The language is deliberate, the signals unmistakable: India is turning up the heat on Pakistan for the Mumbai attacks that have killed at least 195 people, and there is no knowing where this downward spiral in ties between the uneasy neighbours will end.
Beginning with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s warning that a cost will have to be paid by neighbouring nations that allow militants to operate, to Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s direct call to Islamabad to “dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism”, there is a sharp, cold edge to the tone that you can’t miss even factoring in the immediate anger and sense of outrage the attacks have evoked across India.
Then the signs: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in India on a previously scheduled visit to review the peace process packing his bags and heading home because Indian political leaders cancelled meetings with him following the attacks.
We have been here before, for sure. A 2001 attack on the Indian parliament, for which like the Mumbai attacks, the Lashkar-i-Taiba was blamed, triggered a set of measures by New Delhi including breaking sporting and cultural links, downgrading diplomatic relations, and the deployment of the military in full combat readiness all along the Pakistan border.
That military stand-off ended six months later after considerable diplomatic pressure from the United States, Britain and other powers worried about two nuclear-armed nations on the brink of war.
So what are the options for Delhi this time around, beyond striking a menacing posture to force Pakistan to go after elements there which it believes are responsible for violence in India?
It can’t risk another extended military deployment - you can only do that sort of “coercive diplomacy” once a while for it to be taken seriously. Limited military strikes on the militant camps that New Delhi says exist across the border?
The New York Times raised that possibility following what were arguably the most audacious attacks India has ever seen even its violent history as a free nation. It’s hard to tell, especially now that those training camps don’t exist so openly, given the Americans’ scrutiny of Pakistan. And India has always been reluctant to cross the Line of Control dividing Kashmir, fearing this would undermine its status as a de facto border and basis for a permament settlement to the Kashmir dispute.
Ending a five-year ceasefire along the Line of Control, which has in recent months come under strain? Or a freezing of ties, turning back the four year-peace process which if nothing else ensured the foes kept talking?
All bets are obviously off . The Times said American military and intelligence officials believed there was mounting evidence that the Lashkar–Taiba was most likely involved in the Mumbai attack. That can only strengthen New Delhi’s case as it confronts Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence with evidence when its representative arrives in India to discuss the attacks, itself an extraordinary move.
Islamabad had earlier agreed to send the head of the ISI to India but it later lowered that to a representative.
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Can we please just skip the nonsense and get to the mushroom clouds. I mean it seems these two nations can’t wait to bomb each other back to the stone age, not a long trip for most of the populations.
- Posted by steve rogersIt’s funny I hear talk about Islam being about peace and yet who are the fanatics beheading people, bombing mosques, etc. I used to think it was just fringe elements, but the more it happens the more I wonder. Of course you notice where all these billions of mohammadists come from and you see it’s the armpits and nether reaches of the world.
The problem Pakistan is facing today, is becuase of their own actions. Their Govt. feels pride in saying that we have closed some 7 camps on POK, but doesn’t comment that why they were open at the first place. The problem with Pakistan is, that they are still roaming to find a direction for them. The seeds sown by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and irrigated by US President Ronal Regan, are now full fledged trees, ready to engulf their own country. Today, Pakistan has become a synoym of Terror & militancy. Their economy is crippling, and will cripple more. This is a very good example to all those, who want to see the result of fundamentalism. Their foundation is based on hatred & war, so its difficult to think of their prosperity. Pakistan’s media, elites & intellectuals have also contributed in spreading hatred against India. The word Hindu is something, which every Pakistani kid is told to kill and hate right from their early childhood. Their education system, social setup & upbringing, all is based on dangerous policies. Today, they hate India for their growth, the progress, the moderate mindset & positive impressions they create. It is high time to: First of all, accept & acknowledge that what happened on terrorist front was bad & has real active connections with Pakistan, Secondly, we should stop talking war as it will kill our innocent public on both sides and the rogue elements will again escape..so the best thing to dismantle the demon of Terrorism jointly and last thing is, start making joint bilateral forums for speedy economic cooperation & employment generation programmes on both sides of the border.
- Posted by NuppeIndian can you please give me some proof of the nationality, intentions, and affiliations of these terrorists? No, I don’t mean India’s conclusions because they’re obviously biased what kind of insane leader would admit to the fact that they have radicalized elements within their own borders instead of claiming that the cause of the problems is another country. If you haven’t noticed all that we have to go on is India’s word and their honesty seems to be in question.
- Posted by weebsKumar, stop insulting religions, especially once 95% of the text comprising your post isn’t even real words. Stop embarrassing yourself as an illiterate untouchable and acknowledge the fact that Islam, just like Hinduism and Sikhism, has molded a great deal of India’s modern day culture.
- Posted by weebsI do not know what is fed to all these indians, because they all are saying things for which their exist no evidence only media news which we see on TV and press is again repeated here. What makes them think Pakistan is involve in terror attacks in India. One question that I am asking all indians that ok if you say it is Pakistan tell us one thing was their navy sleeping when ten people were crossing border, hijacking boat and killing their people. Further, everybody watched the CCTV video of police being hidden behind some pillar, I agreed police doesn’t have weapons to fight, but they could have call with any phone, why didn’t they do that. Please stop raising finger on Pakistan, and start revamping yourself and think out of box - Peace is the only solution.
The comments by Pakistani is the true picture what indians are doing - Lying, and defaming Pakistan. You_____ stop doing this. We all Pakistani are proud of our country, Islam is the pure religion and the only true religion on earth. Non-muslims are trying to destroy Islam because they are well aware that thier religion is based on false thoughts. whoever he/she is you should be ashamed of yourself.
One more thing don’t even think of harming prosperity of Pakistan - the country of great nation - because this will never happen. india had tried it earlier through element of RAW in Karachi, now this false propaganda on media, this dream of your will never come true.
- Posted by PeaceIT IS OFFICIAL…GENERAL HAMEED GUL A TERRORIST! Nov 3, 2008
The U.S. has asked the U.N. to have the Notorious Terrorism Ring Leader Pakistani General Hameed Gul to be labelled as one of the most wanted Terrorists.
Bravo! good move.
Now its time for Zardari to apprehend Gul and the 10 or so former ISI and new ISI officials and send them to the U.S. for capital punishment.
If Pakistan turns over Gul, this would bring prosperity, secularism and stability to Pakistan and India relations.
- Posted by RickIndian,
- Posted by SiddharthhYou are an a**hole, through and through.
Now, do you ‘understand’ what I mean by that??
Or should I send you to Kindergarten once again???
mr indian says, “Somebody has to do something.”
somebody is doing something… they’re dismantling pakistan… and once they’re finished dismantling pakistan, israel and india will no longer be threatened by pakistani nukes, the israelis, israeli americans and indians will have solidified their control of chinese access to persian gulf/central asian energy, muslims will have taken another one in the shorts, and everything will be hunky-dory.
…except for one big thing: the people who dreamed this scheme up have such a lousy record of achieving their goals, and sooner or later you have to start wondering if maybe they have no real goal other than wrecking countries and looting them.
this is their last chance, whatever their goals… this is their last chance at global hegemony before the oil runs out, if by chance that’s their goal —the stated goal of the PNAC people.
this is their last chance to secure israel before the oil runs out, if that happens to be their goal —which is certainly the supposed goal of the likud party of israel, with whom the israeli americans and their oily exxon fellow travelers are allied.
this is their last chance to make the biggest killing of all time, as the oil runs out —supposing all they want is enough loot to hide out until the dust settles, post oil.
and that’s just how it is…
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…but it’s nice to see india coming so far out of the closet.
- Posted by wadosyIf Zardari or the Pak Military lacks the political will or general willingness to destroy the Madrassas and terrorist training camps.
India should surgically strike those terrorist centres on behalf of Pakistan, the same way the U.S. is sending drones into Pakistan.
Pakistan in its complicity, is not willing to co-operate in a FULLY WHOLE-HEARTED and SINCERE MANNER to shutting down the Islamic Terror Network.
Somebody has to do something.
- Posted by IndianTo all bloggers here.
It is apparent now that the Democratic Pakistani Govt had no involvement with the Mumbai Terror attack.
BUT it is quite apparent that with the level of sophistication of the attack that the rogue elements of the Pak Army and ISI are behind this act. The army and ISI for decades has been operating as its own Rogue Country within Pakistan and working against the common good of the country. The creator the Terrorism is the Pak Military and the ISI, which consider themselves independent of the Democratic country and don’t care about the democracy.
The ISI and Pak Military should be labelled as a Rogue Terrorist Organization, independent of Pakistan.
It is clearly apparent that Pakistan has been operating as an overthrown state, given the Army and ISI’s manufacturing of Terrorism.
It is therefore truly necessary and morally required that an Extremely Massive Multinational Force(5 million plus troops), including the U.S., India, U.K., U.N., NATO and other European countries disarm the PAK Army and ISI of the nuclear warheads.
This is absolutely necessary for the security of the world, given that the Democratic Government is not control of its country, that a Rogue military power with its own political agenda is in control.
The World is failing to realize that a small military political minority in Pakistan, namely the ISI and the ARMY is two faced, lies to its own people and is covertly training terrorists.
The ARMY needs to be “removed” the ISI “dismantled” and the military “disarmed of its nuclear weapons” by the Multinational force. At the same time, all the Madrassas need to be torn down. Once the force leaves, there shall be no more ISI, only a small democratic army for the country and no more madrassas or any of the evil hate preaching, IMAMS.
Each and every person of any authority of the ISI and Pak military should be rounded up, so that they cannot hurt Pakistan and more and cannot creat anymore terrorists.
The Pak Military and ISI have been economically bleeding the country dry with no money left for the people.
All of Pakistan can truly join the rest of the world in prosperity and peace and trade.
- Posted by The World Needs to Fix PakistanBeing a true paki, i accept the truth that ,India is the father of pakistan .we cannot deny it.And we must respect the dignity and generosity of india.I do beleive india ia a great country .Everywhere the reason of breaching peace is our muslim community .Quran never said kill people in the name of Allah ..its just insane beleif ,which is responsible for all the masacres .Muslims are just destroying the name of their community and Allah as well.No other community respect this religion ,i feel ashamed to say when someone asks “from which country i belong” .and i will accept, our community has turned this whole world as a hell ..the root cause of the terrorist activities is insane religious beleif.this definately needs an end .whoever will do this ,will surely get heaven and will be the deaest of Allah too.
- Posted by Pakistani‘I have in all humility asked you a question. So don;t give smart answers.’
- Posted by Indian– You should be thanking me for giving smart answers to your idiotic questions..