Indo-Pak Peace Talks Futile Unless Islamabad Sheds Links with Terrorism, says Study

A Top United States of America (U.S.) think tank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace called the relations between India and Pakistan futile, unless Islamabad changes its approach and sheds its links with Jihadi terrorism.

A report "Are India and Pakistan Peace Talks Worth a Damn", authored by Ashley J Tellis stated that such a move supported by foreign countries would be counterproductive and misguided.

The report suggests that International community's call for the India and Pakistan talks don't recognize that the tension between the two countries is not actually due to the sharp differences between them, but due to the long rooted ideological, territorial and power-political hatred. The report states that these antagonisms are fueled by Pakistani army's desire to subvert India's powerful global position.

Tellis writes that Pakistan's hatred is driven by its aim to be considered and treated equal to India, despite the vast differences in their achievements and capabilities.

Also Read: Militant Groups in Pakistan Emerge as Political Parties : Can Violent Extremism and Politics Co-exist?

New Delhi, however, has kept their stance clear and mentioned that India and Pakistan talks cannot be conducted, until, the latter stops supporting terrorism, and the people conducting destructive activities in India.

The report further suggests that Pakistan sees India as a genuine threat and continuously uses Jihadi terrorism as a source to weaken India. The report extends its support to India's position and asks other international powers, including the U.S., to extend their support to New Delhi.

Earlier in September, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) slammed Pakistan for its continuous terror activities. She attacked the country by saying that India has produced engineers, doctors, and scholars; Pakistan has produced terrorists.

Sushma Swaraj further said that when India is being recognised in the world for its IT and achievements in the space, Pakistan is producing Terrorist Organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. She said that Pakistan is the world's greatest exporter of havoc, death and inhumanity.

-by Megha Acharya of NewsGram. Megha can be reached at @ImMeghaacharya.