BJP and Congress believed that Pakistan's military will have more say in decisions related to India.
Any gesture from Pakistan's likely Prime Minister, Imran Khan, will be reciprocated, if the new government there addresses India's core concerns like cross-border terrorism, infiltration and ceasefire violations, government officials said here on Thursday.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) awaited full results to officially respond to only the third democratic transition of power in Pakistan. But officials here said Pakistan must stop mainstreaming internationally proscribed terrorists like Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT founder Hafiz Sayeed for any meaningful engagement.
Also, it will have to show seriousness in bringing to justice the perpetrators of terror attacks, including those in Mumbai and Pathankot.
BJP and Congress believed that Pakistan's military will have more say in decisions related to India. The military has ruled Pakistan for almost half its history. Generals dominate key defence and foreign policies. "I don't see any change because imatters like export of terrorism by them are not going to change. Military used to decide this policy and they will do it now as well. Imran Khan was their candidate," said Union Minister RK Singh.
Imran's surge has been a worry for India. Even in times of hostility, Pakistan watchers in India maintained contacts with key players. But he has been a political and strategic puzzle.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy expressed apprehension that Pakistan may now carry out a war against India. "Let us (India) prepare for the possibility that Pakistan may carry out war by miscalculation. We should be ready to finish Pakistan and break it into four and look for that opportunity," he said.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also described Khan's ascendance as a military-engineered change. "They wanted to get rid of Nawaz Sharif and his party. They see Imran Khan as the most pliable potential," he said.
Tharoor said since Khan's party will not enjoy full majority, he will depend on independents and small parties which will follow military instructions. "That means if he does things military considers out of line, support can be pulled," he added. He called the results perfect for Pakistan's military, which will make sure that Khan doesn't get out of hands and doesn't get too independent.
Former Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad TCA Raghavan noted that despite Khan's offer to India, nothing dramatic will happen, as he will be engrossed in domestic issues. He said it will take time for Khan to have the sort of conviction Nawaz Sharif had in terms of relations with India.
"Nawaz Sharif had a personal conviction and a vision in terms of how relations with India should be. And that is something he had developed over two decades in governance. It will take time for Imran Khan to actually have that sort of conviction because he has not been in that position before," said Raghavan.
What has also riled India about Khan is his support to Taliban. He had criticised the killing of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Wali-ur-Rehman by US forces in 2013.
He has also been batting for Afghan Taliban to "open an office" somewhere in Pakistan. In November 2013, he described the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike as, "targeting of the peace process". Ahead of elections, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government led by his PTI gave a grant worth Rs 550 million to Madrassa Haqania of Sami-ul-Haq, which has been touted as the birthplace of Taliban.
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