Chidambaram’s Plane to Pakistan
Bilateral meetings on the fringes of multi-lateral conferences aren’t unusual. But the one P Chidambaram had with his Pakistani counterpart, Rahman Malik during the SAARC interior ministers’ conference was unique in a way that it was the first of its kind.
From all available accounts, no Indian Home Minister before Chidambaram had set foot on Pakistani soil since the Partition. So while many commentators focused on the visit’s substantive outcome, I was in thrall of its symbolism.
Why? Well, how often does one find Home Ministers whose job entails talking tough, engaged with, rather than engaged against each other? Never before had the future of Indo-Pak dialogue been as much hinged on an interaction on the sidelines of a multilateral conference.
What better way could there have been— than a meeting between Home Ministers — to address the trust deficit the two sides had set out to bridge while signaling resumption of talks at Thimpu, Bhutan? By agreeing to so engage, India rightly seized the opportunity to flag concerns over terrorism from the very soil that provides it sustenance.
Every word that Chidambaram uttered was heard in rapt attention by his hosts and the media. In certain Pakistani circles, he was perceived as India’s next PM in the event of a delay in Rahul Gandhi’s elevation. A former Pak High Commissioner to India even joked about the language in which Malik— whose English isn’t all that good— would converse with the erudite Indian leader.
Atmospherics apart, the value and the longevity of Pak assurances— of going after the masterminds of Mumbai attacks, will have to be tested over time. Chidambaram was politically and diplomatically correct when he said after the talks: “Nobody is questioning intentions; we are looking for outcomes…which alone will decide if we are on the right track.”
Malik announced in the Indian minister’s presence that the CBI and the Pak Federal Investigating Agency would collaborate in fighting terrorism and brining the Mumbai attackers to book. The exact contours of their relationship weren’t immediately clear. But coordination between these Interpol linked probe agencies makes practical sense.
Intelligence chiefs of the two countries — Rajiv Mathur and Javed Noor — also set up a dialogue table. Real time and honest cooperation between the agencies they head can go a long way in giving terrorists a run for their munitions.
The first real test of this tenuous equation is the Indian demand for voice samples of the Mumbai gang’s Pakistani handlers, including Hafiz Sayeed and other LeT big daddies. Malik’s assurances were a huge improvement over Pak foreign secretary Salman Bashir’s description of Indian dossiers as “literature” while he was in India earlier this year.
“We’ve understood the gravity of the Mumbai attacks, which is why we have arrested seven people. We will take action on whatever credible information we are given,” the Hindu quoted the Pak Interior Minister as having stated. He also promised to furnish voice samples sought by New Delhi to establish identities of LeT handlers in conversations recorded during 26/11.
The dialogue’s success or failure will depend on the civilian regime’s ability to deliver on its assurances. The likes of Hafiz Sayeed cannot be sorted out without the ruling politico and Army being on the same page.
There’s no proof — not yet — about General Kayani and his corps commanders ceasing to view India as an adversary in the east and the northwest. Many observers believe India and Pakistan cannot be friends so long they are engaged in a turf-war in Afghanistan.
Hindustan Times



(8 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)

(Dr.) B.N.Anand Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Hello Usman saheb
I entirely agree with you when you say that it was not long back that our PM had said that he was not sure whom to talk in Pakistan. So some thing apparently changed so fast that the talks have been resumed. I would like to comment that we ordinary citizen in our two countries hardly know what is cooking up in the corridors of power in our two countries. What ever we read or listen from the media is all speculative and hardly bears to any thing in reality. In the process, the views of the people like you and me are purely based on the happenings which we see in our countries. Surely, it was only after 26/11 , that the opinion of an Indian for a dialogue with Pakistanan got hardened. As it had happened after Kargil , where just before the event , our PM had visited Lahore on a bus to sign a Lahore declaration with Mr. Nawaz Sharief, the Indian people felt cheated. So another reason for the hardening of the attitude at public level. So, it is no use to simply go by the events which are being orchestrated at political level, as no one knows the true facts. However, I suspect that either the Pakistan govt. must have yielded very quietly some important ground to our country which may not be in knowlege of a common man in your country for the dialogues to have been resumed or our govt. must have done it as a matter of strategy going by the stakes involved in Afghanistan. Again it is a matter of speculation.
Guten tag (Good day)
BNA
[Reply]
Usman Chaudhry Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:30 am
Dear Dr Anand – Good day to you as well.
You have summed this up very well and indeed rightly so ordinaries like most of us would only see whats happening around and would get first hand knowledge through media and would drive individual inspirations and interpretations. The power of decision making and deciding fate of the nation lies at the hands of high powers something which is beyond our individual sight but connecting dots and trace through history can lead to a prediction.
Certainly, Pakistan has been a front runner both in being victim of terrorism and ally in the war against terrorism. I have little info about how this fancies and helps India because mainly its been towards its west and not towards east on the other hand equally if India is cautious of the situation pervailing in Afghanistan is equally of the same weight. Lets hope these speculations don’t disappoint us and end up well.
It was good to have a new perspective in our talk and would look forward to more of a healthy discussion. I’m a student of computer science and recently graduated do you mind telling your profession and area of interest?
Regards,
Usman
[Reply]
(Dr.) B.N.Anand Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Hello Usman saheb
Nice to learn that you have graduated in computer science. Congratulations!! What are the future plans?
BNA
Usman Chaudhry Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Hello Dr Anand,
Thank You. Currently in pursuit of job and hopefully a career ahead in IT. Parallel to that to serve in education sector. Do you mind letting me know your profession.
(Dr.) B.N.Anand Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Hello Usman Saheb
Have you found a good job? You must watch out and should never be in a hurry to settle for a petty job after graduating in such an important field. May be you can think of doing a post graduation in the same field. The opportunities are tremendous in this field only if you are able to harness your skills and intelligence by a thoughtful decision and through proper counselling.
well, I am a little reluctant to tell you about my profession lest I may lose a cultured and a liberal gentleman for any future informal discussion on these blogs. However, I shall mention very briefly that I am in teaching and guiding reserach at post graduate level in the faculty of science in a university of our country.
BNA
Usman Chaudhry Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Well sir, good to know you and your respectable profession. I understand the reluctance you mention and rightly so was well hinted to know your professional background.
No, I’m in transition and would like to go after a reasonable opportunity (if not too good) to kick start my professional career. Thank you for the piece of advise and being cautious about career counselling. Would look forward to more of opinion sharing and humane discussion on the blog.
Take Care & Regards,
Usman
(Dr.) B.N.Anand Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hello Usman Saheb
What is the job position in Pakistan for a qualified computer graduate in the IT field? Are there reasonable number of IT consultant companies in your country? I am sure if you have specialisation in Java especially in structural designing , you should stand a good chance. Otherwise, you may go in for such a specialisation. That will surely be of great value to you.
BNA