news details |
|
|
| Post-blasts scenario doesn't bode well | | Pak newspapers for continuance of peace process | | From B L KAK
NEW DELHI: India cannot be faulted for running fast and furious following the July 11 bomb blasts in Srinagar and Mumbai. Again, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre cannot be blamed for taking strong exception to the 'provocative' comments by Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, son after the July 11 bombings.
Kasuri warned against automatically pointing the finger in his cousntry's direction, following media reports that linked the bombing to Kashmiri extremists based in Pakistan. But the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that it was "appaling" that Kasuri had linked the decades-old dispute over the divided region of Kashmir to the Mumbai atacks.
Kasuri's unwanted comments came at a time when his hosts in Washington had, in strongest words, condemned the bomb attacks on innocent people in Kashmir and Maharashtra. Again, the US administration has not, happily for India, challenged India's oft-repeated statements vis-a-vis the existence of terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Pakistani newspapers, on the other hand, deserve appreciation for the stand they have taken in support of India-Pakistan peace process. Pakistani papers said on Thursday (July 13) that India should avoid “knee-jerk” reactions to the Mumbai train blasts if the South Asian peace process is to remain intact. “What is important... is to avoid knee-jerk reactions. The temptation to blame some Pakistan-based Islamist groups is strong. But that is exactly the kind of judgement that needs to be held in abeyance,” the Daily Times said.
After the July 11 bombings in the Indian financial hub, which killed 200 people, India and Pakistan have traded barbs over Islamabad’s actions against Islamic militants.
The Nation said in an editorial: “The scenario does not bode well for Indo-Pakistan relations and there might be tension ahead between the two countries....One hopes these fears are unfounded, India avoids making baseless allegations against Pakistan and looks at the situation dispassionately.”
Many Pak newspapers highlighted a distinction between the more measured approach of the Indian government and the “hawkish” tone they said was adopted by the Indian media and security agencies. “What is commendable is that the Indian Prime Minister and his government have displayed an admirable measure of calm and restraint in the face of mayhem and panic,” said Dawn, Pakistan’s oldest English-language daily.
It opined: “It is time the two governments realised that terrorism is a common enemy they face and their success in fighting it depends on their joining hands in sharing intelligence and information on problems and persons involved in terrorism.”
The News expressed regret that “large sections of the Indian media tend to be more hawkish” than the Prime Minister’s Office “and are often quick to see Pakistan behind everything horrible that happens in India". “This does not help, not least because an investigation into Mumbai’s blasts is underway, and especially when a peace dialogue is underway between the two countries", the publication said.
===============
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
