Not going into much of the history, but it is a well known fact that before 9/11 terrorists enjoyed state patronage in Pakistan and termed as Mujahadeen or Jihadis. There were terrorist training camps in which regular Pakistani army staff provided training and also other logistic helps which were required for carrying out attacks. The nexus developed so intimate that even the army allowed its personnel to join the terrorist organizations and to help them in several operations. Many time staffs of Pakistani regular army were arrested in Kashmir and during the Kargil conflict militants and army coordinated, planned and executed the attacks jointly. Thus, this long time relation based on religious-ideological attachment helped the militants to get sympathisers in Pakistani army and they are the one who still support the cause of terrorists in what they term as ‘good Taliban’ and ‘bad Taliban’.

One recent report made public by London School of Economics state that Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI is still backing Taliban in Afghanistan and providing them all supports from financial, training to logistic. According to the report one of the Talibani commander said that the powerful role of the ISI in Taliban is ‘as clear as sun in the sky’. Ahmad Rashid, in one of his article published in Washington post on 27th April 2010 present this blatant truth that, ‘Taliban leaders and their families lived in Pakistan and are in close touch with the military and ISI. Some Taliban allies such as the network led by Jalaluddin Haqqani, are even closer to ISI. Although, the military is finally hunting down the Pakistani Taliban in Northwest tribal areas, the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani extremists in Punjab province are been left alone’. It is also been established that Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked in 2008 and 2009 on the behest of ISI since it was not happy with the role of India in Afghanistan. On these reports and experts views one can easily draw inference that Pakistani army and ISI are hobnobbing with militants and have certain policy towards them. From time to time in the short run they use the apparatus of militants for their objectives and in the long run they definitely have a plan to employ them to consolidate position in Afghanistan to keep them for India.

Being a nuclear power Pakistan army is well aware that full -fledged war is ruled out and here it is in the position to trade off with other countries. They are using same strategy with Americans, and are successful in extracting benefits from Washington. Growing attack on people with liberal and divergent religious views is an effort to minimize and in the process neutralizes the voice of dissents within the Pakistani society. Pakistan is heading towards a dangerous future where it will definitely become a headache for South Asia, if not for the world. The most disturbing part it that even our government and bureaucracy are not willing to look beyond a set paradigm and to rethink on its position vis a vis Pakistan. The need of the hour is to strengthen on all cost the peace constituency in Pakistan and to promote people-to people relations. India should go all out to win maximum hearts and opinions in Pakistan who are willing to support peace between the two countries. This is relevant because in the present circumstances with Kerry- Lugar bill (which is explicit on the role of civilian government in the appointment and promotion in the military) and amendments in the Pakistani constitution there is a hope that democracy will survive in Pakistan. It will not be easy for a democratic elected government to ignore the people’s assertions and aspirations. The old text book style diplomatic dealing with Pakistan invites trouble for India in long run and will alienate those who in Pakistan speak for friendly relations.

It is good that India and Pakistan have restarted the peace talks without setting any conditions and guidelines. This is a welcome step but it is also relevant that peace talk should continue even in case of terrorist attacks. Last time Mumbai attacks had derailed the entire peace process and it took more than a year before New Delhi and Islamabad came face to face in a parley. In the present circumstance media also have an important role to play, and it should desist from making unnecessary hue and cry over Pakistan. The situation is grim and media need cautious presentation without indulging in rhetoric and subsequently getting into war-mongering. We have to distinguish between democratically elected government, civil society, Pakistani army and ISI. The myopic view will leads to wrong conclusions and at this juncture any ambiguous viewpoint will prove costly in long run.