The arrival of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the Indian soil signals a significant paradigm shift in the present government's perception towards Pakistan sponsored cross-border terrorism in India. The Indian establishment and people hitherto believed that terrorism is a defined state policy of Pakistan with regards to its management of bilateral relations with India.
The Indian strategic think tank has consistently highlighted the undeniable role of Pakistani state in cultivating, harboring and directing the terrorist activities in India. The Pakistani averments of the involvement of ‘non-state’ actors in the scheme of terrorist attacks in India have never been acceptable to India. Now the present government is buying this argument and have somewhat absolved the Pakistani government’s role in terrorist attacks in India.
It also seems to have agreed that terrorism is no longer a state policy and instrument of diplomacy for Pakistan. The presence of JIT in India underlines this monumental shift in our foreign policy vis-a-vis Pakistan.
The roots of the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) lies in 1997 SAARC Summit wherein the then Indian Prime Minister IK Gujral and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif had agreed to begin talks on eight different issues. The CDP survived till the 26/11 Mumbai attack of 2008. Thereafter all parties in India opposed any resumption of CDP with Pakistan till it brings all those involved in that heinous crime to justice.
India provided all necessary evidences for the prosecution. But so far no concrete step appears to have been taken against those guilty of 26/11 and they are freely roaming around in Pakistan. The scenario post 26/11 has not changed in India as far as Pakistan sponsored cross border terrorism is concerned.
What has changed is the Modi’s government approach to the foreign relations and a misplaced notion of being a world leader and statesman adventing on the world at this time of the history. The difference between UPA and the present Modi government’ approach is that the UPA regime more or less went along with the collective conscience of people of India whereas Modi is more oriented towards individualistic urge of building legacy and earning a place in history.
The last two years had witness many flip-flops in India’s relation with Pakistan. The present government seems to be clueless how to engage Pakistan. Sometimes the talks are cancelled on a small pretext and then we see Indian Prime Minister para dropping to Lahore, NSAs of both the countries meeting in Bangkok and the resumption of Foreign Secretary level talks without any tangible reason. The security analysts in India are perplexed as to how a failed CDP can reinvent itself comprehensive dialogue. The shift from eight point composite dialogue process (CDP) to 10-point comprehensive bilateral dialogue (CBD) is a result of mercurial nature of current foreign policy.
The Pathankot attacks were claimed to have been carried out by so called United Jihad Council which is headed by Syed Salahuddin. These groups are based in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and coordinate their terrorist activities on both sides of LoC.
However, the Indian establishment believe that United Jihadi Council alone cannot carry out any such attack without active support from Jaish-e-Mohammed headed by Maulana Masood Azhar who is in the protection of ISI since his release in exchange of IC-814 passengers in 1999. The ISI had escorted Masood Azhar from Kandhar to Pakistan and brought out of a victory march.
The irony of this investigation of Pathankot attacks by JIT that consists of Lt Col Tanvir Ahmad who is serving with ISI, is that an accused is investigating his own case thus making a mockery of law of natural justice. In any case, there is no legal basis for this investigation.
In the absence of a Letter Rogatory (LR) from Pakistan for gathering evidence in Indian for its Pathankot probe, any lead gathered during the JIT’s visit to the Pathankot airbase would have no legal value. A Letter Rogatory is a format request from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance.
JIT investigation is more symbolic and meant to play to the international galleries. Pakistan is in process of acquiring a new fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft from USA and, therefore, needs to convey to USA and the world that it is taking ‘concrete steps’ to eradicate terrorism from its soil. The farce of this JIT investigation of Pathankot attack is a case in point.
In 2015, Pakistan started military operation (Jarb-e-Ajab) against Tehrik-e-Taliban, post the killing of 132 school children in Peshawar but has a different and sympathetic, supportive approach to Kashmiri terror groups and its mentor Masood Azhar. The double standard of Pakistani state policy towards terrorism is no secret.
However, the present Modi government has chosen to overlook this and allowed the perpetrators of terrorism themselves to investigate the terror attacks. It is almost like USA calling the relatives Osama Bin Laden to investigate 9/11. Whichever way we look at this development, it is a zero sum game that only reflects the our national resolve to fight terrorism in a poor light.
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