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India-Pakistan

Pak-India dialogue

2017-03-21

[DAWN] PAKISTAN High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has made a sensible and timely observation: important as the terrorism issue is to bilateral ties, there are other matters of equal importance that deserve to be focused on and therefore dialogue needs to be revived at the earliest. The high commissioner’s remarks came on a day that the BJP shocked India with its nomination of a controversial, hard-line Hindu priest to the post of chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state. The reaffirmation of a message of constructive dialogue on Pakistain’s part at a time when India may be lurching further to the political right is necessary; the stakes are simply too high for India and Pakistain to drift into a new era of turbulent relations. The high commissioner’s remarks, then, are a welcome reminder that right- thinking individuals in both countries are continuing to dwell on the need for dialogue and not jettisoning the shared experience of the past seven decades, which has proved that while dialogue is difficult to initiate and even harder to sustain, it is the only realistic option. Consider the so-called low-hanging fruit that Mr Basit referred to: Sir Creek and Siachen. Sir Creek in particular was once regarded as an agreement within reach -- a border and maritime dispute that can be resolved by technical teams, if the political will to do so exists. Similarly, the mindless stand-off in Siachen, more than three decades old and a growing environmental concern, could be resolved in a manner that satisfies both the military and politicianships in both countries. But the freezing of dialogue has stalled all progress, in disputes small and large. And in the case of Siachen, there is a sense that the intransigence of the Indian military and its growing influence in the national security and foreign policy domains have effectively cancelled the low-hanging-fruit status of the Siachen dispute. Unhappily, the absence of dialogue is allowing other factors to intervene and make historical and already complicated disputes even more complex. The revival of political will to engage in dialogue is the obvious starting point. Having established his party as the dominant political force in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an opportunity to pivot and return to the path of dialogue with Pakistain. Mr Modi also now has the benefit of greater experience -- the unexpected return to dialogue and the unveiling of the so-called comprehensive dialogue process with additional baskets in late 2015 was a commendable effort, but was not adequately militancy-proofed. The subsequent Pathankot attack caused a rupture where more experienced and committed dialogue partners may have found a way to sustain the process. Almost a year and a half later, with Pakistain having taken a few steps against India-centric murderous Moslem groups and large-scale counterterrorism operations under way across the country, the dialogue process can be restarted in a more conducive environment.

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India-Pakistan

'Hindu extremists organisations the biggest hurdle in Pak-India peace'

2016-06-21

[DAWN] Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ...Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture... on Monday termed Hindu faceless myrmidons organizations the biggest hurdle in Pak-India peace dialogue. "In our eyes, the biggest hurdle is Hindu Death Eater organizations and their influence and relations with the current government," said Nisar. The interior minister also termed Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s statement regarding Pak-India ties as ’surprising’. "If the Indian government is serious about mending ties with Pakistain, than they should declare exactly what forces do not want better ties between the two countries," said Nisar in a statement released by the interior ministry. Nisar also stated that the prime minister’s good relations with any other head of state are linked to our national interest. "The Indian minister should not take it as the PM’s personal interest," he elaborated. "Indian seriousness over the issue can be gauged by Prime Minister Modi’s speech to the US Congress." Pak and Indian foreign secretaries were scheduled to meet to discuss modalities regarding the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue agreed upon during Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference in December. The Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue stalled following the attack on Indian Air Force's Pathankot base. The dialogue was to take on matters related to peace and security, Jammu and Kashmire, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage, Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, narcotics control and humanitarian issues, people to people exchanges and religious tourism.

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India-Pakistan

Rangers operation to continue: Rashid

2015-12-14

LAHORE: Information Minister Pevaiz Rashid said here on Saturday that no-one would create hurdles in the ongoing efforts for peace in Karachi through the Rangers operation, which would continue. Replying to a reporter’s question after addressing a seminar, he said a fresh conference of political parties was not needed because all of them had not only endorsed the Karachi operation but were still favouring it. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the PPP, despite expressing some reservations, did not oppose the operation and were supporting its continuation, he said. When asked whether the National Accountability Bureau would hold impartial investigations against some federal and provincial ministers, he said NAB was already fulfilling its obligations and injustice with anyone would be avoided. “NAB should take steps which lead to irrefutable evidence so that nobody can raise a finger against it.” He said if NAB had got strong evidence then it should pursue the cases. About Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s meeting with the Indian prime minister in New Delhi, the minister said the PTI chief had adopted the philosophy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with respect to the foreign policy. “Let’s pray that he also begins following the doctrine of the prime minister about internal policies of the country.” He said Mr Khan had mainly presented himself in India as a sportsman. “I wished the PTI chairman would show courage and raise burning issues like Kas­h­mir, Sir Creek and Siachen in front of Indian leaders.” Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2015

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India-Pakistan

India, Pakistan to talk about Kashmir

2015-12-12

There's less here than it sounds... Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the National Assembly on Friday that talks with India on all issues including Kashmir, Siachan, Sir Creek, easing tension on borders and other matters will start next month for normalisation of relations. While giving a policy statement, he said foreign secretaries of both Pakistan and India would meet next month to set priorities. Opinion from house committees will be solicited and their guidance will also be sought in this regard, Sartaj Aziz remarked. Meanwhile, the decision to hold India-Pakistan comprehensive dialogue following Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's meetings during visit here this week has been largely welcomed by the media and analysts, though certain politicians and former diplomats believe the joint statement issued after these meetings tilted towards India. Opposition in the National Assembly, in particular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf of Imran Khan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should brief the assembly about what transpired during talks with the Indian delegation and in the Heart of Asia conference. Former senior diplomat Shamshad Ahmed who had authored the agenda of composite dialogue in 1998, acknowledged that resumption of talks was a happy development. However, he expression apprehensions over the expression "Comprehensive bilateral dialogue" used in the joint statement. "I believe this is a clear device introduced by India to exclude the Kashmiri representation in the process," he said.

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India-Pakistan

Army officers in hotline contact to ease tension

2013-08-12

[Dawn] After a demonstration by a mob outside the Pakistain High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday over the killing of Indian soldiers along the Line of Control, the Foreign Office asked India to beef up security of Pak diplomats and high commission staff. Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay was summoned to the Foreign Office and asked to convey to the Indian government that Pakistain expected it to meet its responsibility of protecting Pak diplomats and allied staff posted there. "We summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to the Foreign Office to stress that protection of the Pakistain High Commission and Pakistain House is the responsibility of the Indian government," Foreign Office front man Aizaz Chaudhry said. "We called for strengthening security of Pakistain representation in New Delhi." The demonstration was largely peaceful, except for charged youths raising anti-Pakistain slogans. The protesters belonging to the Youth Congress demonstrated outside the high commission and the Pakistain House, the residence of the high commissioner, over the killing of five Indian soldiers in an apparent terrorist attack near the LoC. Pak Deputy High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmed Khan was summoned on Tuesday to the Indian ministry of external affairs over the LoC incident and Defence Minister A.K. Antony in a statement in parliament accused "men in Pakistain Army uniforms" of having aided the attackers. Pakistain rejected the allegations and reiterated its commitment to the 2003 ceasefire agreement. "Pakistain remains committed to the ceasefire agreement of 2003 which is an important confidence building measure and should be respected in letter and spirit," Mr Chaudhry said. Pakistain also had accused India on Tuesday of unprovoked firing in Pando Sector, near Muzaffarabad, in which two soldiers were seriously injured. The military operations chiefs of the two countries spoke to each other over the hotline in an attempt to calm down tensions. According to ISPR chief Maj Gen Asim Bajwa, Director General of Military Operations Maj Gen Ashfaq Nadeem in his conversation with his Indian counterpart said there was no truth in the (Indian) allegation of LoC violation. The Indian DGMO shared his side's version of the event. "Pakistain Military has strongly protested Indian violation of LoC in Pando Sector," Gen Bajwa added. Under the ceasefire agreement reached on Nov 25, 2003, the two sides committed not to target each other's posts and personnel. The agreement has largely held and was considered as one of the main successes in the grinding of the peace processor. However, if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well... violations increased in January this year and have been holding up the third round of the resumed peace dialogue between the two countries The two sides are now preparing to restart the round and dates for talks on Wullar Barrage and Sir Creek have been proposed by Pakistain. Meanwhile, ...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising. And then he smelled the smoke... Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan warned that baseless Indian allegations against the Pakistain Army would undermine the grinding of the peace processor. Rejecting the Indian government's accusation about an attack on its troops, he asked how the Pakistain Army could have launched such an attack 5km across the boundary line. The minister said the Indian media was unleashing negative propaganda against Pakistain. The hue and cry of the Indian government and media was beyond comprehension, he added. He advised the Indian government not to blame the Pakistain Army for its own failures. Chaudhry Nisar said Pakistain wanted peaceful relations with India and it was possible only through bilateral efforts. He said unnecessary allegations would only vitiate the atmosphere and block the way for resolution of outstanding issues through talks. AFP adds: The foreign ministry said Pakistain wanted a strengthening of existing channels to stop "such ill-founded reports" in the future. Indian army front man Rajesh Kalia said the two sides had exchanged fire late on Tuesday but only "small arms" were used. In India, the opposition accused the government of letting Pakistain off the hook over the killing of soldiers, as the attack triggered uproar in parliament. Indian army had initially blamed the attack on Pak troops but later withdrew the statement. "Our defence minister has given a clean chit to Pakistain," Sushma Swaraj, lower house leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said. He "has let the country down. He must apologise to the nation", she said as the uproar forced parliament's adjournment. Senior BJP leader L. K. Advani told politicians "this is no time for talks" as news channels ran footage of the arrival of the soldiers' flag-draped coffins in New Delhi.

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India-Pakistan

Firing injures Pakistani civilian at Kashmir border

2013-08-09

[Dawn] Pak military officials on Thursday said Indian troops opened fire and seriously wounding a male civilian along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmire. Officials said Indian troops shot up around 8:30 am in the Tatta Pani sector, "seriously" wounding one civilian who was evacuated to a military hospital. "Today (in the) morning at about 0830 hours, Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing at the LoC (Line of Control) ... One civilian Kaka Sana Muhammad ... was seriously maimed due to the unprovoked firing by Indian troops," the official said. "The injured Kaka Sana is being evacuated to a military hospital," said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The incident comes amid a recent spike in tension across the heavily militarised border as India accused Pak forces of being involved in an attack on one of its army posts in which five of its soldiers were killed. "The attack was carried out by 20 heavily-armed terrorists, along with persons in Mighty Pak Army uniform," said Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Pakistain rejected the allegations and reiterated its commitment to a ceasefire agreement reached in 2003. "These are baseless and unfounded allegations. Our military authorities have confirmed that there had been no exchange of fire that could have resulted in such an incident," a Foreign Office statement on the reported LoC incident said on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Pakistain asked Indian authorities to beef up security for its diplomats and high commission staff after a demonstration outside the Pakistain High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday over the killing of the Indian soldiers. The military operations chiefs of the two countries also spoke to each other over the hotline in an attempt to calm down tensions. Under the Nov 25, 2003 ceasefire agreement, Pakistain and India committed not to target each other's posts and personnel. The agreement has largely held and was considered as one of the main successes in the grinding of the peace processor. However, a person who gets all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package... violations increased in January this year and have been holding up the third round of the resumed peace dialogue between the two countries. The two sides are now preparing to restart the round and dates for talks on Wullar Barrage and Sir Creek have been proposed by Pakistain. Analysts say the attack has also complicated efforts to arrange a meeting between India's veteran Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pak premier Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...

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India-Pakistan

Aggressive talk

2012-12-07

[Dawn] AN example of the negative signals that come from New Delhi from time to time is the provocative and debatable statement made in parliament on Tuesday by India's junior foreign minister. His country, said Mullappally Ramchandran, had identified 42 training camps for 2,500 bully boyz in Pakistain and Azad Kashmire. He said that no less than 249 attempts had been made by bully boyz so far this year to sneak into "Indian territory" by which he meant the part of Kashmire that is under Indian occupation. Then there was the allegation that all this enjoyed support from Pakistain's intelligence agencies. Mr Ramchandran's remarks come on the heels of Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid's recent press talk. While the foreign minister admitted that no one should be optimistic, he said there were "peace constituencies" in the two countries and that these had begun to have an impact on Pakistain-India relations. Does Mr Ramchandran's tirade reveal a rift in the Indian establishment on Pakistain? All observers of the South Asian scene, including sections of the Indian media, admit there has been a reversal of Islamabad's undoubtedly flawed, pre-9/11 policy with regard to militancy: Islamabad had to crack down on the networks because they had become a threat to Pakistain itself. The ground reality in held Kashmire has changed: armed festivities between Indian security forces and bully boyz have become a rarity, and Kashmire's struggle is now being led by educated, urban youths, whose only weapons are stones and moral strength. Armed thus, they have kept their struggle for self-determination going. What Mr Ramchandran and his ilk should note is that the end of support from bully boyz from outside the Valley does not mean that the Kashmiris have acquiesced in their state's occupation by India. The protest is likely to continue irrespective of support or lack of it from beyond. All that Mr Ramchandran's uncalled-for outburst does is to give an inkling of the Indian government's approach, which shies away not only from a Kashmire solution but from a resolution of less contentious issues such as Siachen and Sir Creek.

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India-Pakistan

Mumbai attack culprits should be punished: FM

2010-11-27

[Pak Daily Times] Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Wormtongue Qureshi on Friday said that Pakistain strongly condemns the Mumbai attacks and wishes to see the culprits involved in the incident punished. He said Pakistain wants friendly relations with India and to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmire, Siachin, Sir Creek and river water share through dialogue. Qureshi was talking to newsmen after laying the foundation of a water supply scheme at UC-80, Makhdoom Rasheed, in the rural suburbs of Multan. He said that Pakistain had exchanged information with India and also given some suggestions in this connection. He termed the news regarding permission for drone strikes in Balochistan as baseless. The Foreign Office has already rejected the news, he said. To a question about USAID complaint to NAB regarding corruption by NGOs in funds meant for flood-hit people, Qureshi said that the issue was not related to the government. It was government's thinking that funds should be spent through the government to help the flood-hit people, he added. He said that government would have taken the responsibility and opted for the audit if the funds been spent through it. But funds were spent by NGOs, he added. Qureshi condemned the attack on Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and said that action should be taken against those involved in it. He said that Kashmireis' struggle was peaceful and termed the attack as an attempt to harm this peaceful struggle. To a question, he said that matter of reduction in UK visas for Paks was not related to Aasia Bibi's case. Our point of view is clear that no one should be punished without justice. He said that people who believe in the holy books fully respect last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PTUI!). He urged the people not to try to settle their personal scores by taking undue advantage of the blasphemy law.

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India-Pakistan

Musharraf: No rush against anti-India militants

2010-11-12

[Emirates 24/7] Pakistain's former leader Pervez Perv Musharraf called Wednesday for a more gradual approach against Islamic gunnies such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, saying they enjoyed sympathy for fighting India. The United States and India have urged Pakistain to rein in movements such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, or "The Army of the Pure," which is blamed for planning the bloody siege of Mumbai that killed 166 people two years ago. "You can't rock the boat so much that the boat capsizes," Musharraf, a military ruler who stepped down in 2008 and is attempting a political comeback, said at the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington. "While these things have to be done, allow piecemeal, gradual action through a well thought-out strategy which does not disturb the entire law and order situation in Pakistain," Musharraf said. Musharraf acknowledged that Lashkar-e-Taiba and like-minded groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad were "involved in terrorism in Pakistain" but said they have been "very popular" for fighting Indian rule in divided Kashmir. "Since they were going to Kashmire and fighting the Indian army, it went along with the psyche of the people of Pakistain -- with everyone," Musharraf said. Musharraf said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a wing of Lashkar-e-Taiba, "did an excellent job" in relief operations following major floods this year and "the best work" in the wake of the 2005 earthquake on the Pak side of Kashmir. "It's a difficult situation for any government in Pakistain. So the root is (to) resolve the Kashmire dispute, frankly," Musharraf said. Musharraf renewed criticism of President Barack B.O. Obama for not raising Kashmire during his recent visit to India and for not stopping in Pakistain, the frontline US partner in the war in Afghanistan. Musharraf banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad in 2002 after they were accused of storming the Indian parliament. But many US experts say the ban has been half-hearted, with Pakistain believing the groups serve its strategic purpose. An Islamic insurgency broke out in 1989 aiming to end Indian rule in Kashmir, which is majority Mohammedan. At least 47,000 people have died by official count. While the armed rebellion has waned, Kashmire was rocked this year by street protests in which Indian security forces have been accused of killing 111 people, mostly teenagers and students. Musharraf, who was born in New Delhi before the subcontinent's partition, fought against India in 1965 and 1971 wars and led The Mighty Pak Army in the 1999 Kargil conflict in which gunnies infiltrated India's zone of Kashmir. But Musharraf, speaking at a separate event at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said he was determined to make peace with India. "I may be a man of war, but I am a man for peace because I know the ravages of war," Musharraf said. Confirming earlier press accounts, Musharraf said India and Pakistain had managed through back-channel diplomacy to finalize agreements on territorial disputes over Sir Creek near the Arabian Sea and the Siachen glacier. "It was ready to be signed yesterday," Musharraf said. Musharraf said he invited Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistain to sign those pacts, even though Kashmire remained in dispute. But Musharraf said momentum faded as Singh did not come and Pakistain entered a political crisis that led to his downfall. "You put me back there and we will start again," Musharraf said. India has recently resumed dialogue with Pakistain after cutting off talks in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

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India-Pakistan

Sir Creek row with Pakistan unresolved, India to stake claim to continental shelf

2009-03-23

New Delhi: While the dispute over the Sir Creek maritime boundary with Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch remains to be resolved, India is filing its claim in the United Nations for extending its continental shelf before the May 13 deadline, a senior armed forces official said. The claim, if approved, will give India exclusive rights over mineral and non-living resources in the nearly 250 square miles of area in the Kutch region. Though Indian authorities are confident of resolving the issues during the next dialogue, the government will be staking a claim before the UN. "The May 13, 2009 deadline was given 10 years ago... by this time all the nations have been asked to stake their claim to the continental shelf which will then govern the area of exclusive economic zone for the particular nation. If a nation does not meet the deadline, all the countries can come and explore the waters," the official said, requesting anonymity. The Cabinet Committee on Security has already cleared the claim, which the Ministry of External Affairs will soon stake before the 21-member UN Committee on Legal Continental Shelf. A continental shelf is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory under the sea till the end of the continental margin and the countries have to submit documented scientific evidence along with their claims. The United Nations' Convention on the Laws of Sea, to which both India and Pakistan are signatories, gives coastal countries an exclusive right over the resources in the continental shelf even if it extends beyond their Exclusive Economic Zone, which is roughly 200 nautical miles from the base coastline. "The non-resolution of the Sir Creek boundary dispute means that there are no land boundaries for delineating the sea boundaries. But we can always stage the claim, following which no party can exploit the waters unless the issue is resolved after negotiations," the official added. The Sir Creek boundary, the 96-km long strip of water that opens into the Arabian Sea and separates Gujarat from Sindh in Pakistan, has been a dispute between the two countries since Independence. The creek is supposed to have rich oil and gas reserves. The official also added that recently both sides had exchanged the latest hydrographic maps of the area and were close to resolving the issue when the terror attack on Mumbai November 26 last year froze the diplomatic dialogue between the two countries. "The next time we sit, we can resolve our issue of the Sir Creek. Our maps (drawn on the basis of the hydrographic survey) were similar," the official added.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan deploys forces on Rajasthan border

2008-12-25

Amidst repeated denials of war speculations by Pakistan heavy deployment of forces was reported on the other side of international border of Rajasthan on Wednesday. The Pakistan army that was carrying out an exercise has not withdrawn even after its completion and are posted along with the rangers. The Additional Director General of Border Security Force (BSF), U.K. Bansal, pointed out that heavy Pakistan army movement has been observed in Sir Creek area.

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India-Pakistan

Beyond the blame game

2008-08-07

By Talat Masood Relations between India and Pakistan have once again come under severe stress and are passing through a very difficult phase. India is blaming Pakistan and specifically the ISI for the terrorist attack on its embassy in Kabul. The US and Afghanistan seem to concur with the allegation, putting Pakistan in a defensive and awkward position, despite its claimed innocence. India also accuses Pakistan and the ISI of being directly or indirectly complicit in the spate of bomb blasts that recently hit several cities across India. There may not be an iota of truth in any of these charges, but Pakistan's internal fragility emboldens neighbours to scapegoat their failures, with the world believing them and ignoring our denials. What came to my utter dismay and surprise was that Iran too had joined the chorus demonising the ISI and attributing all its problems in its southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan to the intelligence agency. It is accusing ISI of harbouring the outlaw Jandullah group. Nothing could be further from the truth. Is it that gross neglect of Iran's eastern province over the years has given rise to social unrest and low intensity insurgency somewhat similar to what we find in our own Balochistan and Tehran finds it convenient to blame it on us? Just as we too blame India and Afghanistan for the unrest and turbulence in Balochistan. The logic is that they must be fuelling the insurgency in Balochistan and some groups in FATA/NWFP to lock up our military as a retaliatory response to their belief that we continue to support militant activity in Kashmir. But is it not true that the Indian security forces continue to commit gross human rights violations in Kashmir? India blames us for all the terrorist attacks and insurgencies without pausing to introspect. New Delhi or to be more specific South Block is not prepared to show any flexibility in coming to terms with either Pakistan or the real representatives of Kashmir in resolving the simmering problem that has bedevilled our relationship. At the same time it blames Pakistan or Bangladesh if radical groups of Muslims commit acts of violence in any of the states in India. This circular blame game has to come to an end. Certainly, more mature and dispassionate analysis of the security situation is warranted by each of the countries in the region. It is also important to realise that moves to destabilise each other will eventually engulf the whole region. Leaders of South and Central Asia are expected to break from past prejudices and focus on the shared boundaries and civilisational bonds that unite the region and not the converse. Pakistan and India cannot allow the peace process to be derailed. The price of failure at this time, especially for Pakistan can be massive. With an insurgency on the western borders and expanding internal militancy it would be highly detrimental to have the eastern border once again lapse into an active conflict zone. Apart from making an honest effort at resolving the less intractable issues like Siachen and Sir Creek and seriously addressing the problem of Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan will have to make some serious adjustments in their strategic calculus to be able to place the peace process on a solid foundation. India is a rising economic, political and military power in the region. The US in particular and the West in general are facilitating its ascendancy to advance their own national interests. The Indo-US civil nuclear deal, the 10-year defence agreement and enhanced cooperation in civil space and high technology commerce is going to dramatically shift the strategic balance in India's favour. The US is now providing India all the space to operate and advance its military, economic, commercial and cultural interests in Afghanistan. It was therefore not surprising when India established a host of consulates totally disproportionate to the requirements of diplomatic needs. In contrast, look at what Pakistan receives from US in return for all that it has done over the years: it provided support during the Afghan Jihad, gave sanctuary and succour to millions of Afghan refugees and suffered the ill effects of blowback on its society from the invasion of Afghanistan and the brutal 'shock and awe' campaign. And Pakistan continues to suffer. All our efforts, national resources and energy seem to go in vain and we are rewarded with "do more", only to sink deeper into a quagmire. Besides, there is such gross interference in our national affairs that our political and military leaders are no more the masters of the nation's destiny. It is shaped not within and by the people but through pre-arranged agreements. No wonder then that the Pakistani establishment wants to countervail this rising disparity by trying to play a proactive role in South Asia, Afghanistan and the Muslim world, sometimes creating influence through proxies and non-state entities that is at times clashing with state institutions and interests of regional powers. Non state entities? Like Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba? And it is these moves that give rise to apprehensions regarding our motives and allegations. Eh? You're murdering the citizens of foreign nations and you think they have "apprehensions about you? India, Pakistan and Afghanistan must realise that terrorism is a process. Fascinating It occurs as a result of accumulated failings of states that provide the breeding ground for a self-destructive cycle. Pakistain being example number one ... Terrorism is more about prolonged misrule and acute bad governance, which has been the case in our region and much less the result of conspiracies by intelligence agencies, states or non-state actors. It is only when you take effective measures to redress grievances of your citizens, look after neglected segments of society, show understanding and tolerance towards your own people and your neighbours that the state can overcome the threat of terrorists. In combating terrorism we not only have to apply all the major elements of national power but it is equally -- perhaps even more -- important to evaluate the role of the state. It is high time that the states of the region and the US start examining their role honestly and address their shortcomings on high priority instead of playing the blame game. The writer is a retired Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army

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