New Delhi - The blasts on the peace train between India and
Pakistan, the first-ever terrorist attack that targeted citizens of
both countries, may well provide an impetus to the neighbours' plan
of countering terrorism together.
At least 67 passengers, mostly Pakistani nationals, were killed
when two crude bombs exploded in the Samjhauta Express near the
northern Indian city of Panipat early on Monday.
Also known as the peace train, the Samjhauta Express that
links the Indian capital of New Delhi with the Pakistani city of
Lahore, was resumed in 2004 as part of the peace dialogue between the
South Asian neighbours.
Security analysts said that though terrorists may have aimed at
provoking communal tensions on both sides of the border, the
explosions would instead prove a catalyst to a joint anti-terrorism
mechanism mooted in September last year.
India and Pakistan had agreed to launch the panel to combat
terrorism and prevent attacks in each other's countries, in the wake
of the July 2006 blasts on trains in India's Mumbai city that claimed
more than 180 lives.
The attack has clearly pushed terrorism high on the agenda of the
upcoming talks between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers in
New Delhi.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said terrorism
and the Panipat blasts would feature in the discussions with his
Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.
In an interview with the NDTV news network, Kasuri said both
countries 'should deny the terrorists any opportunity' and carry
forward the peace process with greater 'sincerity, purpose and
direction.'
'The anti-terrorism panel will first get its act together during
the talks between the foreign ministers,' an Indian foreign ministry
official said on condition of anonymity.
'It would provide the framework for both Indian and Pakistani
officials who are to consider counter-terrorism measures,' he added.
Retired Commodore Uday C Bhaskar, former director of India's
premier think-tank, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA),
said both countries were still negotiating on formulating an
'effective' anti-terrorism mechanism.
'Panipat has provided that urgency and terrorism would surely be
on the agenda for talks. There is a need to evolve a consensual
approach of countering terror that is acceptable to both sides,'
Bhaskar said.
As the news of the attack started pouring in, Indian and Pakistani
leaders said both countries were united in grief - as well as the
fight against terrorism.
'Terrorism is a scourge we all will fight collectively ... This
incident will not hamper the peace process going on between the two
countries,' Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told TV channels.
Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have a history of hostile
relations since they achieved independence from British rule in 1947
and have gone to war three times, twice over the disputed Himalayan
region of Kashmir.
In the past, India has blamed the Pakistani establishment of
sponsoring cross-border terrorism and supporting Muslim militant
groups who carry out deadly bombings and attacks on Indian soil.
The two countries started peace talks in February 2004 to deal
with eight issues, including the dispute over Kashmir that has been
bedevilling bilateral ties.
Though the dialogue had not made any headway on key issues of
cross-border terrorism or Kashmir, analysts said the peace process
had led to a perceptible improvement of ties between the neighbours.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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