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The talks that began at 11 am on Thursday went on for some three hours,
even spilling over onto lunch. Things seemed to go well and an impression
was forming that after a hiatus of over a year, the India- Pakistan dialogue
was taking off.
But then came the bolt from the blue -- the classic reality check.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, at his press conference, tore
asunder the feel-good atmosphere.
He dealt a series of lethal blows with a belligerence rarely seen in
conventional diplomacy.
One of the major reasons behind Bashir's raised pitch seems to be the
inclusion of two serving Pakistan army [ Images ] officers -- Major Iqbal and
Major Samir Ali -- in one of the three dossiers that India handed over to
Pakistan on Thursday.
even spilling over onto lunch. Things seemed to go well and an impression
was forming that after a hiatus of over a year, the India- Pakistan dialogue
was taking off.
But then came the bolt from the blue -- the classic reality check.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, at his press conference, tore
asunder the feel-good atmosphere.
He dealt a series of lethal blows with a belligerence rarely seen in
conventional diplomacy.
One of the major reasons behind Bashir's raised pitch seems to be the
inclusion of two serving Pakistan army [ Images ] officers -- Major Iqbal and
Major Samir Ali -- in one of the three dossiers that India handed over to
Pakistan on Thursday.
India wants to prosecute the duo for their involvement in the Mumbai [ Images ] attacks. New Delhi [ Images ] also asked Islamabad [ Images ] to hand
over 33 other terrorists.
Now, it is quite clear that the real 'talk' Pakistan wanted to have with India was done by Bashir at his press conference at the Pakistan embassy.
In the full media glare, Bashir told India: "Do not lecture us." He ticked off the Indian Army [ Images ] chief. He repeatedly seemed to single out Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] as the only man with a "vision" in the Indian government.
He also said that Pakistan was not desperate for talks. He harped on Kashmir [ Images ] being the "core issue". He pressed the demand for
concluding "do-able" things like an agreement on the Siachen Glacier and Sir Creek. He demanded that India prune its defence purchases and curb
its missile development.
In his outburst, Bashir did not make one conciliatory gesture to India's persistent demand to tackle the terrorist infrastructure based on Pakistani soil.
No matter what he said or didn't say, the main thing was his tone and his body language. He spoke as if he was programmed before he left Islamabad
and the talks, as such, were a sideshow.
The Indian side has agreed that they were a "bit surprised" by the Pakistan foreign secretary's press conference.
However, an experienced retired diplomat, who has served in Pakistan, told rediff.com that the biggest mistake Indian side made was why the post-talk
events were kept open-ended when New Delhi knows Pakistani bureaucrats and politicians so well.
India has not learnt its lessons from the 2001 Agra [ Images ] summit where then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf [ Images ] took maximum
advantage of the media attention.
If a joint press conference had been arranged with a controlled crowd and limited questions, Bashir would not have got such a free hand to carry on for
90 minutes on what all Pakistan wants from India.
Many Pakistan experts are trying to assess why Bashir almost blasted India's idea of arresting and punishing Lashkar-e-Tayiba [ Images ] co-founder
Mohammad Saeed [Images]. Was Pakistan's aggressive stance at the press conference pre-planned or was it triggered by India's insistence on the
issue of terrorism for 85 per cent of the duration of Thursday's talks?
A top-ranking Indian diplomat said Bashir was expected to say a few harsh things directed at the audience back home in Pakistan, but they never
expected a diplomat to speak in the language of a politician.
"(Indian Foreign Secretary) Nirupama Rao [ Images ] is not trained like that," the diplomat said. "She could not have matched Bashir's performance.
She never had that mandate."
Another diplomat well versed with such talks, said: "Our (Indian) style is different. We talk differently."
Three major reasons have been cited for Pakistan's hard talk in New Delhi. One, Pakistan knows that the United States and Britain are on its side
while India looks alienated in Afghanistan. Pakistan is on a strong wicket in the world of geo-political realities. Islamabad is bullish about its position
and its agenda in the region.
Second, during the talks, the Pakistan side noticed that India refused to move forward on the issue of composite dialogue; rather, the Indian side had
its way in dominating the dialogue by talking about terrorism and little else.
Lastly, Bashir surely is reflecting the domestic power tussle in Pakistan between the civilian forces and the military.
Another reason that may have added to Pakistan's rough stance is the three dossiers given to Bashir's team.
A senior ambassador, who writes frequently on Pakistan, says: "It is possible that the leaks given to the media about the three dossiers were a
well-calculated move to malign Pakistan by a section in the government who, in the first place, never supported the talks."
The dossiers even quotes a serving Pakistan army officer without mentioning his real name. This inclusion surely touches a raw nerve in the Pakistani
military establishment.
Bashir may have felt his one-upmanship over his Indian counterpart won the day, but it may turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory.
His hard talk turned into a failure for all those on both sides of the Wagah border who were holding their breath with cautious expectation that there
could be stirrings of change in the air.
Till Bashir tore into Indian policies at around 5.40 pm, it did seem as if a lot had been achieved and the prophets of doom were way off the mark in their
prognosis.
Restrained, gracious and focused, Rao avoided the minefield and handled her press conference in a
constructive spirit.
When the Indian and Pakistan delegations -- in all, some 25 diplomats and bureaucrats from both sides -- spoke at the oval shaped table at
Hyderabad House in New Delhi, negative vibes were absent, the Indian side said after the meeting.
The atmosphere was relaxed and cordial; even the rhetoric remained under control.
Pakistan spoke about Kashmir and the water issue to which India responded with the well-known national position. When Pakistan raised the issue of
India's involvement in Baluchistan, India said it was baseless, and India does not have any desire to destabilise Pakistan.
Till the Pakistani foreign secretary spoke out, one felt the baby step India had taken had opened the window for further progress. The Indian side had a
tough task to handle the talks because the Opposition parties were against it.
Many domestic critics had voiced their concerns over inviting Pakistan for talks without New Delhi having enough manoeuvring space in the
geo-politics of the region in view of Pakistan graduating as a key ally in the US's regional strategy in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
There was a disconnect within India as well between the government and the people who were not ready for a sudden U-turn in India's policy with
Pakistan. This disconnect will haunt the government after Bashir's "do not lecture us" statement.
His statements could have been taken in their stride or could have been underplayed, but the wounds of the Mumbai attacks are still sore. A source in
the Indian government told the media that while Rao had got her brief for the talks from a democratic government, her Pakistani counterpart had got the
same from "GHQ (the Pakistan army's General Headquarters) and men in khaki."
If Pakistan scoring points was wrong, then India's attempt to counter-score was meaningless. Even before the talks, one knew who calls the shots in
Islamabad and who briefs whom in Pakistan.
The big question is how the US will take stock of Thursday's diplomatic debris. After all, senior US officials have repeatedly harped on the great
importance of the talks. By now, it is clear that it takes two to tango.
Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/25/indpak-pakistan-grandstanding-spells-a-diplomatic-disaster.htm
over 33 other terrorists.
Now, it is quite clear that the real 'talk' Pakistan wanted to have with India was done by Bashir at his press conference at the Pakistan embassy.
In the full media glare, Bashir told India: "Do not lecture us." He ticked off the Indian Army [ Images ] chief. He repeatedly seemed to single out Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] as the only man with a "vision" in the Indian government.
He also said that Pakistan was not desperate for talks. He harped on Kashmir [ Images ] being the "core issue". He pressed the demand for
concluding "do-able" things like an agreement on the Siachen Glacier and Sir Creek. He demanded that India prune its defence purchases and curb
its missile development.
In his outburst, Bashir did not make one conciliatory gesture to India's persistent demand to tackle the terrorist infrastructure based on Pakistani soil.
No matter what he said or didn't say, the main thing was his tone and his body language. He spoke as if he was programmed before he left Islamabad
and the talks, as such, were a sideshow.
The Indian side has agreed that they were a "bit surprised" by the Pakistan foreign secretary's press conference.
However, an experienced retired diplomat, who has served in Pakistan, told rediff.com that the biggest mistake Indian side made was why the post-talk
events were kept open-ended when New Delhi knows Pakistani bureaucrats and politicians so well.
India has not learnt its lessons from the 2001 Agra [ Images ] summit where then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf [ Images ] took maximum
advantage of the media attention.
If a joint press conference had been arranged with a controlled crowd and limited questions, Bashir would not have got such a free hand to carry on for
90 minutes on what all Pakistan wants from India.
Many Pakistan experts are trying to assess why Bashir almost blasted India's idea of arresting and punishing Lashkar-e-Tayiba [ Images ] co-founder
Mohammad Saeed [Images]. Was Pakistan's aggressive stance at the press conference pre-planned or was it triggered by India's insistence on the
issue of terrorism for 85 per cent of the duration of Thursday's talks?
A top-ranking Indian diplomat said Bashir was expected to say a few harsh things directed at the audience back home in Pakistan, but they never
expected a diplomat to speak in the language of a politician.
"(Indian Foreign Secretary) Nirupama Rao [ Images ] is not trained like that," the diplomat said. "She could not have matched Bashir's performance.
She never had that mandate."
Another diplomat well versed with such talks, said: "Our (Indian) style is different. We talk differently."
Three major reasons have been cited for Pakistan's hard talk in New Delhi. One, Pakistan knows that the United States and Britain are on its side
while India looks alienated in Afghanistan. Pakistan is on a strong wicket in the world of geo-political realities. Islamabad is bullish about its position
and its agenda in the region.
Second, during the talks, the Pakistan side noticed that India refused to move forward on the issue of composite dialogue; rather, the Indian side had
its way in dominating the dialogue by talking about terrorism and little else.
Lastly, Bashir surely is reflecting the domestic power tussle in Pakistan between the civilian forces and the military.
Another reason that may have added to Pakistan's rough stance is the three dossiers given to Bashir's team.
A senior ambassador, who writes frequently on Pakistan, says: "It is possible that the leaks given to the media about the three dossiers were a
well-calculated move to malign Pakistan by a section in the government who, in the first place, never supported the talks."
The dossiers even quotes a serving Pakistan army officer without mentioning his real name. This inclusion surely touches a raw nerve in the Pakistani
military establishment.
Bashir may have felt his one-upmanship over his Indian counterpart won the day, but it may turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory.
His hard talk turned into a failure for all those on both sides of the Wagah border who were holding their breath with cautious expectation that there
could be stirrings of change in the air.
Till Bashir tore into Indian policies at around 5.40 pm, it did seem as if a lot had been achieved and the prophets of doom were way off the mark in their
prognosis.
Restrained, gracious and focused, Rao avoided the minefield and handled her press conference in a
constructive spirit.
When the Indian and Pakistan delegations -- in all, some 25 diplomats and bureaucrats from both sides -- spoke at the oval shaped table at
Hyderabad House in New Delhi, negative vibes were absent, the Indian side said after the meeting.
The atmosphere was relaxed and cordial; even the rhetoric remained under control.
Pakistan spoke about Kashmir and the water issue to which India responded with the well-known national position. When Pakistan raised the issue of
India's involvement in Baluchistan, India said it was baseless, and India does not have any desire to destabilise Pakistan.
Till the Pakistani foreign secretary spoke out, one felt the baby step India had taken had opened the window for further progress. The Indian side had a
tough task to handle the talks because the Opposition parties were against it.
Many domestic critics had voiced their concerns over inviting Pakistan for talks without New Delhi having enough manoeuvring space in the
geo-politics of the region in view of Pakistan graduating as a key ally in the US's regional strategy in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
There was a disconnect within India as well between the government and the people who were not ready for a sudden U-turn in India's policy with
Pakistan. This disconnect will haunt the government after Bashir's "do not lecture us" statement.
His statements could have been taken in their stride or could have been underplayed, but the wounds of the Mumbai attacks are still sore. A source in
the Indian government told the media that while Rao had got her brief for the talks from a democratic government, her Pakistani counterpart had got the
same from "GHQ (the Pakistan army's General Headquarters) and men in khaki."
If Pakistan scoring points was wrong, then India's attempt to counter-score was meaningless. Even before the talks, one knew who calls the shots in
Islamabad and who briefs whom in Pakistan.
The big question is how the US will take stock of Thursday's diplomatic debris. After all, senior US officials have repeatedly harped on the great
importance of the talks. By now, it is clear that it takes two to tango.
Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/25/indpak-pakistan-grandstanding-spells-a-diplomatic-disaster.htm
| Analysis: Pakistan grandstanding spells a diplomatic disaster Last updated on: February 26, 2010 08:21 IST Comment At the end of it, the much talked-about India-Pakistan talks turned out to be the case of the glass being half full. |
India asks for Saeed's arrest, Pak raises Balochistan
New Delhi, February 25, 2010
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao today met Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in New Delhi for talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While India
officially asked Pakistan to arrest 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan raised Balochistan issue.
India has demanded handing over by Pakistan of 26/11 attack mastermind and founder of Lashker-e-Taiba Hafiz Saeed and seven others besides
some other militants of Indian Mujahideen and Khalistan for their role in other subversive activities.
Senior Government sources said two dossiers were handed over at the talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart
Salman Bashir.
In the first dossier, India, which has accused Pakistan of not being serious in prosecuting those involved in the 26/11 conspiracy, demanded that
besides Saeed, Lashker operatives Muzzamil, Abu Hamza, Abu Khafa and Usman should be handed over to it.
All of them have been named in the chargesheet filed by Mumbai police in connection with the 2008 Mumbai attack, which left 166 people dead.
India also asked Pakistan to hand over Lashker commander Sajjid Mir, retired Army Major Iqbal and one more person for questioning as they were still
suspects in the 26/11 attack. The Mumbai terror attack dossier also included a separate
demand for handing over of Illyas Kashmiri, a militant whose links with global terror group Al-Qaeda had even been
established by the FBI.
The second dossier demanded handing over of seven Khalistani militants and 17 Indian Mujahideen terrorists which
includes five Pakistani nationals.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao greeted her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir at Hyderabad House as the two top officials along with their
delegations sat down for talks, aimed at breaking the deadlock in bilateral ties.
"We look forward to our talks," Rao told reporters outside Hyderabad House.
"Hyderabad House is a familiar venue. We look forward to a very, good constructive arrangement," a smiling Bashir added before going inside for the
talks.
Besides Rao, the Indian team included India's High Commissioner to Islamabad Sharat Sabharwal, joint secretary in charge of Pakistan Y.K. Sinha,
ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vishnu Prakash and other officials of the MEA.
The Pakistani delegation comprised Afrasiab, director-general of the South Asia division and a former deputy high commissioner to India, Pakistan's
High Commissioner Shahid Malik, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit and other senior officials.
The two sides have made it clear that although they have their differing core concerns, they are going into these crucial talks with "an open mind".
For India, the core concern is terrorism and the alleged use of Pakistani territory by anti-India terror outfits, but it is willing to discuss other issues.
Pakistan has made it clear that it will focus on the Kashmir dispute and other issues like sharing of river waters.
The Pakistani delegation will also call on National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, a former foreign secretary and a former Indian envoy to
Islamabad, Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the Pakistanis will call on External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna before heading back to Islamabad.
Indian and Pakistani leaders met at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt last year. But this is the first structured dialogue since the Mumbai attack in November
2008 that put the brakes on the composite dialogue between the two countries. (With PTI inputs).
http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/newdelhi/India-asks-for-Saeed-s-arrest-Pak-raises-Balochistan/Article1-512660.aspx
New Delhi, February 25, 2010
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao today met Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in New Delhi for talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While India
officially asked Pakistan to arrest 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan raised Balochistan issue.
India has demanded handing over by Pakistan of 26/11 attack mastermind and founder of Lashker-e-Taiba Hafiz Saeed and seven others besides
some other militants of Indian Mujahideen and Khalistan for their role in other subversive activities.
Senior Government sources said two dossiers were handed over at the talks between Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart
Salman Bashir.
In the first dossier, India, which has accused Pakistan of not being serious in prosecuting those involved in the 26/11 conspiracy, demanded that
besides Saeed, Lashker operatives Muzzamil, Abu Hamza, Abu Khafa and Usman should be handed over to it.
All of them have been named in the chargesheet filed by Mumbai police in connection with the 2008 Mumbai attack, which left 166 people dead.
India also asked Pakistan to hand over Lashker commander Sajjid Mir, retired Army Major Iqbal and one more person for questioning as they were still
suspects in the 26/11 attack. The Mumbai terror attack dossier also included a separate
demand for handing over of Illyas Kashmiri, a militant whose links with global terror group Al-Qaeda had even been
established by the FBI.
The second dossier demanded handing over of seven Khalistani militants and 17 Indian Mujahideen terrorists which
includes five Pakistani nationals.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao greeted her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir at Hyderabad House as the two top officials along with their
delegations sat down for talks, aimed at breaking the deadlock in bilateral ties.
"We look forward to our talks," Rao told reporters outside Hyderabad House.
"Hyderabad House is a familiar venue. We look forward to a very, good constructive arrangement," a smiling Bashir added before going inside for the
talks.
Besides Rao, the Indian team included India's High Commissioner to Islamabad Sharat Sabharwal, joint secretary in charge of Pakistan Y.K. Sinha,
ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vishnu Prakash and other officials of the MEA.
The Pakistani delegation comprised Afrasiab, director-general of the South Asia division and a former deputy high commissioner to India, Pakistan's
High Commissioner Shahid Malik, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit and other senior officials.
The two sides have made it clear that although they have their differing core concerns, they are going into these crucial talks with "an open mind".
For India, the core concern is terrorism and the alleged use of Pakistani territory by anti-India terror outfits, but it is willing to discuss other issues.
Pakistan has made it clear that it will focus on the Kashmir dispute and other issues like sharing of river waters.
The Pakistani delegation will also call on National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, a former foreign secretary and a former Indian envoy to
Islamabad, Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the Pakistanis will call on External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna before heading back to Islamabad.
Indian and Pakistani leaders met at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt last year. But this is the first structured dialogue since the Mumbai attack in November
2008 that put the brakes on the composite dialogue between the two countries. (With PTI inputs).
http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/newdelhi/India-asks-for-Saeed-s-arrest-Pak-raises-Balochistan/Article1-512660.aspx