And what it means for Pakistan
India and the US have finally brokered their landmark civil nuclear agreement. According to Modi both sides agreed on the need for a comprehensive global strategy and approach to combat terrorism. Obama said both countries were going to be strong and reliable partners for the people of Afghanistan.
Some of the observations made by President Obama on the eve of his visit should however worry the political and military leadership of Pakistan. In a somewhat peremptory tone Obama told India Today, “…safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable” and “those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice”. This despite ISPR assuring again and again that Operation Zarb-i-Azb was thoroughly indiscriminate and no safe havens for terrorists were left in Pakistan. The army would not have issued the statement without adequate confirmation. So is there a difference in the way both sides define ‘safe havens’? Islamabad maintains that Zakiur Reman Lakhvi is already under detention and the delay in prosecuting him has occurred on account of India not providing the needed evidence. Similarly, according to Islamabad, the courts let Hafiz Saeed go free for lack of evidence. This has however failed to satisfy either India or the US who think the government secured the JuD chief’s freedom by preparing a weak case against him. Washington had earlier welcomed Pakistan’s decision to ban JuD and Haqqani Network and had termed the move an important step towards eliminating terrorism. The government’s shilly-shallying on the issue has damaged its credibility.
Sensing the gravity of the situation COAS Raheel Sharif has dashed to Beijing. Keeping in view China’s policy of resolving disputes through talks and avoiding conflict, Beijing will administer the same advice to both India and Pakistan. The world has changed a lot since 1965 when a statement from Mao’s China could have a sobering effect on the Indian army, demoralised after the defeat in Sino-India war three years earlier. Pakistan, under the circumstances, has to follow a policy characterised by realism and flexibility.