Did PM put India at stake to become centre of international attention

Nation stands shocked over the Indo-Pakistan joint statement issued in Egypt. The joint statement is complete reversal of Indias position on several long standing diplomatic issues.

The Balochistan Blunder

Following line was included in the text of Joint Statement issued after the meeting between the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Prime Minister Gilani mentioned that Pakistan has some information on threats in Balochistan and other areas.

Its the first time that the issue of Balochistan and other areas (what are these other areas… Lahore/Peshawar?) has found a mention in any joint statement issued by the two countries. Pakistan has for long alleged that India was fomenting trouble in its restive Balochistan & other parts. Yet unlike accusations made in the past, now the allegations regarding India’s role in Balochistan are legitimized by the mention of Balochistan in joint statement. Through this act of utter foolhardiness the Indian prime minister has transformed the Balochistan from being a festering wound of Islamabad’s own creation to one caused by alleged Indian meddling. And what more he also managed to put the issue in international focus.  This is an indirect acknowledgement by New Delhi that India has a hand in what is going on in Balochistan. One can only imagine the harm this has done on Indias long standing international position

Delinking Terror from Talks

In a complete victory for Pakistan’s diplomatic establishment and complete reversal of assurances given by the government to Parliament , PM has agreed to delinked Terror from talks with Pakistan.

The joint statement says that “dialogue is the only way forward”, adding that “action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these should not be bracketed”. it essentially means that India will not make talks conditional to Pakistan’s action against the terrorists.

This is complete reversal of India's stated position that there was no question of holding dialogue with Pakistan unless it gives enough proof of taking action against its nationals who masterminded Mumbai attacks, and initiate steps to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil. Pakistan has not only not taken any action but LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed primary accused in Mumbai carnage is roaming free.

In further diluting the terror issue, the statement says

“Both leaders agreed that the real challenge is development and the elimination of poverty”

Has PM forgot that no development can take place in the shadow of fear and terror

Further shocking is the PM has even agreed to a escape route for pakistan. The agreemnent reads

Pakistan will do everything in its power in this regard

Has PM forgotten the Pakistan position post Mumbai attack that the attacks were carried out non state actors thus not within its power even though it was planned and resourced from its territory!

Parity Issue

Indian negotiators have also messed up by equating India and Pakistan as victims of terrorism. Terrorism against Pakistan comes from its domestic sources. The terrorism that is directed against India comes from the Pakistani state as well as its non- state actors. Where is the parity between the two countries as victims of terrorism?

Intelligence sharing

PM has agreed that

two countries will share real time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats.

I guess age is catching up with our PM otherwise how can he forget the joint anti- terror mechanism announced by himself and Pervez Musharraf on September 16, 2006 in Havana after the Bombay blasts that took place in July that year. Later, India claims that the joint anti- terror mechanism was totally unproductive because of Pakistan’s refusal to share any credible information.

Nor has there been any sharing of real time, credible and actionable intelligence by Pakistan after the biggest terror strike against India on 26/ 11. 

A month ago, Manmohan Singh told President Asif Ali Zardari that his mandate was limited to telling him that Pakistan must not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India.

Between June and July this year, did the Indian Prime Minister’s mandate change so drastically that he completely reversed several of Indias long held diplomatic positions!!!