Pak team visit opens a new era

The visit of a five-member Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to the Pathankot airbase to probe the January 2 terrorist attack marks a new kind of cooperation between the two countries. There is an element of trust and accommodation in India’s readiness to host the team. It may also show a willingness on the part of Islamabad to respond positively to New Delhi’s concerns. India-Pakistan exchanges have mostly seen mutual accusations and denials without either side trying to care for the needs and demands of the other and to act on them. Pakistan’s response after the Pathankot attack is very different from its response after the Mumbai 26/11 incident. India has done well to take it seriously and accept Islamabad’s offer in good faith. Pakistan has claimed in the past that it had no opportunity for independent verification of the evidence India has produced to prove its charges. It will not be able to do so in the case of the Pathankot attack.

There is some discomfort within the BJP, a section of the government and the armed forces over the visit of the Pak team. Opposition parties, especially the Congress and the AAP, have opposed it and sharply criticised the government’s decision. But these reservations and objections are misplaced and, in the case of the Congress, completely hypocritical. The UPA government had in the past told the Pakistan government to send its investigators to India. The argument that the security of the airbase will be compromised by the visit is ridiculous. The JIT was taken to the airbase through a special entrance and were shown only the action scene. It is also pointed out that the team had more intelligence officials than police officers. But the composition of the team is not India’s concern as its brief is specific and limited.

Political parties should adopt a more sensible and non-partisan position on issues concerning national security and foreign policy. The BJP had also opposed visits of Pakistani teams when it was in the opposition. In any case, the trend of cooperation set now with the visit of the JIT is welcome, especially if it is indicative of a realisation in Islamabad that it needs to act against terrorism even when it is directed against India. It can set a precedent also, whatever be the conclusions of the Pakistani team on the basis of its observations. The spirit of mutual accommodation and good faith seen in the visit should continue on other matters too. Talks between the two foreign secretaries and other interactions, which have been suspended, should be resumed.