Indian ambivalence towards Pakistan
By Sajjad Shaukat | Published: July 21, 2008- Digg
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It is because of Indian ambivalent approach towards Pakistan that no major breakthrough occurred in the settlement of main issues between the two neighbouring countries despite periodic meetings of the composite dialogue.
For example, before the fourth round of talks held in May 21 this year, it was indicated by the political experts that Islamabad and New Delhi had come very close to each other and could resolve the disputes of Siachen and Sir Creek, but these were left for further consideration in the fifth round. It is due to India intransigence that instead of settling some major disputes, especially of Kashmir which is the main obstacle in the normalisation of relations between the two nuclear rivals who have already fought four wars on this thorny question, even New Delhi either violates or do not implement the minor issues as agreed upon by the two states.
Self-contradiction in Indian policy can be judged from the fact that in the fourth round of composite dialogue, Pakistan and India signed an agreement, granting consular access to the prisoners in each other’s jail and pledged improvement in their condition to further stabilise the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). But it is regrettable that Indian consular officials, sitting in Islamabad paid no attention to one of their spies, Kashmir Singh who had been imprisoned in Pakistan for more than 30 years. However, by taking one step in addition, the government of Pakistan released the Indian spy on humanitarian grounds including more than 100 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture.
While on the other side, maltreatment of prisoners and even killing them in custody by Indian military agencies have become a routine matter. In the recent past, Pakistan received the dead bodies of about 8 prisoners from India, who had committed minor offences such as smuggling, crossing the border mistakenly, over-staying their visa etc.
For instance, on June 13 this year by handing over the dead bodies of two more Pakistani nationals namely Rashida Bibi and Abdul Aleem who died in Indian jails due to physical torture displayed Indian sinister designs.




