New Delhi:
Time and again it has been seen that whenever dialogue between India and Pakistan starts scintillating, there comes a major backstabbing. This time terrorists have targeted Pathankot Air base but the real motive seems different.
The attack on Pathankot Air base comes at a time when talks between India and Pakistan started getting on track. The ‘ray of hope’ after Modi-Nawaz bonhomie, Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan, and the talks between NSAs in Thailand may see a scuppering now.
Every time there is even a hint of any softening on the part of the elected government (as there was recently by repeated talks), the jihadis strike back, no doubt with the support of the Pakistani army and ISI.
This attack once again reminds us of the dominance of Pakistan’s Deep State (the ISI and army and their jihadi adjuncts) which are the actual rulers of the country. This is why Pakistan will never offer us any concession.
It has always been a habit of Pakistan and ISI to foil any bid of a cordial dialogue process between two nations. This is the second terror attack on India after last year’s Gurdaspur, in which Indian army caught a live terrorist – Naveed – who even admitted of being a Pakistan citizen.
At that time, the pivotal NSA meet saw an avoidable calling off. The differences created at that time continued till the NSA meet between NSA Ajit Doval and his counterpart Sartaz Aziz.
PM Narendra Modi in his last meeting has asked Nawaz Sharif that “why can’t we be like leaders in Europe”? It seems that deep state has responded to PM Modi well. In European states, the centre of power lies at the hand’s elected government. Not like Pakistan, where the PM only has advisor’s (or precisely, consultant’s role) role in cross border operations.
It remains a grim fact that border security, infiltration and terrorism will remain an indispensable part of any bilateral talks between Indian and Pakistan-and on these three fronts Pak’s elected government has no effective control. To prove their dominance, Pakistan’ Army and ISI will keep organising such attacks.
Also, this attack tells us that a little has been learnt from Gurdaspur terror strike. It will be nothing but an imprudence by the part of Indian government if they believe that any talks will even move the stand of Pakistani army and ISI.
This is the real testing time for PM Narendra Modi. If PM doesn’t act befittingly, it will be perceived as a sign of weakness. But any impetuous action will also bear the risk of dumping all Modi has done in recent past to achieve an effective peace process with the neighbour.
