Thorny trouble

The unfortunate statement by the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a function in New Delhi two days ago that terrorists needed to be used to ‘neutralise terrorists’ has immediately stirred up a hornet’s nest. Pakistan’s reaction – for reasons that are easy to understand – has been angry, with the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz responding with immediate concern and stating that the comments simply gave weight to Pakistan’s apprehensions that India was involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan. There have recently been a spate of statements from senior civilian and military officials accusing RAW of involvement in various attacks in Pakistan, and Parrikar’s comments certainly back these assertions. They must count as some of the most unusual and unexpected comments coming from a senior official from any government. Responding to his counterparts comments, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has echoed Aziz’s statement about India essentially making a blatant admission of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. This is certainly what the remarks seem to suggest. They have not as yet been denied by New Delhi nor has there been any attempt made to explain them. Essentially the Indian minister said that in order to prevent another attack similar to the 2008 siege of Mumbai it is better to use terrorists rather than sacrifice Indian soldiers.
The statement is highly provocative. There seems to be no other way to interpret it than the meaning Pakistan has taken from it. The development comes at a time when relations between New Delhi and Islamabad are already strained. There has in recent months been an exchange of various hostile statements. Vague talk of cricket diplomacy by the Indian prime minister cannot fully cover up the damage done. The intentions of what Parrikar has said are very clear. The implications of having a hard-line government in power in India had been discussed for many months internationally. These implications have now become clearer still and show how difficult it will be to put right all that has gone wrong in terms of ties between the two neighbours. The hope for peace is now sweeter than it has been for years; and it is quite obvious that the bilateral talk process is not likely to be resumed any time soon. The direction in which things turn will be watched very closely by the world over the coming weeks.