India balks at US double-talk

Cross-border terrorism will crop up prominently during Mishra’s visit besides the overall review of the growing India-US ties. During this ‘‘important’’ visit, Mishra will hold talks with his counterpart Condolezza Rice, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and several other top US officials.

India’s decision to rebuff the US this time was prompted by Washington’s incorrigible tendency to wrap condemnations of violence in Kashmir with a suggestion to start dialogue with Islamabad. The CCS, in fact, noted that this practice was followed even when the US regretted the Ragunath temple attack on 25 November, 2002. Despite clear-cut involvement of Pakistani jehadi groups, the US had simply condemned the killing without mentioning Islamabad’s role.

While condemning the ‘‘murder’’ of ‘‘innocent civilians’’ at Nadimarg, US Department of State spokesperson Richard Boucher overlooked India’s concerns on Pakistan and went on to observe that dialogue between the two countries remained the ‘‘critical element’’ of ‘‘normalising relations’’.

India too has reacted sharply. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna said it was improper to suggest that while military action is justified to weed out terrorism from some places, it is inapplicable in other places.

‘‘The global war against terrorism can only be won when it is pursued without double standards and terrorism is eradicated wherever it exists, without being influenced by short-term political and other considerations,’’ he said.

According to South Block officials, the threat of terrorism ought to be countered in a uniform and principled manner by the international community. As Sarna said: ‘‘The combat against international terrorism is ill-served if threats in some cases are met with military means and in others with calls for restraint and dialogue.’’

Curiously, Government sources said, a call for dialogue with Pakistan was never made in the telephonic conversations that US Secretary of State Colin Powell had with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha after the Nadimarg killings. In fact, he assured reining in pressure on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism.

As these exchanges are being made, attempts to strengthen long-term Indo-US relations are also on. After Mishra’s visit to the US — which underlines this — Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is also slated to go to Washington in June. However, as of now, New Delhi is focussing on conveying its annoyance over the US assertions on the Nadimarg massacre.