By Siddhartha Kumar Feb 19, 2007, 17:39 GMT
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.
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)