Pakistani media has claimed, without much evidence, that New Delhi is looking to resume talks with Islamabad — which likely reflects the Imran Khan government’s desire for such talks. India refuted the claim on Thursday, calling it fake news and reiterating that for resumption of dialogue, Pakistan must take verifiable and irreversible actions against terrorism.
The government’s stand is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s refusal to use Pakistani air space to travel to Kyrgyzstan and engage with Prime Minister Imran Khan at the just concluded SCO summit. Pakistan’s ally China has been cautious in extending support to Pakistan on cross-border terrorism, since it has its own interests to protect. The FATF’s decision to keep Pakistan in the gray list due to its failure to curb terror funding, combined with a plethora of conditions it is to meet for availing an IMF bailout for its balance of payments crisis, have put Islamabad in a spot.
Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan has officially empowered the military by involving army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in civil administration affairs. The Pakistani military considers maintaining the terror infrastructure against India a strategic policy necessary for Pakistan’s existence. There are no verifiable and credible signs yet that the Pakistan army is reviewing this position, let alone making a strategic shift. Till such time that such a review happens, New Delhi can send feelers and conduct back channel conversations, particularly with the powerful Pakistan army, but should not accede to formal talks.
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