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The article delves into the reasons behind India's rejection of Pakistan's offer for a joint or neutral investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack. The core argument hinges on India's lack of trust in Pakistan's sincerity and diligence in pursuing such investigations, citing past experiences, particularly the Pathankot airbase attack in 2016 and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, as prime examples of Pakistan's unreliability. The article begins by highlighting the diplomatic tensions following the Pahalgam attack, where terrorists targeted a tourist destination in Kashmir, resulting in casualties. India swiftly accused Pakistani nationals of involvement, leading to heightened security measures and the closure of the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan, in response, denied involvement and proposed an independent and neutral probe. However, India, citing past experiences, has been hesitant to accept this offer. The primary reason for India's reluctance is Pakistan's track record of backtracking on promises and failing to conduct thorough and impartial investigations when given the opportunity. The Pathankot attack serves as a crucial case study. Following the attack on the Indian Air Force base, Pakistan, under pressure, agreed to a joint investigation. A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan visited India, collaborating with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to collect evidence and record statements. However, after the JIT returned to Pakistan, the investigation stalled. India's requests for an NIA team to visit Pakistan for further investigation were met with delays and ambiguous responses. Moreover, Pakistani media outlets began reporting that the JIT believed the Pathankot attack was 'staged,' casting doubt on Pakistan's commitment to uncovering the truth. This shift in stance, coupled with the denial of access to the NIA team, fueled suspicions that the Pakistani government was either complicit in or supportive of the terrorists involved. An investigative report by Pakistani journalist Ahmad Noorani further substantiated India's concerns. Noorani's report, citing sources from Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau (IB), confirmed that the Pathankot attackers had indeed entered India from Pakistan. This revelation underscored the Pakistani government's knowledge of the attackers' origin, raising questions about its commitment to transparency and cooperation. The article also references the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where India shared extensive evidence with Pakistan, leading to the arrest and booking of several suspects. However, the cases dragged on, with key figures like Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi eventually being granted bail and released. The assassination of FIA prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfikar Ali, who was handling the case, further exemplifies the obstacles in achieving justice and accountability. The article emphasizes that despite India's cooperation and provision of substantial evidence, Pakistan has failed to convict a single terrorist in the 26/11 attack case. This lack of progress, coupled with the Pathankot experience, has solidified India's distrust in Pakistan's ability or willingness to conduct impartial investigations. Pakistan's persistent calls for a 'neutral and independent probe' are viewed with skepticism, given its history of obfuscation and lack of accountability. The article also mentions the Pakistani administration's attempts to involve international actors, such as China, in supporting their demand for an independent investigation. This lobbying effort is seen as a way to exert pressure on India and deflect blame, rather than a genuine commitment to seeking the truth. The author raises the fundamental question of why India should trust Pakistan's offer, considering its track record. The repeated failures of past joint investigations have created a deep-seated sense of mistrust, making it difficult for India to engage in any further cooperative efforts. India's stance is rooted in the belief that Pakistan has not taken concrete steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure within its borders or to prosecute those responsible for past attacks. Without tangible evidence of Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring accountability, India remains reluctant to participate in any joint investigation. The Pahalgam attack, therefore, serves as another reminder of the complex and fraught relationship between India and Pakistan, characterized by mutual distrust and conflicting narratives. The article concludes by asserting that until Pakistan demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing terrorism and holding perpetrators accountable, India will likely remain skeptical of its calls for joint investigations.
The historical context provided in the article is crucial to understanding India's current stance. The Pathankot attack, in particular, stands out as a pivotal moment that eroded any remaining trust between the two countries regarding counter-terrorism efforts. The initial cooperation from Pakistan in allowing the JIT to visit India seemed promising. However, the subsequent backtracking and denial of access to Indian investigators revealed a deeper agenda. The Pakistani media's narrative, suggesting that the attack was staged, further fueled suspicions and indicated a deliberate attempt to undermine the investigation. The fact that a respected Pakistani journalist, Ahmad Noorani, was able to uncover and report on the truth, despite potential risks, highlights the existence of dissenting voices within Pakistan who are committed to transparency and accountability. However, these voices appear to be overshadowed by powerful elements within the state apparatus that are either complicit in or supportive of terrorism. The Mumbai attacks also serve as a stark reminder of Pakistan's failure to bring the perpetrators to justice. Despite overwhelming evidence provided by India, the masterminds behind the attack remain at large, and the legal proceedings have been marred by delays and obstruction. The release of key figures like Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi on bail underscores the lack of political will to effectively prosecute those involved in terrorism. The assassination of the prosecutor handling the case further exemplifies the dangers and challenges faced by those seeking justice in Pakistan. The article also touches upon the broader geopolitical context, highlighting Pakistan's attempts to garner international support for its position. The involvement of countries like China in advocating for an independent investigation is seen as a strategic move by Pakistan to exert pressure on India and deflect attention from its own shortcomings in addressing terrorism. India's rejection of Pakistan's offer is not simply a matter of distrust; it is also a reflection of its frustration with the international community's failure to hold Pakistan accountable for its role in supporting terrorism. The article suggests that India believes that engaging in another joint investigation without any guarantee of Pakistan's sincerity would be futile and potentially counterproductive. It could also be interpreted as a sign of weakness and could embolden terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil. The author also subtly implies that the international community should exert more pressure on Pakistan to take concrete steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prosecute those responsible for past attacks. Without such pressure, Pakistan is unlikely to change its behavior, and the cycle of distrust and conflict between the two countries will continue. The article also raises questions about the effectiveness of international mechanisms for counter-terrorism and the challenges in holding states accountable for their actions. The lack of a robust enforcement mechanism allows countries like Pakistan to evade responsibility and continue to support terrorism with impunity. The article concludes that India's skepticism is justified and that it is unlikely to accept Pakistan's offer for a joint investigation without tangible evidence of a genuine commitment to combating terrorism. The future of India-Pakistan relations remains uncertain, but the article suggests that a lasting peace can only be achieved if Pakistan takes concrete steps to address the root causes of terrorism and demonstrates a willingness to cooperate in a transparent and accountable manner.
Furthermore, the article subtly critiques the international community's role in addressing cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. While acknowledging the international pressure exerted on Pakistan following events like the Mumbai attacks, it highlights the inadequacy of the responses in achieving lasting accountability. The repeated instances of suspects being arrested, only to be released or have their cases languish in the legal system, point to a deeper systemic problem within Pakistan's governance and judicial structures. The article implies that stronger, more sustained international pressure is necessary to compel Pakistan to genuinely dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prosecute those responsible for acts of terrorism. The author's choice of language throughout the article reinforces the narrative of Pakistan as an untrustworthy actor. Phrases like 'backtracking on promises,' 'shifting its stance,' and 'obfuscation' paint a picture of a country that is deliberately avoiding accountability. This framing is likely intended to resonate with an Indian audience, who are already predisposed to view Pakistan with suspicion. The article also implicitly criticizes Pakistan's attempt to internationalize the issue by seeking the support of countries like China. This is portrayed as a strategic maneuver to deflect attention from Pakistan's own shortcomings and exert pressure on India. The author suggests that India should resist these attempts and maintain its focus on bilateral engagement, but only under conditions of genuine transparency and accountability. The article also touches upon the role of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing the narrative surrounding terrorism. The Pakistani media's initial reports suggesting that the Pathankot attack was 'staged' are presented as evidence of a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine the investigation. The author contrasts this with the work of investigative journalists like Ahmad Noorani, who are willing to risk their personal safety to uncover the truth. The article's overall tone is one of cautious skepticism. While acknowledging the need for dialogue and engagement between India and Pakistan, it emphasizes that any future cooperation must be based on a foundation of trust and accountability. The author suggests that India should adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach, closely monitoring Pakistan's actions and demanding concrete evidence of its commitment to combating terrorism before agreeing to any further joint investigations. In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors underlying India's rejection of Pakistan's offer for a joint investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack. It highlights the historical context of failed joint investigations, the lack of accountability for past acts of terrorism, and the systemic issues within Pakistan that contribute to the problem. The article also subtly critiques the international community's role in addressing cross-border terrorism and emphasizes the need for stronger, more sustained pressure on Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prosecute those responsible for acts of terrorism. The author's overall message is one of cautious skepticism, suggesting that India should adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach and demand concrete evidence of Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism before engaging in any further joint investigations. The article serves as a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about India-Pakistan relations and the challenges of addressing cross-border terrorism in the region.
Looking further into the nuances of the piece, one can observe a calculated framing designed to resonate with a specific audience, presumably one familiar with the complexities and historical baggage of the India-Pakistan relationship. The emphasis on past failures, particularly the Pathankot debacle, serves as a potent reminder of the perceived duplicity and lack of genuine commitment from Pakistan when it comes to addressing terrorism emanating from its soil. The detailed recounting of the Pathankot investigation, including the initial cooperation followed by the abrupt shift in narrative and the denial of access to Indian investigators, paints a vivid picture of a process deliberately undermined. This narrative is further reinforced by the reference to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, where despite overwhelming evidence, justice has remained elusive, and key figures have been allowed to roam free. The article's strategic use of language also contributes to this framing. Phrases like "backtracking on promises," "shifting its stance," and "obfuscation" create a consistent image of Pakistan as an untrustworthy actor, further solidifying the rationale behind India's skepticism. The subtle critique of the international community's response to cross-border terrorism is also noteworthy. While acknowledging the pressure exerted on Pakistan after major attacks, the article suggests that these responses have been insufficient to bring about lasting change. The repeated instances of arrests followed by releases or stalled legal proceedings highlight a systemic problem that requires a more concerted and sustained international effort. Furthermore, the article subtly questions Pakistan's motives in seeking international support for an independent investigation. By portraying this as a strategic maneuver to deflect attention and exert pressure on India, the article reinforces the notion that Pakistan's primary goal is not to seek the truth but to manage its image and deflect blame. The reference to investigative journalists like Ahmad Noorani, who risk their personal safety to uncover the truth, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. While highlighting the existence of dissenting voices within Pakistan, it also underscores the challenges and dangers faced by those who dare to challenge the established narrative. Overall, the article presents a carefully constructed argument that is designed to justify India's distrust of Pakistan and to highlight the need for a more cautious and conditional approach to future engagement. While acknowledging the importance of dialogue and cooperation, it emphasizes that these must be based on a foundation of trust and accountability, which is currently lacking in the India-Pakistan relationship. The article serves as a reminder of the deep-seated challenges that continue to plague relations between the two countries and the need for a more comprehensive and sustained effort to address the root causes of conflict and mistrust. The article could be criticized for its one-sided presentation of the issue, failing to adequately address Pakistan's perspective or the challenges it faces in combating terrorism. However, within its chosen framework, it provides a valuable and insightful analysis of the factors underlying India's current stance and the complexities of the India-Pakistan relationship. It underscores the importance of historical context, the role of trust and accountability, and the need for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to addressing cross-border terrorism in the region.
Source: Pathankot to Pahalgam: Why India doesn't even consider Pakistan's 'neutral' probe offer