Following the slow-moving peace process between India and Pakistan can be a bit like watching paint dry. So the decision by the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency to attend an iftar hosted by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad this week has generated much excitement.
“Lieutenant-General Shuja Pasha was among the earliest guests to arrive at the maximum-security five-star Serena hotel. He stayed nearly 45 minutes, chit-chatting with guests,” wrote Nirupama Subramanian, correspondent for The Hindu in Islamabad. “This was the first time that a serving military official, let alone the head of the country’s most important intelligence agency with a well-known dislike for India, has attended an Indian event here.”
Everyone agreed it was a positive development, she wrote. “It’s a huge gesture by him,” she quoted the former ISI Director-General, Lt.-Gen. (retd.) Asad Durrani as saying. “A very positive development.” Another former soldier, Lt.-Gen. (retd.) Talat Masood, said it was an indication that India-Pakistan relations were not as bad they looked. “It is very symbolic. It means things are improving between the two countries, and there are people who want it to improve in spite of all the tough talk going on.”
“A thaw,” said Pakistan People’s Party politician Aitzaz Ahsan.
Pakistan’s Daily Times called it “a rare gesture of goodwill”. The News described it as “a milestone in India-Pakistan relations”.
Even B. Raman, formerly from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), welcomed the move. Arguing in favour of a dialogue between Indian intellgence agencies and the ISI, he writes: “Whether Lt.Gen.Pasha responded to an invitation personally addressed to him or whether he represented (Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq) Kayani, who himself did not want to come, the presence of the ISI chief at the iftar reception is a significant gesture by the government of (Pakistan President Asif Ali) Zardari and has to be recognised as such. ”
“Even if a formal liaison relationship between the ISI and an appropriate Indian agency has not yet been established, India should not hesitate to take the initiative in suggesting it. An intelligence liaison relationship between two countries with an adversarial relationship can be a double-edged sword. It can be beneficial sometimes. It can also harm the national interests under certain circumstances. It is a risk well worth taking. Informal discussions between the intelligence chiefs of the two countries could produce better results than discussions between the two foreign secretaries on the issue of terrorism.”
The foreign secretaries, or top diplomats, of India and Pakistan are due to meet this month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers.
No breakthrough is expected in those talks in New York. India is insisting that Pakistan take tougher action against Pakistan-based militants suspected of involvement in last year’s Mumbai attacks before it resumes a formal peace process. And both countries have many in their domestic constituencies who would resist, or even sabotage, any moves towards peace.
But in the paint drying category, the presence of the ISI head at the iftar dinner was a step forward.
(Then again, here are a couple of stories which suggest more trouble ahead, on which more later:
India protests China-assisted dam in Pakistani Kashmir:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-protests-dam-construction-in-Pak-Kashmir/H1-Article1-452793.aspx
Pakistan to take up Kashmir, Afghanistan issue before UN:
(Reuters pictures: The Taj Mahal in Agra and mosque in Lahore)
Trackback
55 comments so far
Previous | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
the world’s number 1 terrorists are Indian intelligence agency RAW and Israeli intelligence agency MOSSAD both are terrorizing the world and specially they are working against Pakistan through Afghanistan.
indians and Israelis only threat to the world
so Indians and Israelis are terrorist in the world they are funding to the Talibans and AlQaeda they wanted to make Pakistan weaker . amjadsiyal@msn.com
- Posted by amjadI think the process is in hands of United States. If India gives some base to United Sates to set up and operate full fledged military bases on Pakistan Border, China Border, Bangladesh Border then everything would be fine. To make it more humane, Israel and Russia should also be invited. AfPak would disappear you know!
- Posted by Rohiti think the peace process is in the hands of indian government wheather they claim or they come and work together to demolish terrorism
- Posted by AmirJinnah:
“dil ke khush rakhne ko … Ghalib ye khayaal achha hai ….”
(It is a good way to console your heart!)
Perhaps you should start singing this one:
- Posted by rajeev“ye na thee hamaaree qismat ke wisaal-e-yaar hota
agar aur jeete rehte yahee intezaar hota”
(This was not our fate that I could meet my lover and I would still be waiting even if I lived longer!)
Hey Brewer you forgot to end your post properly so I need to add Insha Allah!
- Posted by Rohit“Kashmiris people will be successfull in their freedom movment like once we were.INSALLAH”
- Posted by Jinnah
Jihadis like you can keep ranting about Kashmir all you want but you’ll never get an inch of it. While radical hallucinogenics like you keep fixated on Kashmir, your country is being sold in bits & pieces to China, Saudi etc & bombed by US drones. You don’t even own Pakistan & you keep dreaming about Kasmir, that’s quite funny & pathetic at the same time. Talking about your ’successful freedom movement’, yeah the whole world can see what you guys have made out of that freedom; A Failed, Bankrupt & Terrorist Nation!
- Posted by brewerThe situation in india is not better than Pakistan india should solve there problems and stop trying to creat problems for Pakistan as far as kashmir is concerned i would say
- Posted by Jinnahkehte hai yaran-e-jaha kashmir hai jannat
jannat na kisi kafir ko mili hai na mili ge
Kashmiris people will be successfull in their freedom movment like once we were.INSALLAH
i love isi ……
- Posted by arijWelcome umersaleem! Money Penny shall call you in no time once drones locate you.
Regards,
BOSS of CIA, IB, RAW, MOSSAD, MI 5 etc
The Name Bond The Code 007
- Posted by Rohithello sir i join the ISI
- Posted by umersaleemTariq, you said:
“AS long as we keep looking backward, we will NEVER see what’s ahead.
- Posted by TARIQ ”
–>You are right Tariq, but one for second, realize also, that if you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past as well.
What do you do with a group of people who never learn from their mistakes and keep blaming others for their mistakes, do they to, will never be able to look ahead, is that the reason why Pakistan is not progressing on any front, besides military??
- Posted by Global Watcher@Kp Singh,
“Expect car bombs to go off in various places inside India. The plan will be to set off backlash against innocent Indian Muslims. I am sure there are moles inside the Indian establishment who work with Pakistan for gains. India will have to be bold this time and go after Pakistan if another set of terrorist strikes happen. Diplomacy will not work with countries like these.”
–>Mr. Singh, first let me salute the Brave Sikhs, who defended the culture of India and the splendour of its culture from Oppression, from outside invaders.
I completely agree with you, the state or non-state actors from Pakistan don’t care if they kill Indian muslims, so much for Ummah?!? They will try anything to start another war with India. The problem is, now, Pakistani’s may not realize it, but they are running out of time, running out of people to blame and running out of places to hide.
Obama is no meek man, mark my words, he will corner and school Pakistan in proper etiquette and will force Pakistan to behave and comply with its responsibility to fight terrorism, in all its forms, be it Mumbai type terrorism, Taliban or Kashmir proxy armies.
If Pak does not comply, you can expect a deeper and broader military co-operation between India and the U.S., Israel and Russia.
The excuses from the Pak establishment are becoming to sound creatively cheesier and flakier, as they continue to dodge, lie, hide and make excuses, blame others and ignore the questions that come at them.
They are running out of excuses and the U.S. mission, if it fails, the U.S. will lose its patience. Pakistan will bear the brunt of an angry U.S. public voter-ship, which will have one thing on its mind: justice and a bone to pick with Pakistan and the U.S. will not lose.
- Posted by Global WatcherRohit,
When I read a comment, I don’t try to interpret or figure out the mood of the blogger. I just take the words on their face value, so I don’t know whether you are being funny, serious, sarcastic or angry. Although, you do make some valid points, I don’t find your choice of presentation, very amusing.
- Posted by MortalAS long as we keep looking backward, we will NEVER see what’s ahead.
- Posted by TARIQPakistanis need to realize that this whole pakistani ‘interest’ in kashmir is nothing but hogwash. Well if you are so interested in kashmir, how about trying to administer the NWFP, tribal areas? How about solving the Baloch and ‘pashtunistan’ problem? Like a pakistani politician during a previous nawaz sharif regime said, pakistan can live without water, but not without kashmir.
This whole rhetoric is created to mask the failure to address basic public needs. You will see a similarity in the american war on terror in iraq and afghanistan… the contractors and weapons manufacturers are making money, young americans are dying and they are still willing to continue the war because of the ‘threat’ coming from these regions.
- Posted by Syd