Indo-Pak Ties Can Never Be Normal

Major terrorist strikes, at regular intervals, have pushed Indo-Pakistan ties to rock bottom.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Normally, these happen at least once in the tenure of every Pakistani army chief, largely when the incumbent feels the need to either gain greater control over civilian authority or his forces are losing respect within the nation. Nothing binds the Pakistani public more than a military threat from India.

After all, everything in Pakistan, from floods, droughts and terrorist incidents are blamed on India. They have been taught from childhood that India seeks to break their country into four and the only force protecting them is their army.

After every terrorist incident which crosses the Indian threshold of tolerance, standard comments are parroted by Pakistan. Their ministers scream it was a 'false-flag' operation launched by India or alternatively that it was local 'freedom fighters.' They perpetually deny harboring terrorists on their soil, claiming they are the most affected nation, while the world knows that almost every global terrorist incident has some link to Pakistan and that the most number of UN-designated terrorists are sheltered there. The script has become repetitive and boring.

There is always a promise of an open international probe, an offer no one believes, as even after almost two decades the Mumbai terror attacks have yet to be investigated, even though Tahawwur Rana, one of its masterminds, has been extradited to India by the US. He is said to be singing like a canary opening all secrets which Pakistan had been denying.

Pakistan will never act against terrorist leaders as they remain their prime assets. If the world is to accept Pakistan's word, then even the Pahalgam investigation would hang in limbo for decades. It has always denied the existence of Dawood Ibrahim though every global agency is aware of his multiple residences in Pakistan.

On the contrary, once threatened with retaliation, they suddenly discover proof of Indian involvement in terrorist activities on their soil.