AlwaysIndian.com

After Thursday’s important discussion between India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan can consider having an upper hand. Manmohan Singh delinked terrorist talks from the composite dialogue process. 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 the two countries will share real time credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats. India has opened up possibility of finding out any information on threats in Balochistan and other areas. On Friday Manmohan Singh said that the starting point for “any meaningful dialogue” will depend on actions by Islamabad to end cross-border terror and hoped there would be “forward movement” in the coming months. India has definitely walked an extra mile to take this situation calmly. But not raising the Kashmir issue in the talks is something that could be questionable.

The action that has to be taken against terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process and therefore cannot await other developments. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State who is scheduled for a four-day visit to India liked the way Mr Singh handled the whole situation. She called it an “Impressive” way of at the return to the dialogue table. She also stated that the Obama administration’s commitment to the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement but said she would like to discuss this with Indian leaders. The ways to prevent the “proliferation of nuclear material and weapons to state and non-state actors that pose a threat to India, to the US and to the many countries around the world.” Although she also mentioned that the US did not pressurize India to return to the dialogue table with Pakistan.

We believe this dialogue between India and Pakistan is certainly one that could only be pursued with the agreement and commitment of the two countries and their leaders. However, one cannot discount what President Zardari said in a statement recently that ‘the terrorists of today were the heroes of Pakistan until 9/11 happened and that Pakistan has had a policy of encouraging terrorist groups to secure its own national objectives’.

Sources:- TimesofIndia

India seems barged with threats these days. Recently we had Indian students getting attacked in Australia, Pakistan threatening Dhoni’s Blue Gang in the warm-up match today and now something of more serious nature has been reported yesterday by in.com. According to the news Pakistan has hired a Chinese company to build a railway station on no man’s land near the Indian border at Barmer (Rajasthan).

The threat is simply obnoxious because the railway station which is being built by a Chinese company which is not only illegal but is just one of the many moves Beijing is making to unsettle New Delhi.

We wonder the way Mumbai terror attacks changed the equation between India and Pakistan, How seriously New Delhi is taking the matter? China is challenging the government from the front by building ports at Sittwe in Myanmar, Hambantota in Sri Lanka and Gwadar in Pakistan to counter any Chinese military adventurism, there by striking at its sea lines of communications in the Indian Ocean.

We condemn such threats time and again and they still keep popping up from our neighbour nations. The news comes as a shock to us, at a time when we are tackling with terrorism threats from allied terrorist organizations. We hope that what maritime experts describe has China’s String of Pearls Strategy is not successful because if it does then Indian Navy will be forced to change its concept of operations.

The Indian government is surely not taking this lightly this time and is already keeping a close watch on the Chinese involvement in various projects of the neighbouring countries.

Source: in.com

The reaction to North Korea nuclear test has seen India talking tough. The test conducted by North Korea is seen as a violation of the International commitments. The test is also seen to have a major impact on the peace and security of the region.

The test comes at a time when the new government of India is thinking on the lines that India has to be sincere on non –proliferation issues. Both North Korea and Pakistan trace their nuclear weapons to Chinese proliferation. The North Korean weapons are of Chinese origin. China has also helped Pakistan in its nuclear collection and also protected North Korea from the international community.

Post nuclear deal India has been active in linking nuclear disarmament to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The test would create a division between nuclear weapon states and non –nuclear weapon states. The Indian govt sees this as a dangerous trend. Strategic analyst K Subrahmanyam said, “So long as nuclear weapons grow and are a currency of power, there will be North Koreas, which will deem themselves immune from international punishment when they are armed with such weapons.”

Countries like Pakistan and North Korea are pushing themselves towards international isolation and India’s commitment to nuclear peace makes it a priority in the Obama administration.

Source- Times of India
Photo Courtesy:  Howsutffworks

With 26/11 still fresh in our minds and recent terror attacks on SriLankan cricket team in Pakistan, it does not stop the former Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, from coming to India to the grand finale of the India Today Conclave. This was his first public speaking appearance since stepping down from office last year. The Group Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, India Today,  Aroon Purie welcomed the former Pakistan President. In his welcome speech, he  said “… I am going to give you (General Musharraf) and, of course, the audience a little slideshow and to read out the cover headlines of India Today that in many ways chronicle your tumultuous 10 year reign at the helm of Pakistan. Because we are India Today, the covers are mainly in the context of your relationship with India. You may not like what you see. But as they say in both our countries: ‘Gustaakhi Maaf ‘

Transcript of Q&A with General Pervez Musharraf

Arun Poorie: You are here as a messenger of peace. What did you do about it in the nine years when you were in power?

Musharraf: Let’s stop the blame game. We need to look at the reality, forget the past and look ahead. I don’t know what I did wrong, but I can tell you I tried my best for peace between India and Pakistan. I was never negative when the opportunity for peace came to me.

Arun Poorie: What plans do you have about the future?
Musharraf: To me, the core issue is confidence building by greater people to people affinity. Once the confidence is there, we should move towards resolving the core issues, and stop meddling with the internal affairs of each other’s country.

Arun Poorie: What do you have to say about what happened on 26/11 in Mumbai?

Musharraf: Let’s stop the war hysteria. Just a day into the investigations, the Pakistani army and the ISI was blamed for it. I am for a considered and matured response to these issues. As far as the investigations is concerned, Pakistani government should fully cooperate and the guilty should be punished.

Arun Poorie: Are there any terrorist camps in Pakistan?

Musharraf: See we have done damage to each other. I am aware of what the Indian Embassy is doing in Jalalabad and Kandahar. A terrorist from Kabul has been received by Indian intelligence agencies in India and looked after. I have documents to show this. Let us stop the blame game. India is a big country. You try to do damage to us, we will do damage to you. We should address the trust deficit between the two countries. The ISI does the same thing as the RAW does. There is no distinction.

Ravi Shankar Prasad: In the face of the present situation, do you see Taliban taking over Pakistan?

Musharraf: Areas in North West Frontier (Province) where the problem is, account for less then one per cent of the population. There is no danger of Taliban taking over Pakistan politically.

Arun Poorie: What specific confidence building measures do you have for the future?

Musharraf: We need to look at strategic issues. We will have to address water issue which would develop into a new conflict between the nations. We have to stick to the Indus Valley treaty.

Soli Sorabjee: Will you handover Dawood Ibrahim to us as a confidence building measure?

Musharraf: This is a small issue. I do not know if he is there. I too have a long list of people that india needs to give us. The role of Indian Embassy in Afghanistan in Jalalabad and Kandhar is not good either.

Individuals are a small issue. We need to look at strategic issue. I do not think handing over Dawood will change anything. (When asked to try) I know it will not help in easing tensions between the two nations, if that happens then you will have to handover Dawood back to Pakistan (laughs).

Rahul Kanwal: A conversation of Gen Kayani, the army chief, who succeeded you has been intercepted where he said Taliban is a ’strategic asset’?

Musharraf: This is a lie. He cannot say that. I challenge them to show me the proof. It is a lie.

Amar Singh: When our (then) PM Vajpayee travelled to Lahore by bus to Lahore for friendship, Kargil happened. Now you say you are for peace?

Musharraf: I would not like to comment on this issue. I have dealt with this matter in my book.

Shekhar Gupta: Compare your years in power with that of Zia ul Haq.

Musharraf: The comparison cannot be done as the situation and ground realities were very different in both times. You must understand that Pakistan is not the perpetuator of terror but a victim of terror in the last 30 years.

Question: How is it to live in Pakistan and not be in charge?

Musharraf: It’s good. I am relaxed. The most difficult job was to take decisions in highly complex situations. Now I read about them in the papers.

General VP Malik: What are the chances the army taking over Pakistan again? How can India help Pakistan in its problems?

Musharraf: It is the internal matter of Pakistan. The political leadership can deal with the situation. I would not like to comment on that. India can help Pakistan by not carrying out maligning Pakistani army and ISI in the world.

Source India Today : Click here to watch the entire video of the conclave.