Singh’s tough talk angers Islamabad

The Pakistan government has castigated prime minister Manmohan Singh for stating that possible terrorist attacks on India were being planned from its soil.

Most analysts here believe that Singh is playing to the gallery, to appease Indian audiences, under domestic pressure.

According to Pakistani foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit, while taking serious note of Singh’s accusations, India’s acting deputy high commissioner P Kumaran was called to the foreign office by the director general (South Asia) and told that the remark warranted serious and prompt attention of the Indian authorities, as it could simmer fresh tension between India and Pakistan.

Basit said Islamabad once again called on New Delhi to share information on terrorism, following Singh’s remarks that there was credible information about Pakistan-based terrorist groups planning new attacks. He said Pakistan would like to extend full cooperation to pre-empt any act of terror, as terrorism is a common enemy.

But independent analysts here believe that Singh’s accusations followed mounting pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition in Parliament, at a critical juncture, which can damage efforts for normalisation of relations between the two nuclear armed neighbours.

According to senior Pakistani journalist and political talk show host Syed Talat Hussain, Singh’s statement was an indirect declaration of war. He said Singh had blamed Pakistan for the Mumbai terrorist attacks, meaning India could retaliate.