Pakistan

Pak-India talks to begin amidst calls to fight 'monster of terrorism'

Defence Secretaries of two countries meet as Manmohan Singh expresses worries about "terror machine" in Pakistan.

Agencies May 29, 2011

NEW DEHLI: Pakistan's Defence Secretary Syed Athar Ali arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to hold talks with his counterpart, even as India's top leadership continued to mount pressure regarding terrorism within Pakistan.

The 12th round of talks between Pakistan and India, being held after a gap of four years on May 30th and 31st, is part of the larger effort by the two sides to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries.

The Pakistani delegation received a warm welcome when it arrived here. The delegation included Major General Ashfaq Nadeem Ahmed, Major General Munawar Ahmed and Mir Haider Ali Khan.

‘Pakistan must 'wake up' and tackle terror’

India's prime minister called on Pakistan to wake up and tackle the "monster of terrorism" that threatens not only itself but the South Asian region, a report said Saturday.

"As Pakistan's neighbour we have great worries about the terror machine that is still intact in Pakistan," Premier Minister Manmohan Singh was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

Singh, who was returning home from Africa after a six-day trip, used his strongest language yet about militant activities in Pakistan.

"The more I see of what is happening in Pakistan, the more I am convinced that Pakistan's leadership must now wake up," to the threat posed by militants, Singh said.

New Delhi has long accused its neighbour of harbouring militant groups, but analysts say it is becoming increasingly concerned that growing unrest in Pakistan could compromise the safety of the country's nuclear arsenal.

India was particularly alarmed by a 17-hour Taliban siege of a strategic Pakistan naval air base last weekend in which heavily armed militants destroyed two surveillance planes and killed 10 personnel.

New Delhi has also been shaken by the revelation that Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, killed by US forces earlier this month, was living in a Pakistani military garrison town just two hours' drive from the capital Islamabad.

"We must convince Pakistan it is in their own interest that they must help us in tackling the problem of terror in the region," Singh said in the report.

Pakistan needs to "recognise this monster of terrorism which they unleashed at one time is hurting them as much as it can hurt our country," he added.

India broke off formal peace talks with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and which New Delhi blamed on the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrilla force and the Pakistani intelligence service.

COMMENTS (40)

Feroz | 13 years ago | Reply Manmohan Singh is a pacifist who is disliked because he is one. He is friendly towards Pakistan because he was born there. As an Indian I may dislike his policies but Pakistan may not get anyone better to negotiate with. That he is getting on in years and probably serving his last term means time is not on our side. Let us not fool ourselves about Kashmir. In a plebiscite polls show 75% want independence, only 25% opting for India or Pakistan. This is not acceptable to either country nor the international community which is not favourably inclined to creation of another state. India has protected the status of Kashmir by preventing Indians from buying property and settling there. Please compare with what China did to Tibet by swamping the place with Han Chinese. So Kashmiri's must be made to feel at home by both India and Pakistan so they feel they have not only Kashmir but two countries they can call their own. Violence cannot succeed.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Mohan Ram: "....they could have waited for two years for election to take place in Kahmir at which time the Kashmari people could have decided the fate of the state." Please acquaint yourself with the history of Kashmir problem. For your information, Kashmir elected a Constituent Assembly with the express purpose of writing a constitution of the state, the only one which has one. In the constitution of Kashmir, there is a reaffirmation of Kashmir's accession to India. If Pakistan does not accept the validity of such affirmation in Kashmir's constitution, why do you think they would accept any decision of Kashmiris in an election to be held later? Pakistan will never be content with any thing less than Kashmir handed over to them on a platter. That is NEVER going to happen!

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G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @ghairatmand: Where in my post did you find that I had questioned your allegiance? All I repeated were a few truisms. 1. We do not, in a democracy, go about hanging all those who disagree with us. This applies universally. 2. Left-liberals fancy themselves to be progressives and therefore always right. But, look at what has happened to them worldwide. Yes, Thackeray was responsible for violence. Then bring him before a court of law. They did try but could not prove the case against him. So, he is free. Now you want to hang him, "if it were up to you". Haven't you assumed yourself to be the all-knowing justice-dispenser when governments at the state and the federal level could not do so? A little humility is called for. Even your perceptions about the world will change with time. Death is to be apportioned in "the rarest of the rare cases" according to our own Supreme Court!

TonySingh | 13 years ago | Reply @Romm: If you are not bothered why comment? The point is no one is listening to your silly protests.

abhi | 13 years ago | Reply To all self rightous Pakistani calling for independent Kashmir or Plebiscite, I ask one thing when is Pakistan going to make Pak occupied part of Kashmir Independent or conduct a plebiscite there?

TonySingh | 13 years ago | Reply @veera: Elections take place in our side of Kashmir for everything from Panchayat to Parliament. The sepratist do not have the gall to stand up in these for they know they will be defeated. We know elections cannot take place in POK (Pakistan occupied kashmir or should I say Chinese occupied Kashmir?) .The candidates there have to sign the pledge to be part of Pakistan in order to stand for elections.

Farukh Sarwar | 13 years ago | Reply Resumption of peace talks is a good sign and will surely improve the already stalled peace process between India and Pakistan. Pakistan must now get rid of this menace of terrorism and should on other important things, such as economic, industrial, agriculture and energy sector development etc.

veera | 13 years ago | Reply Y do not Indian govt., conduct an election in Kashmir as to who they wanna b with or let them be autonoums

veera | 13 years ago | Reply @goggi: U r somehow rite. v should kill the ppl who create enemy image btween India nd pak

veera | 13 years ago | Reply @R S JOHAR: Manmohan and congress is making a mockery which the whole world laughs at.............

veera | 13 years ago | Reply @Raja: There is no difference between doing corruption and watching someone under your office corrupting. Manmohan doing the second one which is more criminal than the first one. He is an unnecessary enitity ..

veera | 13 years ago | Reply What about spectrum scam -" I do not know anything about it" what about Adarsh building scam-" I do not know anything about it" These are the statements of India's PM We have not had such a stupid good for nothing pm before. Under sonia and this manmaohan India has become a lame duck. Kick sonia out of India if this nation has to survive

ghairatmand | 13 years ago | Reply @Romm: This only establishes that we in India read your magazines to remove our prejudices and get real view of you. But you love to ignore learning about India and remain in your prejudiced world. How do you expect to understand anything about India - Pak relationship, and seriously what credibility you get for commenting anything on the subject ?

ghairatmand | 13 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Before you doubt my allegiance, I am from mumbai. And as an mumbaaite I have witnessed what Thacakrey did during Babri Masjid demolition. That besides there are far more internal matter for which he is responsible to grievance to muslim and non muslim citizens both. Now it would be debatable and complete whole argument of what he did and why he did. But nothing justifies violence. And if we start skirting our own wrong doings then we loose the moral ground of asking somebody to correct theirs. Certainly when taking about specifics the act of violence by shiv senas is far less gruesome than those exhibited by terrorists, infact comparing them is injustice in itself, but its a violence nevertheless. And hanging Thackerey is an expression not an opinion, not desire, and nor do I expect anybody to share my enthusiasm. @goggi : Sympathetically agree with you my dear Pakistani. We the common citizens constantly argue in proving the other side wrong. Question is how do we ease or remove this mis-trust and work together. Every time we talk of peace it gets hammered down by Kashmir issue. I think we are getting it all backwards. There has to be trust and faith on each other before speaking on core issue like Kashmir. Else the Kashmir's fate will always continue to be decided by the pride arrogance of both countries. Also there has to be a realistic solution acceptable to both, if any side is expecting to get away with larger piece of bargain, then he / she is a dreamer.

Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply Indians sound like a broken record.

goggi | 13 years ago | Reply @R S JOHAR: @Raja: @Cherish Raj: @ghairatmand: @G. Din: @Romm: We had in our nursery a poem from a big egg called Humpty Dumpty: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, All the king´s horses and all the king´s men, Couldn´t put Humpty together. This poem is used as a metaphor in the laws of Physics. That means, when the egg falls on the ground and breaks, it is practically impossible to get this egg back in the original state. One Humpty Dumpty is Pakistan lying smashed on the ground, practically impossible to get it together. The other Humpy Dumpty are the Indians sitting on the wall of their material success and arrogance, but shivering of fear and anxiety that only one stray shot from somewhere could mean a great and unrepairable fall. ps: and the goras can´t stop laughing at our mental plight! How many thousands of trillions of dollars have they milked from us?

Mohan Ram | 13 years ago | Reply @agthagola: I believe it is time for the younger generation if Pakistanies to go back to the true history of Kashmir. I am a Canadian and cannot understand the stupidity of the two governments on the subcontinent. If your overzealous goverment at the time of partition had not had their heads buried in the sand, they could have waited for two years for election to take place in Kahmir at which time the Kashmari people could have decided the fate of the state. Instead of that your government send in your soldiers to occupy Kashmir, and their ruler decided to hand over his state on a silver platter. So stop talking about Kashmir. You lost more than half half of Kashmir due to your governments stupidity. If really study that war, If not for American interfearence, sending aircraft carriers and other surface floatila and threatining india with another Heroshima, you will not have even what you have what you now have of Kashmir. The people of POK is worse off than IOK. Aid sent after tha quake disaster has hardly reached the people who need them. Instead your armed forces and your powerful had theit tandicals in the kitty. I look at the stupidity of the Brits in dividing the original India into four and wathing each trying to destroy the other based on religion, because they were forced to leave the subcontinant and the begining of the end of the British Empire.

Romm | 13 years ago | Reply Again pakistan news Blog has been Bombarded by INSECURE INDIANS. I have never read and commented in indians News Blog. Not because I hate India, rather I am not Bothered.

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @ghairatmand: "...If it is upto me as an liberal Indian I would hang Bal Thakerey. But rest assure he is not involved in sending man across border and causing terrorism. " So what would you hang him for? That he holds right wing views? Some would hang liberals for the same reasons of holding opposite views, as happened in West Bengal recently! How do you feel about that? Or, is it the prerogative of Left and Liberals alone to hang others?

ghairatmand | 13 years ago | Reply @Al: If you are honest to your argument, first look into your own backyard of Balochistan. You will find answers of what is happening in Kashmir. The common denominator in both cases are militants created in Pakistan. Security forces are just acting in defense. And all the cases of rape and genocide, we all know how easy it is to fabricate such things in name of communal feelings. An example of which can be found in Balochistan itself. As a closing note I am not trying to turn bling eye on Kashmir, but when you demand a fair game, then both sides have to be fair. Are you ready for your part of fairness or just remain in the false history taught by faked curriculum by Zia, Pakistani army and ISI ?

ghairatmand | 13 years ago | Reply @Abdul Raheem Palijo: There is no single case or accusation of terrorism by Shiv Sena or Janta Dul. These are extreme right wings not liked by Indians themselves. If it is upto me as an liberal Indian I would hang Bal Thakerey. But rest assure he is not involved in sending man across border and causing terrorism. There is difference between terrorist and extreme right wing politicians. Good luck with your mindset and choice of argument.

ghairatmand | 13 years ago | Reply @agthagola: That is your own created excuse and not the real reason.

NJ | 13 years ago | Reply Another talk in last 60 years or so....unfortunately, these talks have not and wil never take India or Pakistan towards a strong future for their people. We do not need talks, but actions on how we can be a strong market and be a resource creator for our industiries and hence bringing enormous wealth to our people. Put together, we will be the largetst market the world has ever seen before. These talks to me has o meaning except filling new paper space. Nothis has come out of it and nothing will ever....

goggi | 13 years ago | Reply Great politicians are not born rather they are created according to the needs and interests of the society. Mr. Manmohan´s intentions are surely sincere, human and pacifistic but unfortunately shall remain an Utopian dream. The "enemy images" have been systematically created between us since the centuries, and small incidents trigger a hell of hate between us. And this HATE particularly between Pakistanis and Indians, is the source of income for those MIGHTY INVISIBLES who have and shall determine our destiny. And they at the present time surely don´t need another Gandhi, Jinnah or Nehru.

Explorer | 13 years ago | Reply @agthagola: I am afraid the 'root cause list' is longer. Besides, Kashmit, Palestine, there is also the issues of Junagarh, Hyderabad (Deccan), Siachen, Kutch, etc,

Abdul Raheem Palijo | 13 years ago | Reply why ignored to fight against Shiv Sena, Janta Dul etc?

AD | 13 years ago | Reply You end terrorism in India, ISI will die.You make peace with India Pak army will become useless.Where will US and UK n France will sell there weapon?How Chine will contain India without Pak.China is crocodile friend and Pak is playing monkey.Terrorism will never end unless madrasas start teaching education.

Cherish Raj | 13 years ago | Reply @Al: Dream on. It is good for health.

Kanishka | 13 years ago | Reply Well why do Pakistani's think that they have claim on Kashmir? going by the logic.. Hindus should claim the Indus Valley which was known for Hindu Civilization and not Islamic??

kulamarva balakrishna | 13 years ago | Reply Vienna,29-05-2011 I hope and wish Pakistan saves the territory under its control not in Kashmir but in left over Pakistan. As sense of the pudding is in eating sense of sovereignty is in being full control. -Kulamarva Balakrishna

Khurram | 13 years ago | Reply I think, it is the most opportune moment of time Our Establishment (Army more than the Civilians) pay heed to the Most Sane Voice from across the Border and take up his offer. Sardar Manmohan Singh has a sincerity of purpose in his words and deep honesty in his approach to establish a permanent peace between Pakistan and India. You very well know, what we are going through, an uncertain time of utter confusion, stressed to the seams as a Nation, when our own very survival is threatened with impunity by the evil forces. How long can we afford to go on like this? Peace with India is going to be most beneficial for both of us more so for us. He is not going to be at the seat of authority for ever and we may not get such opportunity again for a long time to come. Kindly recognize the reality of times and see the mess we are in, which for some selfish reasons has been conveniently ignored by you.

bc49er | 13 years ago | Reply Human Rights? Pakistanis killing unarmed Chechens one of whom was pregnant. All for a photo-op to show their new Russian friends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edtemmeb0Fw

Al | 13 years ago | Reply End the occupation of Kashmir, resolve it according to the UN resolution and both countries will live in peace...but India will never do it but it will continue to lecture us and oppose us in the international forums.

Al | 13 years ago | Reply What about the oppression in Kashmir Mr. Singh...who the is the terrorist in Kashmir....

Raja | 13 years ago | Reply I am proud of our Prime Minister although I disagree with some of the things that he says. Truly a gentleman scholar. Amidst all corrupt, petty politicinas, he is a beacon of hope and optimism.

agthagola | 13 years ago | Reply The root cause of militancy in Muslim world is occupition of kashmir and palistine. If world community is serous about pecece than hindu should pull out of kashmir

mahmood | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan hasn't even made an attempt to determine whether the ISI was involved in the Mumbai massacre - just shrugs its shoulders when testimony is given during the USA trial. If Pakistan isn't going to make any attempt to root out people who cooperate/train terrorist which have attacked India -- what's the point in having these discussion? Akin to speeches about making preemptive attacks against terrorist --- talks cheap and often nothing other than public relations.

R S JOHAR | 13 years ago | Reply The Indian Prime Minister's words of wisdom conveyed to Pakistan in a most sincere and plain manner should be reciprocated equally by Pakistan through its actions. Manmohan Singh is a man of high integrity and is not known to double speak therefore, its the best opportunity for Pakistan to make peace with India during his present tenure as PM. Hope Pak military realises now, that the monster of terrorism is more of a threat to Pakistan than India and its time to fight it internally and jointly with India for a lasting peace in the region.

rifaye(India) | 13 years ago | Reply i havent seen any other pm of india who is as optimistic as this man is... hope he accomplishes his mission. i dont know how many have watched "the devils advocate with karan thapar " which was telecasted today with pakistan foreign secretary Shahryar Khan... it was indeed chilling revelation, and he concedes the isi / LeT nexus and said pak nuke is 99% safe...well that 1% is what makes us jiffy. he was very candid abt situation in pakistan. hope people across the border get a chance to see that interview. strangely ! most of pak leaders speak the truth after their retirement..be it musharaf, or Mr khan.. i am sure, mr salman bashir or mr rehman malik will spill the bean what all is happening now, perhaps by 5 year from now..lets see.

Sraight-Talk | 13 years ago | Reply Let us fight together with this monster which is here threatening both of us. If we wouldn't be their then whom you fight with? There will be enough time in future to fight each other but first let us finish this terror together. You can never be sure on their ideology if they do not change in future. God knows one day LeT will be divided and one of them start threatening to you just like TTP.

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