Pak must address to the issue of terrorism first

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to the 13th century Dargah of sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer is expected to kick start a process of dialogue and peace between India and Pakistan that could address the issue of terrorism by the latter. Zardari has also invited Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan. Mr. Singh has reciprocated his invitation by expressing satisfaction with the talks that took place between the two. PM has also promised him of visiting Pakistan at a convenient date. The bone of contention between the two neighbours is the issue of terrorism that is sponsored by Pakistan against India. Once Pakistan stopped sponsoring terrorism against India, no hurdles would come in the peace process. By signalling a positive outcome, PM Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prez Asif Ali Zardari have said that the two countries are willing to find practical, pragmatic solutions to a number of issues affecting the bilateral relationship. There are a number bilateral issues between the two neighbours that would be solved through due process of talks. But the most important issue of terrorism requires urgent attention and action against it by Pakistan. Both Singh and Zardari have given press statements where they have expressed satisfaction over their deliberations. But it is nothing new. Whenever the high level talks between India and Pakistan take place, the same satisfaction is expressed at the press meet. But no concrete result about peace and friendship has come out yet. Pakistan has never acted against terrorism and always goes back on its promise. It is good that political leadership should show interest in carrying forward the dialogue. But the irony is that political leadership of Pakistan is so weak and fragile that it can’t come out of its military dragnet, which nurtures and harbours terror Monster like Hafiz Saeed and controls notorious and mischievous ISI. Pakistani political leadership will have to show guts to establish its supremacy on all issues regarding India. The most wanted terrorist that India is demanding of Pakistan to handover is Mumbai mastermind and Pak-based JuD boss Hafiz Saeed, who is spitting venom against India and propagating to disintegrate it is moving freely. No political leadership can muster courage to rein in Hafiz Saeed. He is the mastermind of Mumbai terror that killed more than 169 and injured thousands in 2008. Linking the progress in bilateral ties to Pakistan taking action against Hafiz Saeed and others responsible for Mumbai terror attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rightly told President Asif Ali Zardari that this was important for normalisation of relations between the two neighbours. He has rightly brought up the issue of terrorism affront and activities of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, on whom the US announced a USD 10 million bounty. Talks between the two neighbours must go on but Pakistan has to act to address the issue of terrorism..