In a challenge to Pakistan, India on Wednesday said that if it reigns in and acts against terror groups, the relations between the two countries could improve significantly. It also said that continuing talks with Pakistan was the only way to ensure it acts against terrorism.
The statements were made by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and foreign secretary S Jaishankar at an international counter terrorism conference held in Jaipur, organised by India Foundation headed by the National Security Advisor's son and analyst Shaurya Doval.
"Most of the terror attacks in India emanate from Pakistan and it will help to show sincerity and reign in the various terror groups operating against India. If Pakistan takes concrete action against terror groups on its territory, it will not only improve bilateral ties but also bring peace and stability to South Asian region." Rajnath added that the Indian government will stand by Pakistan if it takes decisive action against terror organisations.
After a brief bonhomie triggered after a brush by meeting between PM Modi and his counterpart from Pakistan Nawaz Sharif at the COP21 conference in Pakistan, relations between the two countries have once again soured after terrorists purportedly from Jaish-e-Mohammad infiltrated in Punjab and attacked the Air Force station in Pathankot.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar called for naming and shaming of supporters of terrorism but in the same breath, he also reiterated that in the context of Pakistan, continuing talks was the only way to expect progress. "Since Pathankot we stayed in touch with Pakistan and we continue at my (foreign secretary) and NSA level and we will remain in touch. It is only by remaining in touch that we expect them to progress on the basis of the information provided to them.''
India and Pakistan are yet to reschedule the talks to carry forward the dialogue process between the foreign secretaries that were put off following the Pathankot attacks
Rajnath said both the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 and the latest attacks in Pathankot signify tectonic shifts in India's outlook towards Pakistan as both the incidents took the dynamics of terror acts a notch higher.
One of the outcomes of this attack, Singh said was the reworking of country's counter terrorism strategy. "We are re formulating the existing counter terrorism strategy and working towards a national security strategy to prevent such cross border attacks in future."
The revised strategy will aim to achieve seamless coordination between agencies, proper assimilation, analyses and sharing of intelligence, stepping up vigil at borders, strengthening border infrastructure and creating legal and structural framework to fight against terrorism. Singh stressed that henceforth all terror cases will be thoroughly investigated and followed regularly in courts. "Our guiding principle will be that no innocent should be implicated and no guilty should go free."
The conference was dominated by trends in global terrorism mainly caused in the name of Islam and included experts and scholars including military leaders, bureaucrats and government officials from 21 countries. Speaking about the theological underpinnings of terror groups and the conflation between IS's Caliphate and modern states BJP MP and national spokesperson M J Akbar drew analogy to the conflict in Kashmir. In a session he said that the conflict between India and Pakistan is not about geography of Kashmir but ideology. "India cannot abandon Kashmir because it has Muslims, they are equal citizens of the country. The day it abandons Kashmir as it will be abandoning the country's Muslims." He concluded saying, "Pakistan has to accept the status that what is de facto has to become de jure."
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