Pakistan must end supporting terrorism

THE second round of the India-Pakistan composite dialogue process has concluded on a satisfactory note. The two neighbours have reached an understanding on the proposed agreement on pre-notification of flight-testing of ballistic missiles and agreed to operationalise the hotline between their Foreign Secretaries. The idea is to enhance "mutual confidence” and "transparency of intent”, and bring about strategic stability in the region. This is not a small gain keeping in view the history of the relations between the two countries and the efforts of terrorists and their masterminds to vitiate the atmosphere.

Besides the nuclear confidence-building measures, India and Pakistan have agreed to uphold the continuing ceasefire at the Line of Control, to upgrade the existing hotline between the Directors-General of Military Operations on the two sides and facilitate the quick return of those who inadvertently cross over the border. These were among the various proposals agreed to by the two sides during the expert-level talks held in an atmosphere free from rhetoric. However, it seems the Pakistanis are scared of allowing the sharing of views between think-tanks and seminarists and sports-related exchanges they showed little interest in India's proposals on these subjects.

The talks could not have been successful had India not maintained its cool despite the Ayodhya incident, the Gurez infiltration attempts and the rise in terrorist killings in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has, however, made it clear to General Pervez Musharraf that the peace process would get impaired if Pakistan fails to rein in the jihadis. By now Pakistan should have removed all traces of terrorist infrastructure had the rulers there been sensitive enough about India's concerns. Even now nothing is lost. Pakistan must launch a genuine crackdown on the Kashmir-centric jihadis for an end to the infiltration from across the border and wound up the 50-odd terrorist training camps. The jihadis are capable of causing a collapse of the whole edifice of the dialogue. They must be eliminated before they stall the peace process. Ending support to terrorism is the best CBM.