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Journalism of Courage
Echoing the chorus in Washington in the wake of Osama bin Ladens killing,outgoing US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer today underlined the need to ask Islamabad tough questions. And called for more concerted action by Pakistan on the 26/11 trials and the Lashkar network.
Meanwhile,senior government officials in New Delhi tried to temper the atmosphere by ruling out any US-style operation and,instead,stressed that India will continue to engage with Pakistan.
After meeting Home Minister P Chidambaram,Roemer said: They (terrorists) killed scores of Indians (in 26/11 attacks),they killed six Americans. It (Pakistan) must do more and make sure that people like (LeT operative Zaki-ur- Rehman) Lakhvi stay in prison. It must do more in terms of its overall approach to (terrorist) groups not only like al-Qaeda,but also LeT as a terrorist group with more regional and international reach.
Earlier in the day,the US envoy said,Are they doing enough on LeT? Are they doing enough on Mumbai trials? Are they doing enough on Hafiz Saeed and (Zaki-ur-Rehman) Lakhvi? No,they need to do more. This is a concern. Congress will ask tough questions and we want to get to the bottom of it. How do we more effectively use that aid to make sure that Pakistan is helping us not only degrade al Qaeda but go after groups like LeT.
Asked about the possibility of a US-style operation,a senior government official said that foreign policy is not about fulfilment of wishes.
It has to deal with the realities… We are not being helpless. There is a reasonable,sober way of dealing with the neighbour, the official said. And added that Pakistan is a hard country, not a pushover, a fact which Washington knows and that India has a very,very difficult relationship with Pakistan.
Admitting that US has created a precedent,sources said getting Pakistan down on its knees is not good for India. It is easy to be hawkish on Pakistan but then what? sources asked.
Government sources said that there will be no change in the timetable or tenor of dialogue with Pakistan. Talks will continue,there is need to normalise relations…best way is to engage with them. India-Pakistan relations are complicated,conflicted,contentious,but we have to create a way forward. We need a sustained dialogue,an official said.
There are serious concerns that Pakistan faces in dealing with the monster that they created but we need to talk to them about terror directed towards India, the official said. Eyebrows are being raised at Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashirs statement that the demand for justice for 26/11 was outdated. I dont think it was a serious statement, said an official.
