead, he chose to put it in a diplomatically more acceptable and subtle
terminology, "not fulfilling", which any way carried the same
connotations. One would wish the Indian leadership to dispassionately
assess the implications of the High Commissioner's remarks that the
present diplomatic vacuum (the absence of contact to resolve disputes)
was strengthening the forces, which do not want the two countries to
make progress. At the very least, India should listen to a third party,
Ambassador Spiers, who has made more or less a similar statement when
he predicated Kashmir's solution to peace. There is little doubt that
peaceful conditions would provide a fillip to the development of the
subcontinent.
While the Pakistani High Commissioner quoted from the joint
statement of Prime Ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh,
issued at Sharm El-Sheikh, to prove that India had agreed to delink
composite dialogue from terrorism, he did not hesitate to deal with the
Indian allegations against Pakistani elements in the Mumbai tragedy. He
made it clear that it was wrong to say that Islamabad was adopting
delaying tactics in conducting a trial; in fact an FIR had been filed but the
demands of justice had to be met rather than hurrying up the decision to
meet the wishes of the party across the border. He pointed out what the
Pakistani leadership has been repeatedly maintaining - that India was not
furnishing "credible actionable evidence" to prove the guilt of the accused
in a court of law. One would hope that New Delhi displays sincerity in
viewing terrorism, which is a global menace, abides by its commitment to
delink the stalled dialogue from terrorism and settles disputes in a
peaceful manner.
Editorial, Nation (Islamabad), December 22, 2009.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Opinions/Editorials/22-Dec-2009/The-road-to-peace.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
A RMY R EWORKS W AR D OCTRINE
91
FOR
P AKISTAN , C HINA
The Army is now revising its five-year-old doctrine to effectively meet
the challenges of a possible `two-front war' with China and Pakistan, deal
with asymmetric and fourth-generation warfare, enhance strategic reach
and joint operations with IAF and avy.Work on the new war doctrine -to reflect the reconfiguration of threat perceptions and security challenges
-- is already underway under the aegis of Shimla-based Army Training
Command, headed by Lt-General A S Lamba, said sources.
It comes in the backdrop of the 1.13-million strong Army having
practised -- through several wargames over the last five years -- its `proactive' war strategy to mobilise fast and strike hard to pulverise the
enemy.This `cold start strategy', under a NBC (nuclear-chemicalbiological) overhang, emerged from the `harsh lessons' learnt during
Operation Parakram, where it took Army's strike formations almost a
month to mobilise at the border launch pads' after the December 2001
terrorist attack on Parliament.
This gave ample opportunity to Pakistan to shore up its defences as
well as adequate time to the international community, primarily the US,
to intervene. The lack of clear irectives from the then NDA government
only made matters worse. "A major leap in our approach to conduct of
operations (since then) has been the successful firming-up of the cold start
strategy (to be able to go to war promptly)," said Army chief General
Deepak Kapoor, at a closed-door seminar on Tuesday.
The plan now is to launch self-contained and highly-mobile `battle
groups', with Russian-origin T-90S tanks and upgraded T-72 M1 tanks at
their core, adequately backed by air cover and artillery fire assaults, for
rapid thrusts into enemy territory within 96 hours. Gen Kapoor
identified five thrust areas that will drive the new doctrine:
One, even as the armed forces prepare for their primary task of
conventional wars, they must also factor in the eventuality of `a twofront war' breaking out.In tune with this, after acquiring a greater
offensive punch along the entire western front with Pakistan by the
creation of a new South-Western Army Command in 2005, India is now
taking steps -- albeit belatedly -- to strategically counter the stark military
asymmetry with China in the eastern sector. There is now "a
proportionate focus towards the western and north-eastern fronts", said
Gen Kapoor.
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Two, the Army needs to `optimise' its capability to effectively
counter `both military and non-military facets' of asymmetric and subconventional threats like WMD terrorism, cyber warfare, electronic
warfare and information warfare.
Three, the armed forces have to substantially enhance their strategic
reach and out-of-area capabilities to protect India's geo-political interests
stretching from Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait. “This would enable us to
protect our island territories; as also give assistance to the littoral states in
the Indian Ocean Region," said Gen Kapoor.
Four, interdependence and operational synergy among Army, Navy
and IAF must become the essence of strategic planning and execution in
future wars. "For this, joint operations, strategic and space-based
capability, ballistic missile defence and amphibious, air-borne and air-land
operations must be addressed comprehensively," he said.
And five, India must strive to achieve a technological edge over its
adversaries. "Harnessing and exploitation of technology also includes
integration of network centricity, decision-support systems, information
warfare and electronic warfare into our operational plans," he added.
Apart from analysing the evolving military strategy and doctrines
of China and Pakistan, the Army is also studying the lessons learnt from
the US-launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001
and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and their relevance to India.
Rajat Pandit, Times of India (New Delhi), December 30, 2009.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-reworks-war-doctrine-forPakistan-China/articleshow/5392683.cms.
F ULLY A LIVE
TO
T HREATS !
The blustering Indian army chief needed to be reminded that the talk of
war between nuclear-armed countries amounted to not only causing but
also courting serious trouble. General Deepak Kapoor's fiery rhetoric
about his strategy of massively overusing 'superior' conventional
weaponry, if given practical shape, would be a recipe for widespread
destruction in the entire subcontinent and, indeed, India's own suicide.
His boast the other day that New Delhi was readying itself to wage a
successful two-front war, with China on the one hand and Pakistan on
the other, was sanely and adequately answered by General Ashfaq Kayani
while he was addressing senior officials at the GHQ on Friday. Although
he did not specifically refer to the threatening vision of General Kapoor,
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
93
the Pakistani COAS, as his remarks quite clearly indicate, was responding
to him. He underscored what, one expects, the Indian General should
have known before he flaunted his country's destructive military
capability and evil designs, "Proponents of conventional application of
military forces, in a nuclear overhang, are chartering an adventurous and
dangerous path, the consequences of which could be both unintended and
uncontrollable." One hopes the warning now sinks in and General
Kapoor cools down to see the truth and wisdom of his counterpart's
counsel that peace and stability in South Asia and beyond should be the
logical golden rule governing relations between countries possessing
nuclear weapons.
As for Pakistan, General Kayani made his preference for peace and
stability known. That was the principle underlying the country's security
paradigm and was designed to be secured through a policy of "strategic
restraint". Yet, if attacked, he was emphatic that the army was "fully alert
and alive" to the entire spectrum of threat that continued to exist in
conventional and non-conventional domains. Conscious of New Delhi's
mad quest for the acquisition of sophisticated military hardware, he
assured the nation that his forces were able to deter and defeat the
enemy's dangerous designs.
With growing economic strength and the added nuclear muscle that
the US has willingly provided it, in violation of international law (NPT),
whose strict adherence it demands of every other state, India has come
out in its true colours. Pakistan's current predicament on the one hand
and the task of containing China's expanding influence assigned to it by
nuclear benefactor US must have prompted General Kapoor to indulge in
self-destructive day-dreaming. In 96 hours during which he thinks he can
capture the enemy territory, Pakistan's as well as Chinese, a lot more
could happen. He could have unwittingly started off a Third World War,
with the subcontinent forming the main theatre.
Editorial, Nation (Islamabad), January 3, 2010.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Opinions/Editorials/03-Jan-2010/Fully-alive-to-threats
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D EEPAK K APOOR ’ S S TATEMENT A BSURD ,
I RRESPONSIBLE : Q URESHI
Foreign Minister Shah Memood Qureshi reacted sharply to Indian army
chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement towards Pakistan and China
and extended a hand to Iran for peace and stability in the region.
Qureshi categorically stated that Pakistan could not be threatened
by the Indian army chief’s irresponsible statement.
General Kapoor had said he was willing to take on Pakistan as well as
China should the need arise. Speaking to journalists in Karachi, the
minister said the government does not believe in sensationalism and
always looks forward to forging strong ties with neighbouring countries.
“Pakistan stresses to maintain peace in the region…but while India
itself asserts progress in the composite dialogue process, the talks remain
stalled,” he said. Pakistan’s foreign policy is very clear and calls to restart
a result-oriented composite dialogue with India, he further said. Shah
Mehmood Quershi also stressed the need to strengthen Pakistan’s
relations with Iran.
Qureshi noted the sacrifices made by the nation in the war on
terror. He said the Pakistan People’s Party focuses on politics of
reconciliation and therefore had formed an alliance with the PML-N and
the MQM.
January 4, 2010.
http://www.onepakistan.com/news/top-stories/28470-Deepak-Kapoorsstatement-absurd-irresponsible-Qureshi.html.
I NDIA ' S P ROVOCATIVE M ILITARY D OCTRINE
In remarks reported last week, Indian army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor
reaffirmed that India was evolving a new military doctrine, and he
outlined some of its key elements. The changes in the strategic
environment held out by this pronouncement have significant
implications for Pakistan and should give the country's security managers
much pause for thought. In November India's army chief spoke of the
likelihood of a limited war "under a nuclear overhang" in the
subcontinent. His latest remarks go further to indicate that:
• The Indian army is revising its five-year-old doctrine to
meet the challenge of war with China and Pakistan.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
•
•
95
The development of the "cold start" strategy is
progressing "successfully."
Five "thrust areas" will determine the new doctrine:
i)
ii)
Dealing with the eventuality of a "two-front" war.
Countering "both military and non-military facets
of asymmetric and sub-conventional threats."
iii) Enhancing "strategic reach and out-of-area
capabilities" to protect India's interests from the
Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait.
iv) Attaining "operational synergy" between the three
services.
v)
Achieving a technological edge over adversaries.
The emerging doctrine appears to be both aspirational and
emulative. Aspirational because its breadth and sweep reflects a mindset
that seeks to create "big power" dynamics by projecting India as a rival to
China and aiming to develop a capacity to act in two combat theatres
simultaneously. How and whether this can actually be attained is another
matter.
The doctrine also emulates the US Pentagon's Quadrennial Defence
Review undertaken every four years and borrows superpower language to
assert the need to build "out of area" capabilities and acquire "strategic
reach." This is the most presumptuous tenet of the doctrine which
employs the idiom of big powers without, however, the capability to
back it.
It raises other questions. What exactly are the interests that these
capabilities are intended to defend? Protecting the littoral states of the
Indian Ocean against whom? Will the pursuit of "strategic reach" not run
up against the strategic interests of other powers in the Persian Gulf? For
Pakistan several aspects of the doctrine have serious implications that
need to be assessed. The "cold start" doctrine seeks to counter the
Pakistani argument that, however "limited," a war is not possible
between two nuclear-weapon states – an argument that was validated by
the 2001-02 military standoff between the two neighbours.
First announced in 2004, after the failure of India's coercive
diplomacy and military mobilisation (Operation Parakram) of 2001-02,
the doctrine tries to build the case that India does have a war-fighting
option – "cold start" under a WMD overhang. This seeks to convey to
Pakistan and the world that the capability being developed to wage
"limited war" will enable India to operationalise its forces within 96
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hours to strike offensively against Pakistan without crossing the nuclear
threshold.
The concept of limited war in the "cold start" strategy is dangerous
strategic thinking. As Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
has emphatically pointed out, proponents of the use of conventional
force in "a nuclear overhang" are charting a course of dangerous
adventurism whose consequences can be both unintended and
uncontrollable.The notion of limited war will push the subcontinent
onto a slippery slope and heighten the danger of escalation. India's
strategy aims to achieve surprise and speed in a conventional strike
against Pakistan. It overlooks the fact that in a crisis the nuclear threshold
will be indeterminate. The threshold cannot be wished away by speed in
mobilisation.
In fact, the shorter the duration needed for a mobilisation the
greater the risk of escalation and the likely lowering of Pakistan's nuclear
red lines. Squeezing the timeframe will only make the situation more
dangerous and unstable. The long fuse in a crisis provided by the time
required for assembly and deployment of forces has so far helped to avoid
a catastrophic war.
If operationalised, the "cold start" doctrine will force Pakistan to reevaluate its policy of keeping its nuclear arsenal in "separated" form and
move towards placing its strategic capability in a higher state of readiness,
including deploying a "mated" capability -- i.e., mating warheads to
delivery systems. The action-reaction cycle will move the subcontinent to
a perilous state of hair-trigger alert.
Similarly destabilising would be the espoused goal to secure a
"technological edge" by India's effort to acquire a missile-defence shield
and build its PAD (Prithvi Air Defence) capabilities.
India may feel that the acquisition of anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
systems (possessed by only the US, Russia and Israel) will give it the
capability to neutralise Pakistan's missile capabilities. This would be a
dangerous presumption.
The deployment of ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities is
likely to enhance fears that an offensive pre-emptive strike, conventional
or nuclear, could be undertaken behind the BMD shield. Such a capability
in the context of the "cold start" doctrine would increase the possibility
of a military adventure by providing an illusion of "comfort."
This would enhance the incentive for Pakistan to multiply the
numbers of missiles and increase operational readiness to avoid the
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
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destruction of these assets in a pre-emptive strike. Pakistan will likely be
obliged to take a series of other counter-measures to break through the
BMD system.
This is a recipe for a costly and unnecessary arms race. A much
better option is to pursue the strategic stability regime offered by
Islamabad to Delhi that would stabilise nuclear deterrence by, among
other steps, the mutual commitment not to develop or induct BMD
systems into the region. But this does not seem to fit into India's
ambitions.
As for the "threat from China," the Cold War-like language of the
Indian doctrine seems out of sync with the times. It indicates Delhi's
continuing desire to play the role of a balancer or strategic counterweight
to China and employ its burgeoning relationship with Washington to
counteract Beijing's rising influence.
But the international environment is at present not favourable to
the fulfilment of this strategy. Unlike its predecessor, the Obama
administration seems not to buy into fanciful schemes to contain China
by promoting countervailing power centres. Instead, it is more interested
in deepening the engagement with Beijing in an era being referred to as
the G2 partnership, an alliance of overlapping US and Chinese interests.
The symbiotic relationship between the two countries is today the pivot
of the global economy. The emerging Indian doctrine seems to over reach
in seeking a capability to deal with a two-front war. This becomes even
more apparent when seen from the perspective of the experience of the
world's most powerful military. The US has struggled to simultaneously
prosecute, much less successfully conclude, two protracted wars (in Iraq
and Afghanistan) despite the central and long-standing premise of its
strategic doctrine of being prepared to fight "two wars" at a time.
It is therefore rather rich for India to claim that it can acquire the
capability to deal simultaneously with two fronts, and that too against
two nuclear powers. This is reckless translation of rhetoric into doctrine.
Given how unrealistic it is to think that such a capability can be built, is
the purpose of the doctrine, then, to use the China "threat" to acquire the
latest military technology from the West? This raises another question: is
that capability intended to be eventually deployed against Pakistan?
Once the full dimensions of India's military doctrine have been
evaluated Islamabad will need to review its own options and reassess its
operational plans and assumptions. Its strategic calculations should entail
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a careful reading of Indian capabilities and intentions while also making a
distinction between ambition and reality.
Gen Kapoor's enunciation of a provocative doctrine is one more
reason why Pakistan cannot ignore the more enduring challenge to its
security, even as it confronts the urgent internal threat posed by
terrorism and militancy.
Dr Maleeha Lodhi, News International (Rawalpindi), January 5, 2010.
I NDIA ’ S C HALLENGE
The statement by Indian army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor regarding his
army’s capacity to fight a two-front war upset a lot of people in Pakistan.
Both Pakistan’s army chief and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee rebutted such superfluous claims.Pakistan’s military high
command did not mince its words in dissuading its Indian counterparts
from giving any thought to ‘military adventurism’, and highlighted the
severe implications of this and of the Pakistan military’s capacity to
respond.
Such exchanges represent the heightened tension between the two
traditional rivals. For many political pundits the year 2010 does not bode
well for bilateral ties. The tide of peace and amity has been reversed even
though people thought that the peace process, started during Musharraf’s
reign, was ‘irreversible’. At that time, one of the major reasons for hope
on both sides was that a possible deal could be negotiated between an
elected government in India and a military dictator in Pakistan, who, it
was assumed, could carry his institution along in reaching out to New
Delhi. Now things are back to square one with hawks on both sides
intensifying tensions. Kapoor’s statement and its response from
Rawalpindi is not the last time that such an exchange will take place.
Needless to say, such exchanges do not bode well for peace in the region.
The Indian army chief had spoken of a capability that India desires but
does not possess at the moment. Taking on two neighbours militarily and
ensuring a ceasefire on its conditions is New Delhi’s dream. But it does
not have the capacity to translate this into reality. In fact, India does not
even have the capability to successfully try out ‘cold start’, its strategy to
allow the Indian military to strike specific targets inside Pakistan and pull
back without incurring a high cost. The basic assumption is that if India
targets terrorist training camps or headquarters in Pakistan and pulls out
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
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without holding Pakistan’s territory or annihilating its military,
Rawalpindi will have no excuse to deploy nuclear weapons.
Theoretically, such an adventure is possible because it is based on
another calculation that the Indian army will not waste time in
regrouping but would already be regrouped to carry out a strike. Official
sources believe that activating ‘cold start’ could mean Pakistan deploying
nuclear weapons at forward positions or keeping them ready for use.
Such a situation would result in India deploying its arsenal as well,
making the atmosphere highly charged.
Thus far, the Indian strategy is not in place. It requires complete
inter-services harmony and would essentially be a joint services operation
which could only succeed if well simulated. So far, there is no indication
that India has this capacity. There are internal problems in establishing a
new force structure. The establishment of this would indicate that
headway is being made in bringing necessary changes to the
organisational structure.
So, should Pakistan just laugh off Kapoor’s statement? It would be
wiser to understand the nuances of the statement which are more
important than the actual content of what he said. It basically indicates
the shifting of plates in terms of civil-military relations in India. This is
not to suggest that the Indian military is getting ready for an internal
coup or that it could take over politics or even wage a war on its own.
However, Kapoor’s statement is one of the many symbols of the
growing significance of India’s military in the country’s security and
foreign policy paradigm, particularly as far as Pakistan, China and the US
are concerned. It is no longer the military of Nehru’s days that sat
silently waiting for orders from Delhi as it saw the Chinese army
creeping into areas India considered part of its territory.
The modern-day Indian military has access to the media and has
managed to build a partnership with it to get its message across when it is
in need of public pressure on the political government regarding a
particular issue or policy. Furthermore, the military’s overall significance
in military security decision-making has increased for a number of
reasons.
First, the current lot of Indian politicians is comparatively less
skilled to deal with security issues than their predecessors and so tend to
seek advice from military officers on security issues.
Second, given India’s desire to become a global player and its
acquisition of modern technology to achieve this objective, the
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significance of the armed forces has increased. Third, India’s security
partnership with the US has bolstered the Indian military’s significance.
Finally, (as in Pakistan) senior commanders who retire from the
service find jobs in think tanks. This has allowed them to influence the
national security discourse in the country. For instance; the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry recently published a report
on national security and terrorism proposing extreme measures. Thus,
senior retired military officers and hawkish civilian experts drive the
thinking of businessmen and traders who are key to peace in the region.
This is indeed unfortunate and depicts a reduced capacity of the civilian
sector in India to take on or oppose the military’s perspective.
From Pakistan’s perspective the important thing is that Indian
politicians might find it difficult to go against their military’s opinion in
case there is a crisis in the future. Not to forget the fact that both the
Indian and Pakistani military have changed qualitatively as far as their
class structure goes.
Greater indigenisation of the officer cadre and troops has meant
larger numbers from the lower, lower middle and middle classes. One of
the distinguishing features of these classes is their sympathy for sociocultural traditions that have a significant religious flavour. Consequently,
the men in uniform might view matters of war and peace differently.
Such factors as mentioned above are difficult to quantify but have a
greater bearing on military planning and decision-making than what one
would imagine. Under the circumstances, any misadventure or
misperception could cost heavily.
These are two neighbours who do not know or understand each
other and this makes an accidental conflict or some other dangerous
miscalculation possible. Perhaps it is time that the two rivals began to
understand each other.
Ayesha Siddiqua, Dawn (Islamabad), January 8, 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/thenewspaper/columnists/14-ayesha-siddiqa-indias-challenge-810-zj-02.
W ATER W OES
With winter setting in, the corresponding rains have not yet arrived. The
result has been a shortage of water for agriculture, for which it is nothing
less than lifeblood. However, while agriculture is suffering, the water
shortage has also meant that canals have to be closed. As a result,
production of hydro-electricity will go down; with the result that load
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101
shedding will increase. While electricity has been cut off for the domestic
consumer, it has also been absent for the tube wells that are the fallback
of the farmer. The shortfall is now 4025 MW, and this is the time that a
callous administration has decided to shut down further releases from the
Mangla Dam. When one considers what was said by PML(Q) Senator
Muhammad Ali Durrani to the participants of a protest walk in
Bahawalpur, it becomes clear what the real problem is. Senator Durrani
has accused India of a plot to turn the Bahawalpur civilisation into a
Death Valley. Senator Durrani wanted the federal government to build
pressure upon India to obey international law, as well as the Indus Waters
Treaty it was violating to divert water for its own use. Senator Durrani
was particularly eloquent, because in that area river water is not just used
for agriculture, but also domestic use, and thus Indian diversions do not
just prevent agriculture, but they also affect living in the area.
That India is behind this mischief is indubitable. Its shifting of the
waters of Kashmir, which it has illegally occupied, down South, all the
way to Rajasthan, is too well known. Also, in the most recent attempts, it
has made diversions for the Wullar Barrage and now the Baglihar Barrage,
which are not only causing crippling shortages in Pakistan, but are also in
violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. At the same time, the Pakistani
government, in its eagerness to restart the composite dialogue, has not
only virtually let these violations go by default, but has also dragged its
feet on the eminently feasible Kalabagh Dam project. This has not
conveyed to India that Pakistan was making a sacrifice at the altar of
federalism, because federating units had manufactured objections to the
project, but that Pakistan did not need either large storages or any more
hydel.
Therefore, the government must abandon its present spineless, and
tackle the problems of the citizens in right earnest. Not only does this
mean electricity load shedding, but also gas load shedding. Even one is
enough to make life a misery during winter. Combined, they make more
misery for those already rendered miserable. The government must also
take up not just with India, but the international community, the
guarantees and promises it has made, and stop its strangling of Pakistanis,
not just Pakistani agriculture. This issue is of prime importance, and must
not be placed on the backburner at anyone’s bidding.
Nation (Islamabad), January 12, 2010.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Opinions/Editorials/12-Jan-2010/Water-woes.
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K RISHNA , Q URESHI D ISCUSS T ERRORISM
ON
P HONE
The Indian Foreign Minister told his Pakistani counterpart in talks over
the telephone on Wednesday that Pakistan should “unravel the full
conspiracy” behind the Mumbai attacks and crack down on militancy.
India's S.M. Krishna and his opposite number Shah Mehmood
Qureshi spoke in the backdrop of fraught relations between the nucleararmed neighbours following Mumbai and recent military flare-ups on the
border.
India has “paused” a formal peace process with Pakistan after the
2008 strike on Mumbai, which it blames on Pakistan-based militants and
some state agencies. The two sides have however met on the sidelines of
international gatherings since then.
Pakistan has put seven men on trial for the attacks, but India has
been demanding swifter justice.
Krishna “underscored the need for bringing the perpetrators of the
attack to justice expeditiously and requested that India be kept informed
of the progress of the trial,” an Indian Foreign Ministry statement said.
“(Krishna) also pointed out that Pakistan needs to take effective
steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism which exists in Pakistan
and continues to be used for anti-India activities,” it added.
A Pakistani man accused of being the lone surviving gunman of the
Mumbai attacks is on trial in India, while a Chicago man has been
charged in the United States for helping plan the strike. –Reuters
Dawn (Islamabad), January 13, 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-contentlibrary/dawn/news/world/18-india-pakistan-ministers-discuss-terrorism-onphone-am-04
I NDIA ’ S U NHELPFUL A TTITUDE
India’s long tradition of democracy has given the country an image of a
responsible and restrained nation. But this view is not shared by India’s
neighbours, especially the smaller ones.
The past 60 years have shown India’s tendency to throw its weight
about and browbeat its neighbours. With those that are bigger and more
powerful, India tends to adopt a moralistic and intellectually superior
tone, as noted by some American leaders. With its smaller neighbours, it
does not hesitate to take off its gloves.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
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Of course, we are no paragons of virtue either, and in many cases, it
has been our own arrogance and folly, more than Indian machinations,
that have contributed to our failures and losses, whether in view of the
East Pakistan debacle or the Kargil adventure.
It had, however, been expected that with the restoration of a
democratic dispensation in Pakistan and with virtually all major political
parties committed to establishing a cooperative relationship with India,
New Delhi would engage in a comprehensive dialogue aimed at resolving
the differences that have plagued ties between the South Asian
neighbours.
The Mumbai terror attack in November 2008 angered the Indian
government, which thereafter had to cater to massive popular outrage.
The consequent decision to suspend the dialogue with Pakistan was
understandable.
Since then, the Pakistani leadership has been engaged in a major
effort to convince New Delhi that it was sincere in its desire to cooperate
with India with the common objective of confronting the extremists. In
fact, the most remarkable thing was the near unanimity with which the
Pakistanis not only condemned the Mumbai attacks, but also
acknowledged that their country needed to take concrete steps to assuage
India’s anguish.
None of this, however, appears to have had much impact on the
Indian establishment. Even the expectations raised at the Gilani-Singh
meeting in Sharm El Sheikh were snuffed out when Manmohan Singh’s
colleagues publicly expressed their misgivings.
Then again, while Singh’s statement last October in Srinagar that
he was not setting preconditions for the dialogue had raised fresh hopes,
it did not indicate anything new, for he placed his readiness for talks in
the context of Pakistan being able to create an environment conducive to
negotiations. His pronouncement neither accompanied nor followed any
move to re-engage Islamabad. Instead, Delhi declined to respond to the
road map for resuming talks that Pakistan had conveyed to Indian
officials.
This led many to believe that Prime Minister Singh’s remarks in
Srinagar were merely meant to coincide with US Secretary Hillary
Clinton’s visit to Pakistan, as well as his own visit to Washington a few
weeks later.
In the meanwhile, the Pakistanis kept pleading for the resumption
of dialogue, while the Indians continued to rebuff these offers. The Indian
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foreign minister ridiculed even the offer of back-channel exchanges. It
was then that realisation dawned on the Pakistani leadership that the
country’s repeated requests were becoming demeaning.
In the meanwhile, India appears to have raised the ante, with the
Indian army chief Gen Kapoor remarking that “the possibility of a
limited war in a nuclear overhang is still a reality, at least in the Indian
subcontinent”.
What has been particularly galling is the failure of the Obama
administration to act on its seemingly wise policy pronouncements
during the election campaign. Instead of encouraging India to reduce its
presence in Afghanistan and ceasing to stir up trouble in Balochistan, the
US appears to have gone along with Indian allegations, agreeing to inject
into the US-India joint statement a provision “to work jointly to deal
with terrorism emanating from India’s neighbourhood”.
This was strange, coming from an administration that had publicly
expressed a desire to promote Indo-Pakistan normalisation and to work
for the resolution of the Kashmir problem.
The Indian army chief’s latest statement in which he spoke of his
army’s capacity to fight a two-front war has evoked great surprise and
disappointment. But while it conveyed hostility and belligerence, his
words are neither realistic nor achievable as India does not have the
capability to successfully initiate its much-heralded ‘cold start’ strategy,
much less wage two wars against two neighbours simultaneously.
This does not mean, however, that we can dismiss these statements
as mere rhetoric. It could be more evidence of the increasing inclination
of the Indian forces to have a role in the India-Pakistan equation.
According to some observers, there has been a slow but perceptible
change in India where an increasing number are reported to have insisted
on being given more than merely a ‘hearing’ on issues relating to
Pakistan, especially Siachen and Sir Creek. The Indian armed forces have
gradually come to believe that given the growing challenges that India
faces both domestically and on its frontiers, a more visible role for it is in
order.
Another important factor is the newfound confidence acquired
from the special relationship that the US has so eagerly conferred on
India, not only as its strategic partner, but also as a potential
counterweight to China. No less important could be the growing
influence of rightwing parties and religious groups that want India to
adopt more nationalist policies vis-à-vis its neighbours.
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
105
Whatever the reason, our leaders should not react in haste or with
similar belligerence. What must be avoided at all costs are provocative
steps, such as refusing to cooperate against the militants or brandishing
nuclear assets.
Instead, what is required is a dispassionate analysis of what these
signals portend for Pakistan and sensitising our friends to Indian actions.
While we must not be distracted from the objective of seeking a peaceful
resolution of our differences with India, we must not show undignified
haste towards that end.
Tariq Fatemi, Dawn (Islamabad) January 14, 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-contentlibrary/dawn/news/world/19-indias-unhelpful-attitude-hh-04up.
P AKISTAN W ARNS I NDIA A GAINST H EGEMONIC M INDSET
Pakistan warned India on Wednesday against its relentless pursuit of
military preponderance and said it would have severe consequences for
peace and security in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
The National Command Authority, which met here under Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, took serious note of recent Indian
statements about conducting conventional military strikes under a
nuclear umbrella and said such irresponsible statements reflected a
hegemonic mindset, oblivious of dangerous implications of adventurism
in a nuclearised context.
The NCA also took note of the developments detrimental to the
objectives of strategic stability in the region. It observed that instead of
responding positively to Pakistan’s proposal for a strategic restraint
regime in South Asia, India continued to pursue an ambitious
militarisation programme and offensive military doctrines.
“Massive inductions of advanced weapon systems, including
installation of ABMs (anti-ballistic missiles), build-up of nuclear arsenal
and delivery systems through ongoing and new programmes, assisted by
some external quarters, offensive doctrines like ‘Cold Start’ and similar
accumulations in the conventional realm, tend to destabilise the regional
balance,” the meeting noted.
A statement issued by the PM House said: “Pakistan cannot be
oblivious to these developments.” It was the first meeting of the NCA
after President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated the National Command
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Authority Ordinance and divested himself of the powers of its chairman
in November last year.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the safety and security of
Pakistan’s strategic assets and effectiveness of its strategic deterrence. It
emphasised the importance of Pakistan’s policy of credible minimum
deterrence and maintaining strategic stability in South Asia.
The authority reaffirmed Pakistan’s policy of restraint and
responsibility and its resolve to continue efforts to promote peace and
stability in South Asia. It underscored the need for preventing conflict
and avoiding nuclear and conventional arms race in the region.
The NCA noted that the India-specific exemption made by the
Nuclear Suppliers Group and subsequent nuclear fuel supply agreements
with several countries would enable New Delhi to produce substantial
quantities of fissile material for nuclear weapons by freeing up its
domestic resources.
It reiterated that while continuing to act with responsibility and
avoiding an arms race, Pakistan would not compromise on its security
interests and the imperative of maintaining a credible minimum
deterrence.
The meeting reviewed plans for generation of nuclear power under
IAEA safeguards as part of national energy security strategy to ensure
sustained economic growth and welcomed the renewed international
interest in nuclear power generation to meet the challenge of climate
change.
As a country with advanced fuel cycle capability, it said, Pakistan
was in a position to provide nuclear fuel cycle services under IAEA
safeguards, and participate in any non-discriminatory nuclear fuel supply
assurance mechanism.
The NCA expressed satisfaction at steps taken by Pakistan at the
national level for nuclear safety and security, which would continue to be
important considerations in the context of national nuclear power
development plans.
N-disarmament
It reaffirmed that as a nuclear weapon state Pakistan was committed to
working as an equal partner in international efforts for general and
complete nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. In this regard, the
NCA stressed the need for non-discriminatory policies and
Pakistan-India Peace Process (2008-2009)
107
accommodation of the reality of Pakistan’s nuclear weapon status for
promoting global non-proliferation goals.
The meeting emphasised that promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament objectives in South Asia were linked with
regional security dynamics and the need to address existing asymmetries
and resolution of outstanding disputes.
The NCA stressed that as the sole disarmament negotiating forum
the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva should play its due role
in global nuclear disarmament. As far as a Fissile Material Treaty at the
CD was concerned, Pakistan’s position would be determined by its
national security interests and the objectives of strategic stability in South
Asia, it said.
“Selective and discriminatory measures that perpetuate regional
instability, in any form and manner, derogate from the objectives of
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and, therefore, cannot be
accepted or endorsed. Pakistan will not support any approach or measure
that is prejudicial to its legitimate national security interests.”
An official told Dawn after the meeting that India’s ‘Cold Start’
strategy was a threat to strategic stability of South Asia. India’s growing
military prowess, capabilities and aggressive designs implied warprovoking intent by practical manifestation of the ‘Cold Start’ doctrine.
He said the hit and mobilise concept would further squeeze space
for diplomacy and political manoeuvres for avoiding a conflict. This
strategy was likely to increase the threat in an unpredictable manner at
various rungs of the escalation ladder, he added.
He said it was inherently flawed to further engage nuclear South
Asia in an arms race rather than diverting efforts and resources to
alleviate social needs of poor segments of society. Strategic equilibrium
prevalent in the subcontinent would be impacted with negative
repercussions, he said.
Explaining the concept of the ‘Cold Start’ doctrine, a defence
analyst said it envisaged applying linear ground forces for multiple
thrusts, backed by massive fire power well before Pakistan completed its
mobilisation and international community could intervene.
He said the doctrine laid stress on offensive strike, but without
giving battle indicators of mobilisation to maintain chances of strategic
surprise while remaining below nuclear threshold. Political decision for
war would be taken at the outset.
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Talking about the broad contours, he said traditional operational
art of maintaining distinction between strike and defensive formations
would be done away with. The war was planned to be fought by
integrated battle groups (IBGs) synergised and supported by Indian Air
Force and Navy.
Since the IBGs would be pre-positioned closer to international
border and the Line of control, these would commence operations with
least build-up and preparation and would thus achieve surprise under the
doctrine, he added.
Shaping the battlefield through new concept of war, incorporating
all available technical-driven assets and fire power platforms would
remain the hallmark of an Indian offensive.
Analysts observed that in Indian military planners’ view there was
space available for a short notice, short-duration war with curtailed
objectives despite the nuclear factor. Nuclear capability has added to
Pakistan’s security by impinging upon India’s liberty of action under the
nuclear overhang.
As the efficacy of all-out conventional war within the nuclear
environment became questionable, India started studying the possibility
of a limited conflict with curtailed application of military instrument and
objectives.
Dawn (Islamabad), January 14, 2010.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/thenewspaper/front-page/16-pakistan-warns-india-against-hegemonistic-mindset-hs07.