Pakistan’s about turn on sending ISI chief lieutenant general Ahmed Shuja Pasha to help in the investigations is more complicated than president Asif Zardari simply going back on his words.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s about turn on sending ISI chief lieutenant general Ahmed Shuja Pasha to help in the investigations is more complicated than president Asif Zardari simply going back on his words. It obviously got turned down by Pakistan’s powerful military authorities, showing up once more how the army calls the shots in pivotal issues such as this.
Indian officials are not surprised by the turn around, saying that it was evident that the ISI, which had long believed in bleeding India through help to terror outfits, would not help New Delhi. ``We never expected the ISI going along with the government,’’ an official said on the condition of anonymity.
The allegations by India and the tremendous pressure on President Zardari by the US to show Islamabad’s good faith in dealing with terrorism has landed the government in a tight spot. Public reaction to Zardari’s giving in to the Indian prime minister’s request has also drawn flak from the Pakistani press. Washington, always worried about the state of relations between the two nuclear armed neighbours wants Pakistan to show its good intent by sending the ISI chief to India. ``We don’t want the situation to escalate and come to a head when both countries possess nuclear weapons,’’ said a diplomat who did not wish to be identified.
Western diplomats in the capital are watching the fluid situation between India and Pakistan with apprehension. They realise that New Delhi is under pressure and that the people of the country are angry with the political leadership. ``We hope this does not lead to an eye to eye confrontation between India and Pakistan. This happened after the Parliament attack; we just hope wise counsel prevails and Islamabad co operates solidly in the investigations,’’ a western diplomat said.
The international heat on Islamabad has forced prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to call a special meeting to review the situation triggered by New Delhi’s allegations. French news agency AFP quoted a government official in Islamabad saying: “The special session of the cabinet will take stock of the situation arising out of the allegations by India and the change in the level of ISI participation into the probe.”
At a news conference, Quereshi dodged the question about Islamabad’s sudden change of plan on the ISI chief’s visit to India. In New Delhi on Friday he had said that Shuja Pasha, the ISI chief would arrive, but today after the about-turn he merely said, `` As and when required we will be there…the Indian government has not provided us with details yet, let the dust settle and we are ready to co operate.’’
Quereshi said, “We are a responsible nation, a responsible neighbour and we will behave responsibly.’’
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