Implications
Finally the Pathankot aftermath moves one step ahead. The registration of the FIR now allows formal legal movement regarding a Pakistani team conducting investigations in India and interacting with the security establishment there. The Indians have been happy with the FIR, though they are still calling it only a small step forward. New Delhi has shown unexpected flexibility since the attack – to the point of earning opposition ire because of its ‘U-turns regarding Pakistan’ – but it will still keep pressing for Islamabad to tighten the noose around JeM, Masood Azhar, etc.
That, of course, brings us to the matter of the dialogue. Immediately after the attack Delhi had, expectedly, linked resumption of talks to visible movement on apprehending the attackers. Lately, though, they have been more flexible. Pakistan, on the other hand, has been a little too quick on the draw in its response, hoping for immediate resumption of foreign secretary level talks. That, Islamabad might soon find, is not going to be as straight forward. India has won precious PR points because of its flexibility, but it is clearly calculated. In material terms, it will want to see something concrete before moving ahead, especially keeping in mind recent Congress outcry.
Going by latest remarks from both sides, it seems the coming few days will be vital in terms of what sort of interaction takes place and what information is shared regarding Pathankot. That, in turn, will decide the fate of the dialogue. The Indians are convinced of a JeM hand, and the Punjab government here has assured them of strict action in case of actionable intelligence. All that remains to be done, really, is for them to provide relevant information and for us to act in light of facts. The principle implication, therefore, of the Pathankot investigation is on the way forward for the peace process. Hopefully the follow-up to the FIR will be faster than the investigation leading to it.
