After stormy waters – land ho!
The Heart of Asia Conference provided Pakistan and India an opportunity to have first high level contact after Uri. Sartaj Aziz did well to be at Amritsar, the venue for talks, a night before the Sunday session. Besides a handshake with Modi and mutual customary greetings, he held a thirty minute long talks with Iranian Foreign Minister on Saturday. The Iranian FM also offered mediation and assistance in removing tensions between two “very dear” friends. On Sunday morning Sartaj Aziz called on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Instead of waiting for Donald Trump’s offer of resolving the issues between Pakistan and India, Islamabad should accept the Iranian offer for mediation putting the ball in India’s court. Keeping in view the increasing number of horrific Taliban attacks inside Afghanistan and Kabul’s deteriorating relations with Pakistan it came as no surprise when President Ghani snubbed a $500 million pledge from Pakistan for development projects, saying Afghanistan instead needed aid to fight terrorism. He accused Pakistan of allowing sanctuary to the terrorists. A day earlier General John Nicholson, Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan and had told media that the Haqqani network used Pakistan as a safe haven to target the US and allied troops. One expects that with the change of army command in Pakistan due consideration would be given to the complaint which is a major source Pakistan’s estrangement with Afghanistan and US.
While it may be premature to entertain unrealistic expectations from Modi’s abstention to blame Pakistan directly, except for two oblique references, there is a need to take note of it.
The Pathankot Declaration does not refer to cross border terrorism or sanctuaries in Pakistan. But recognizing terrorism as the biggest threat to peace, the Declaration specifically mentions Let and JeM, demanding immediate end to their financing and support. What is more it emphasises effective de-radicalisation strategies to put an end to the radicalisation of youth in Heart of Asia countries. It is time Pakistan draws the right conclusions from the Declaration.
