News
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Pakistan, India to stick with struggling peace talks
COLOMBO: The leaders of India and Pakistan have managed to avert a collapse of four years of peace talks, but analysts say the two sides are not giving necessary momentum to the troubled process. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to push on with talks despite a spike in tension between the countries. Gilani signalled his support for the peace process by agreeing to look into allegations that Pakistan’s spy service, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was behind last month’s suicide bombing of India’s embassy in Kabul. “This promise enables India to continue the dialogue,” retired Indian diplomat Kanwal Sibal said. “But it is only buying time.” Breaking off the dialogue is not an option, said CU Bhaskar, former head of India’s Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has done the appropriate thing under the circumstances. India has to engage in dialogue while holding Pakistan’s feet to the fire,” he said. “Not engaging with Pakistan removes whatever leverage we may have,” he added. afp
Courtesy DailyTimes