'Another Go at India-Pakistan Dialogue', International Relations and Security Network, 5 November 2009
EXCERPT: "As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting Pakistan to assuage growing concerns about the state of US-Pakistan ties, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir declaring that if Pakistan showed 'sincerity and good faith,' India 'will not be found wanting in its response. 'The hand of friendship that we have extended should be carried forward. This is in the interest of people of India and Pakistan,' he said, underlining that terrorists 'want permanent enmity to prevail between the two countries,' though he avoided mentioning the November 2008 Mumbai attacks or Kashmir. At a later press conference, Singh clarified that New Delhi’s demand that Islamabad put terror groups under 'effective control' was 'not a pre-condition' for the resumption of India-Pakistan talks, rather a 'practical' way forward because 'we are a democracy and if day in and day out terrorist attacks continue to take the precious lives of our citizens, we cannot create a mahaul [atmosphere] for meaningful negotiations.' And now, speculation is building that India-Pakistan dialogue is about to be rejuvenated. After the Mumbai terror attacks last year, India suspended dialogue with Pakistan, asking it to first dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in its territory directed at India. Though India still remains dissatisfied with Pakistan's efforts to bring to justice all the perpetrators of last year’s assault on Mumbai, there is growing pressure on New Delhi to re-start the dialogue."
Read the full article.
Related articles:
Did Pakistan conceal truth on Delhi terror plot?, Times Now, 5 November 2009
Pakistan, India spar over Kashmir at UN, The Nation, 4 November 2009
Assassinations, peace and state violence in India and Pakistan, Huffington Post, 4 November 2009
Four killed in Kashmir border clash, incursions rise, Reuters India, 4 November 2009
India accuses Pakistan of Kashmir ceasefire violation, AFP, 31 October 2009
Related reports:
India-Pakistan conflict outcome probability, Institute for Defence Studies & Analysis, 27 October 2009
