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Pakistan’s attitude to terrorism has changed: Rao
Outgoing foreign secretary says the prism through which Pakistan sees terrorism has been altered.
Nirupama Rao appointed India's next ambassador to the United States.
NEW DELHI:
Although India finds that Pakistan’s attitude to terrorism has changed, it believes concrete deliverables on 26/11 attack in Mumbai are still far away.
On the highly-popular television programme Devil’s Advocate, hosted by anchor Karan Thapar, the outgoing Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said that she thought the prism through which Pakistan sees the issue of terrorism has definitely been altered. She was responding to a question on whether India saw a change in Pakistan’s attitude towards terrorism during the recently concluded foreign secretary-level talks.
This formulation is a huge change from India’s position prior to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s visit to Mohali to watch the Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final match with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and subsequent reengagement via meetings of the home secretaries and the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan.
Asked whether it was a positive development, Rao said it was an outcome that India must take note of. “I think when they (Pakistan) speak of the fact that non-state elements in this relationship need to be tackled, that we must look at safe havens and sanctuaries, that we must look at fake currency, we must look at all the aspects that are concerned with the business of terror, I think that is a concrete development,” she said.
Rao, however, said she would not expect Pakistani officials to talk about the strategic link between the Pakistani state and militancy and terror. Asked whether her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir accepted the revelations made by Mumbai attacks case accused David Headley in a Chicago trial court, Rao said: “Well, he is not going to say that in so many words to me. I think it will be unrealistic for me to expect that the foreign secretary of Pakistan is going to say that,” she said.
Rao said she did discuss Headley’s revelations about the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) in the Mumbai attacks and told Bashir that India wanted satisfactory answers on these linkages.
“But let me say that the fact that we are discussing the threat, the scourge, the evil of terrorism and the fact that it has ramifications that extend into the entire region, I think is a development we must take note of,” she said.
Rao rejected suggestions that she was being generous towards Pakistan. “I think we have to be realistic. We have to understand the difficulties in the terrain,” she said.
Rao said her talks with Bashir did not focus on just the 26/11 trial. “…We also discussed peace and security, we discussed the issue of Kashmir which has always formed a part of the dialogue.”
She said that India has “adequately communicated” to Pakistan that it expects to
see progress in the 26/11 trial and “we need concrete results”.
“We have not seen anything actually happening on the Mumbai trial and that is a point of great concern to us. But let me ask you a question. Does it mean that dialogue is not an option that we should pursue with Pakistan?” she said.
”I do not think you are making policy in a laboratory. You take into account the surrounding environment. You take into account the success of a certain approach. Did that approach (of not talking) yield too many dividends?”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2011.
Reader Comments (54)
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There are two ways to attract the world attention – either point a gun at your own head or fix the economy and have a lot of money. The tale of two neighbors!Recommend
Let’s also hope that India had a rethink
on removing her terrorizing soldiers from
Kashmir to pave way for UN mandated
plebecite.Recommend
She is just dreaming. Anti-India and anti-Afghan militants are still strategic assets’. If you have any doubts just look at the conduct of so called 26/11 Mumbai attack prosecution by Pak.Recommend
The more this lady speaks of her “nation’s interest” and “state terror”, she gives you hint to how these delusional Indian diplomats view their own country: they see their nation as a new “super power” who despite poverty, separatist movements, terrorism within their own border, acts like the owner of this region. This is a nation who failed its own citizens yet speaks about its “national interest” like a thuggish, delusional self-proclaimed “super power”. Come down from your high horse for a moment. Recommend
Pakistan in a strong strategic approach to foreign affairs will be. I though we have many shortcomings. Foreign Affairs, I will still try to improve.Recommend
India can help Pakistan eradicate militancy from the region if only it looks into the causes, rather root cause, of militancy. Only then pakistan and India can live like america and canada.Recommend
No way Madam, since your wishful thinking of Pak military change of heart for their holy assets can only be described as ‘Height of Optimism‘. Recommend
There shouldn’t be, because the ‘terrorists’ are going to be our future neighbors. They won’t forgive and forget what the left-libs have done to them (egging on the Paki nation to fight the ‘terrorists’).Recommend
Hey may be it is time for the men to move aside in the Indo-Pak area and let women do the correct job. So far there has been total screw ups from the men handling this situation.
Why send a boy when a real woman can probably do a better job? Recommend
What are the overt and covert factors of such a big change in Indians point of view while there is no change in Pakistan’s strategy towards the terrorism. Is Pakistan getting decisive power in the region after expected US and allies drawdown from the region? Is India feeling insecurity after such a withdrawal? Recommend
@Zeeshan:
“…she gives you hint to how these delusional Indian diplomats view their own country: “
It is said large bodies of water cause their own weather. When large continental powers, such as India, move they cause a wake which drags the puny little powers around them in their wake willy-nilly. They can fight the tidal drag or they can enjoy the ride. You, my friend, are one of those hopeless people who will much rather fight the drag -in vain.
So, who is delusional – you or her?Recommend
Did the good lady meet any Pakistan army generals before she made such statement? The fact is there has been understanding between the politicians of both countries; it is the military rule that has always brought us to wars and humiliation. It is no secret that the army does not even trust elected Pakistani leadership whoever they may be. Recommend
@ Zeeshan – I think you should just look at the way the world treats India. India is treated as a future superpower. Get over it. It’s “AfPak” and “China-India”. That’s how the world views India. Whether or not you as a Pakistani like that, is another matter. Ms. Rao is by no means delusional though. Recommend
Analyst? What about Anti-Pakistani terrorists like the TTP, Strategic assets in reserve??Recommend
India and Pakistan should cease all relations for a period of minimum fifteen years and start doing their own house cleaning without interfering in the internal affairs of one another. In the mean time both countries should analyse if their Kashmirs are liabilities or assets to them.Recommend
The Pakistani establishment’s royal lifestyle will come to an end if peace with India turns to reality. They will never let this happen. Nirupama is another naive Indian politician who fell for the doublespeak. Just wait for the “peace talks” to get going. Recommend
@Zeeshan:
Consider the facts: India is rated the most successful state among all it neighbours(including China), has THE fastest growing economy in the World, A Democracy (un-interrupted for 64 years), part of G20,etc.
I think you a little biased.Recommend
@Abdul Rahman Khan:
“India can help Pakistan eradicate militancy from the region if only it looks into the causes, rather root cause, of militancy.”
By saying that you have virtually said that peace in Pakistan is directly dependent on India. But, India doesn’t say that. It doesn’t need anything from Pakistan(apart from tacking Terror) and is a status quo Country. That is why it is the fastest growing nation in the World.
You should tackle Terror irrespective of what your neighbours are doing, because that is the right thing to do.
A lot of Countries have border disputes but none sponsor Terror against its neighbours like Pakistan.Recommend
But Indian attitude towards state terrorism in kashmir has not changed a bit!Recommend
@Zeeshan:
Yeah! Pakistan is the GREATEST!!! India sucks.Recommend
what to say about her, after retirement from her diplomatic stunt she is going to stay in U.S. to look after her family there. The same way her state cong. man P.V.NARASIMA RAO while he was a external minister, he settled all of his family in U.S. this much patrotism these people are having. they dont trust their own country. For the furture family settlement in these western nations like U.S. U.K. they like to remain slave to these nations.Recommend
Good News – Positive – Next I hope our military’s attitude towards India changes for the better for both countries to live happily ever after.Recommend
I dont trust people with hazzel eyes.Recommend
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Pakistan’s attitude’s change in regard of terrorism should never be considered as the weakness and cowardice.This change is only for resolving the most core and burning Kashmir issue first and then the other issues.Because Kashmir is the only bridge of strong,stable and permanent friendship between India and Pakistan.Recommend
@Sameer:
ahahahahaha “chinaindia” are you crazy??? china has always maintained better ties with pakistan than any other country……….. and its been that way since 1947… its time for ur medication to get a bit of reality check … as for how the world views india.. errrr u guys ahve cows roaming the streets in cities for crying out loudd thats insaneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in anycase what on earth are u indians doings here?? in case u ahvnt noticed itsd http://www.tribune.om.PK………………….Recommend
@ALL INDIANS and PAKISTANIS
this is not about comparison.. im a pakistani.. yes my country has problems.. as does urs or any other country im sure… maybe those problems get more lime light or maybe we do ahve more problems.. thats not the issue. the issue is we need to better ourselves as human beings and stop indulging in these petty fights ……… i persnally dont care much for how ndians or any other country rates pakistan or what thier opinion is of us pakistanis.. i only care to see my nation prospoer…
so pls i request you all to be civil… as whatever you say.. however you fight on this forum reflects on you as individuals and as indians/pakistanisRecommend
I think it’s good sign from both the nations to have positive attitude towards each other. Few days ago, there was an article in the The Economist, titled as “The World’s most dangrerous border” in which it was clearly stated that how immature both the nations are and have been. There is the need of the hour to have good relations and peace with each other as both nations have equal roots and have been living with peace for many centuries. They need to understand that who is benefitting from hate among them. The politicians, bureacrates, landlords, industrialists and army officers are enjoying their lives in both the countries. They have wealth, good houses, access to good health and education and can go to anywhere in the world without any obstacle. The ultimately affectees are the poor, marginalized, minorities, etc., who are suffering. They have so many economic problems that they can’nt even think about values and good principles. Whether it’s India or Pakistn, there are millions of poor people who are deprived of basic neccesities of life. They are passing a very misserable life, full of hardships and difficulties. Either they are Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Sikhs or of any other religion they live and die every day. So, for God sake, please think about these human beings and try to create a society full of peace, love and prosperity where everyone should respect each other on the basis of humanity and not religion or caste.Recommend
Dear Madam, thank God you are good-looking for your age, however, I cannot say the same thing about your smartness, especially on this subject. I did not mean to insult you, and hope that you have some sense of humor! Recommend
@Blithe: UN mandated
plebecite have no binding.Recommend
If optimistic : Well a good gesture in result of stubbornness being endeavored throughout after Mumbai attacks.
If pessimistic : What would be hindsight behind this kind of statement? Please watch out.Recommend
Even all weather friend China maintains a cautious note when it comes to Pakistan and it slapped Pakistan with Qwadar port issue. So, India already slated as arch rival of Pakistan is left with one option, Secure the border and have an eye on the volatile neighbor.Recommend
@G.Din,
India is no continental power. It is a large nation for sure, but it is incapable of handling a nation equal size to it: China. So, it has to resort to find its place by acting thuggish to its smaller neighbors. There’s a difference between being a thug and being a powerful nation. The issue of Kashmir is about Kashmiris refusing to be Indians. The faster these delusional Indian diplomats realized that, the faster we could solve the Kashmiri issues and the faster we all could move on. Secondly, your analogy sounds strange because Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal were and are not riding any of India’s waves. All of us have worked hard to build our countries without India. India needs to help Indians first before it engages in chest- thumping to its neighbor.
@Sameer,
Please do not speak on behalf of the world. The mask you wear to the world does not mean anything. The world needs to walk on and through your streets first.
@bruteforce
All these economic growth and fabled democracy mean nothing when your country is the way it is today. What’s the purpose of having 8% or 80% economic growth when you as a nation have more poor people than any other country in the world and where hunger and famine could never be eradicated at a rate that a communist nation like China have successfully did.Recommend
@Zeeshan:
Zeeshan does’nt understand the hole Pakistan is in – Maybe this type of mentality put us in this hole.Recommend
@Ahmer , No bridge needed with you ..You please stay at the border of LOC .. We Indians are comfortable with your singers coming here and entertaining us .We are also open to normal pakistanis who recognize LOC and want to make friendship with India. Recommend
Ahmer Ali “This change is only for resolving the most core and burning Kashmir issue first and then the other issues.”
Kashmir is never a core or a burning issue. Pakistan wants to keep it burning. But remember, “if you play with fire, you get burnt”. Look at what is happening in Pakistan today.
The more you try to keep Kashmir burning, it’s you who get burnt. The day you accept to move away from Kashmir, you will grow.Recommend
Arif Raza “If optimistic : Well a good gesture in result of stubbornness being endeavored throughout after Mumbai attacks.”
What did you expect Raza? When a bunch of ten terrorists came to India and killed about 160 innocent people, the terrorists are most likely funded and trained by your ISI and headed by a person, who roams free making Hate-India campaign…
…did you expect India to be soft on a terrorist state?
Answer me, how would you have reacted?Recommend
somebody here was saying Ms.Rao was a politician….shame on his GK….she is a IFS DiplomatRecommend
we should watch out for Pakisthan statements not IFS diplomats statements, because they are educated, well informed ppl not the bloody politicians….pakisthan never has anyone speaking to media who is sensible enough to be courtiousRecommend
I don’t want tit for tat but enough to say ppl are dying in this part of world as well. Let me dare to quote Baluchistan, Manawa & Pak Afghan Border because of so called your Intelligence Agencies as our ISI and might ur Media states. But I think we have to go beyond this dirty politics and/or diplomacy where our elected and selected representatives are just doing things for the fact of better way out economically rather than philanthropically.
Just a food for thought. I personally believe that unjust bloodshed of any human being on earth which benefits any person and/or state is terrorism.
We will be kept utilising unless don’t act in a way which surprises them.Recommend
@narayana murthy:
I wonder whats a terrorists state? Never mind, in a world where a State brutalizes and murders tens of thousands of hapless Kashmiris and parades around as its largest democraacy, who knows what a terrorist state is? Eh?Recommend
@Arif Raza: “I don’t want tit for tat” Are you referring to Miss Rao by any chance?Recommend
@Zeeshan:
“. What’s the purpose of having 8% or 80% economic growth when you as a nation have more poor people than any other country in the world and where hunger and famine could never be eradicated at a rate that a communist nation like China have successfully did.”
China started economic reforms in the 70s and reaped the rewards in the 90s and in the 2000s. We started in the 1990s and are reaping rewards now.
Here is what the UN report says.
http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/23/india-poverty-rate-may-fall-to-24-percent-by-2015.htm
Our poverty rate is going to drop from nearly 40% 2 decades ago to 24%. Reduction of more than 15% in poverty in just 2 decades is truly remarkable. The good thing is we are growing at a much faster rate and are already beating China’s number to become the fastest growing major economy in the World!
India was not a rich nation to begin with and it still is not. But, it has its basics right, which Pakistan lacks. Pakistanis, of all people, must realize this.Recommend
Hope this good gesture of the outgoing Foreign Secretary will be carried on by the incoming one.Recommend
The world will watch PAK implode. Their only concern will be what happens to the nuclear weapons they so dearly love and have placed as priority over anything that will actually help their citizens.Recommend
Going through all the comments here, i am amazed to see that how unsecured we all are, be it Pakistani or Indian.
We unconsciously tend to push the other down to elevate our status. We do that all the time in religion, ethnicity or nationhood. This is all a false way of looking at the situation and reeks of inferiority complex.
Let us all admit that both the nations have problems like any other nation in the world, be it USA or China or Europe. If a Pakistani is pointing out the problems in India, even in a derogatory way, he or she is actually doing a favor to India to stop living in a delusional world, so the same goes to Indians talking about Pakistan.
We all have to look inward and expose our problems and should be actually grateful to anyone else who helps us in exposing the problem, rather then spitting and throwing statistics to prove the point, and further go in to more delusions.
The ramifications of living in a delusional world is the suffering of our own future generations. Recommend
@ sam – China is no friend of Pakistan’s. China is an atheist country fighting Islamic insurgents in its Western Areas. You really think they are Pakistan’s friend? Give me a break. They use Pakistan just as everyone else in the world does. Pakistan’s leadership has sold Pakistan to the highest bidder time and time again. Saudi funds flow freely into Pakistan funding terrorism, UAE owns air bases in Pakistan, China owns massive pipelines and highways.
As for cows roaming the streets – sure, it doesn’t look great and most Indians may not like it but you can go read The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and you’ll see China and India are compared regularly. I’ve never seen an article comparing China and Pakistan.
And it’s tribune.com.pk – yes. Thank you for correctly finding the URL. Where on the site does it say “No non-Pakistanis” allowed. If you like delusional news, you might prefer The Nation or some Urdu paper where you can read the lies you want to believe rather than the truth at ET.
@ Zeeshan – I don’t need to speak for the world. The world speaks for itself. Go read the aforementioned publications and see for yourself. You might then stop living in your delusional world. You also might want to consider a course in basic mathematics. You first criticize India for being so large yet punching below its weight. Then you say India has the most poor people in the world. Well it’s the 2nd biggest country in the world. It goes without saying that it’s got a lot of poor people. Furthermore, economic growth lifts people out of poverty as it did in China and now India. Pakistan might want to focus on its economic growth rather than its delusions.
It’s growing as quickly as China is without an autocratic government. And trust me, China doesn’t want India to surpass it on the world’s stage, but India is a huge trading partner as is the US. The China-India-US rivalry is like the competition between the best football clubs in the world. It gets nasty at times but they all want great competition and want to keep getting better. They don’t want to see each other blown up.Recommend
@Zeeshan:
It is not love that is blind, but jealousy. ~Lawrence Durrell, Justine, 1957
It is this jealousy tat has brought you to your knees as a nation. You have become puppets in the hands of the mullahs who promised to bleed India dry with a thousand cuts. Just look at the list of Most Failed States to see who is bleeding to death and who is thriving.Recommend
It is a political statement. The way the headline indicates, I wonder how the perception can change overnight.
If this is true, it might not surprise me, if the tomorrow they reverse the opinion.
We all hope, that Pakistan will leave the past and join the properous world. However the defiance and the actions being seen is contrary to this notion.
It still holds on to strategic depth, India as no 1 enemy, aid and deception, strategic assets, leaders espousing militant sentiments both with respect to Afghanistan and India, etc.
With all these ground realities and more how can the world believe that Pakistan has a change of mind.
May be Nirupama Rao but majority of us are having the fingers crossed. Recommend
@Antony & Narayana.
Your comments against me are unimpressive because Kashmir has been never the integral part of India and as far as our singers are concerned for your entertainment then they are behind the money and you waste lots of money on musical activities and as far as Pakistan’s internal matters are concerned then this is not your business but some mishaps are being happening in Pakistan by the hidden and furtive interference of RAW,MOSAD and CIA.If Kashmir is yours then why are afraid of plebiscite?Why Indian government isn’t giving freedom to Kashmiri people to decide their own fate through referendum?Why Indian government is using its hundreds of thousands brutal and cruel forces in Indian Occupied Kashmir to crush freedom movement launched by the Mujahideen/freedom fighters?Recommend
@Sameer:
india and china friends??? omg thats laughable… ok though on a serous note pls quote hard fatcs and not stuff from ur wish list….lets not try and influence readers based on stuff we choose to write which we can only wish for….
yes china and pakistan are never compared… and you know whyyy? because you might want to check the world map out… pakistan is only a fraction of china.. why should we compare ourselves to china? do you think maldeves and bahrain should compare themselves to the united states? of course not!!! so pls stop with the childish banter.. itsss sooo off putting..
as for the cows roaming the streets sighh sadly i had the mis fortune of travelling to india several times on business and the stuff iv seen i cant even write since i know my comment wont be pasted cuz of it…
wer back to square one with the website thing.. if u hate paksitan and pakistanis so much then why check out a pakistani website to get ur news???? its a catch 22 for u.. i suggest u accept defeat.. ull only humiliate yourself further.. though i dont mind being amused!!!!.. as for wht sort of news i like clearly its clean cut english news.. what u guys too busy hugging cows to print english news papper or has ur obsession with al think paki drawn u to this website time and time again :)Recommend
@Ash Chak:
OMG are u seriously so selfcentered that you think the essence of our existance is to be better than india????? lol…. youv got to be joking me… Recommend
@Austin:
couldnt agree with u more… its sad that people over look such messages Recommend
@narayana murthy:
well firstly i wouldnt have .. given the indian intelligence created havoc in pakistan id be too embarrassed to say anythign..id also slap myself first for having incompetent naval and armed forces at the borders and seas who werent able to stop these 10 militants (who u claim are pakis) from entering the country…
so in case the aboev isnt clear id be too embarrassed of my own failures to say anything.. india should do the same..Recommend
Thuggish behavior:
Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Minorities(Islamic Republic), constant military rule. Me thinks “The Land of the Pure” is the thug. Recommend