Talks: on hold but not over

Late last year’s diplomatic flurry – away from prying eyes – between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that resulted in the surprise visit of the latter to Pakistan – a case of a masterly stroke of diplomacy – and the announcement by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swarj of a date for resumption of dialogue under the new brand name of ‘Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue’ was music to the ears.

A date was also announced for the first meeting of both countries’ foreign secretaries. Since it was too good to be true, sceptics had forecast that something untoward would surely happen to derail the much hyped bilateral dialogue. And as the doomsayers predicted, the Pathankot Indian Air Force Base attack happened, killing nearly a dozen. It may have been planned earlier but its timing was surely a message that some forces did not like the resumption of dialogue.

In an atmosphere vitiated by suspicion, the secretary-level talks set for January 2016 were put on hold. Despite some attempts to start a blame game, India’s leadership acted circumspectly and did not accuse Pakistan of having a hand in the attack. And rightly so. How could Pakistan be involved in terrorism when it was itself the worst victim of it, asked an Indian union minister.

Pakistan too did not act apologetically or sheepishly. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif instantly offered all help and cooperation to the Indian government. He assured India that if Pakistan were provided any proof of involvement of non-state actors from its soil, they would not be spared.

It is good to know that the two governments are in touch with each other and that when the investigations on the Indian side reach some substantive conclusion, Pakistan will send a special team to assess to what extent the miscreants had a Pakistani connection. However, Pakistan has gone a step further by putting in ‘protective custody’ Maulana Masood Azhar of the banned Jesh-e-Muhammad (JeM) since India perceives him to be the mastermind of the Mumbai carnage (Nov 26, 2008) and of having a hand in the Pathankot attack too.

Though the much hyped Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue has been delayed by one month, the silver lining is that both sides remain in touch with each other. In this context the statement of the new Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Gautam Bambawale, is very welcome. According to him, officials from both sides are in touch with each other and are trying to create the right sort of environment to provide a safe and confident start to the CBD.

The Indian high commissioner dispelled the impression that his country had attached any preconditions for beginning the CBD. Notwithstanding Pathankot, India is committed to hold the dialogue – this is the clear message from Delhi. Both the foreign secretaries and national security advisers of Pakistan and India are in contact to thrash out the modalities and timing of the first CBD.

Is the new date linked to progress made into the Pathankot investigations? The answer is certainly ‘no’ as investigators in India have yet to go a long way in determining who was involved. They have yet to find answers to some of the fundamental questions regarding the terrorists – were they home grown or did they come from across the border? If so who could possibly be their mentors in Pakistan?

Some questions have been raised in Pakistani media regarding the delay in the investigation and its failure to find substantive evidence to pinpoint the villain of the piece. To foster a genuine understanding of trust and confidence, it will have to be more convincing than putting the blame on the proverbial usual suspects.

Terrorism is a hydra-headed regional threat and the countries directly affected by it – Pakistan, India and Afghanistan – will have to free themselves from being hostage to their past distrust and come to terms with the dreadful realities to forge impregnable unity in action with the singularity of purpose based on the sure foundations of trust.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is perceived to be a game-changer in the region. All the neighbouring countries and others too will by and large benefit from it. Economic windfall for millions of people, opening up of new markets, expansive job opportunities, social welfare benefits for the greatest good of the largest number can only be possible if countries that believe in pursuing their foreign policy objectives through non-state actors bid farewell to them and take a fresh start based on mutual trust and peaceful coexistence.

The writer is the former high commissioner of Pakistan to the UK.