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Track-II calls for positive Pakistan response

SINGAPORE: Non-official opinion-makers from India and Pakistan, meeting here for a Track-II dialogue, have given a call that the Pakistani authorities take “visible action, based on conclusive evidence,” against anti-India terrorists.

The need to contain the fallout of the Mumbai attacks and de-escalate India-Pakistan tensions was also emphasised at the two-day conclave that ended here on Friday. Held under the auspices of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the meeting was the sixth round of the dialogue, styled ‘India-Pakistan: A peace process.” The Singapore Round was chaired by Coordinator Ashok K. Mehta.

According to the participants, the urgency for positive action against the terrorists causing havoc in both countries, was stressed. The refrain among the Pakistani participants was that they were also victims of terrorism, but the Indian interlocutors maintained that Pakistan, while being a victim, was also the “source” of terror. Other differences and nuances of views were also expressed, but consensus was struck on a range of issues that centred on the need to address India’s “unique” sense of national anger over the latest attacks.

A Pakistani participant told The Hindu that the governments and civil society organisations in both countries were urged to adopt “de-escalation measures.” An immediate step that Pakistan could adopt was identified as “a visible show of empathy” such as the visit to India by a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to “express sorrow.” Also emphasised was the need for cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the two countries and for demonstrable action by the Pakistani authorities, “based on some sort of conclusive evidence” from the Indian side, against the Pakistan-based groups said to be behind the attacks. The toning down of media rhetoric on both sides was also advocated. Indian participants told their counterparts that there was no room for a post-condolence “business-as-usual attitude” on the part of Islamabad.

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