Two-plus-two dialogue must be meaningful

The first edition of two-plus-two talks begins in New Delhi between India and the US. The Indian side is represented by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the US is represented by its Secretary of State Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. The talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere. Now, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in New Delhi for talks, they'll seek to bring the two countries closer than they've been since the Cold War. Their agenda for talks is believed to include key issues such as anti-terrorism, maritime security and countering China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean. There is no doubt that this two-plus-two talk will strengthen the relations between the two countries. But at the same time, it is also necessary that the agenda of talks must be discussed threadbare and all efforts must be made to find how to fight terrorism to finish in right earnest. There is a natural similarity between the US and India. The US is the oldest democracy of the world while India is the largest one. Both attach utmost importance to the freedom of individual and both are against any kind of discrimination. There is religious freedom in both the countries. There cannot be any discrimination against anyone on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Both believe in the theory of peace and progress. Both are adamant to fight terrorism to the finish. The US appears to be distancing from its blue-eyed boy Pakistan for its roguery and deep involvement in abetting, aiding, sponsoring and encouraging terrorism in the recent years. But the need of the hour for it is to cut off all relations with Pakistan. The US is advocating for cutting down financial assistance to Pakistan as its fight against terrorism is not satisfactory. But it must know clearly that the terrorism has been the instrument of state policy of Pakistan. It has not abandoned this policy since it adopted just after it came into existence. There is also no secret that Pak military is the head of all terrorists’ activities and no democratically elected government dare defy it. Whenever the democratically elected Pak govt. ignored its military’s dictation on the issue of terrorism, the coup has been staged and the govt. is thrown out of power. It has been the history of Pakistan. So, visiting Pakistan by the US secretary of state and Defence Secretary before taking part in the two-plus-two dialogue with India in New Delhi does not hold good for the relations between the two countries. The question here arises that when the US is well aware of Pak's deep involvement in promoting terror not only against India but also the entire world, why does it hesitate to take strict action against it for once and all? What was the need of the US to send its Secretary of state and Defence Secretary to pacify new Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan? Strengthening relations with India is good for peace and progress in the region, but it will be better if the US stops all financial assistance to Pakistan for its total failure on the issue of acting against its home-grown terrorism. The US must ensure by putting pressure on Pak that its soil is not used for operating terror against India. The message against terrorism must come out loud and clear of the two-plus-two dialogue between India and Pakistan.