<div>The recent capture of a Pakistani terrorist following the ambush on a BSF convoy in Udhampur, close on the heels of the attack in Panjab's Gurdaspur, has thrown spotlight on the foreign policy of the Narendra Modi led BJP government vis-a-vis Pakistan. Is the Narendra Modi government any different from the Manmohan Singh or other past governments when it comes to responding to Pakistan’s constant provocations? This is the question that many commentators on media and social media are raising. All along, India has said Pakistan should not test our patience and we reserve the right to respond at a place and time of our choosing. Opposition Congress party has charged the NDA government with being "soft" on terror and reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his assertion as an opposition leader that talks should not be held with Islamabad in the shadow of gunshots.</div><div> </div><div>The capture of the terrorist Usman alias Naved Khan, nicknamed #SecondKasab by Indian TV channels is a blazing evidence of the fact that Pakistan is continuing to aid, abet and sponsor terror in India. The GPS recovered from the three Pakistani terrorists killed in Gurdaspur offensive indicates the terrorists started from Shakargarh in Pakistan, crossed the Ravi river, in spate and went to the national highway before branching off towards Gurdaspur.</div><div> </div><div>Just as in the case of terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, Pakistan has refused to accept Usman alias Naved Khan is Pakistani or from a village in Faislabad not far from the Professor of terror Hafiz Mohammed Saeed’s headquarters in Murdke. </div><div> </div><div>But is Modi wrong in not going hammer and tong at Pakistan and return fire with fire, calling off diplomatic endeavours? Keeping emotions aside, real politik supports Modi's stand. Here's why</div><div> </div><div>Pakistan is the only country where both army and the fundamentalists have a greater say than the civilian government in defence and foreign affairs. Prime Minister,Nawaz Sharif during his election campaign as well as after assuming the office had said that he wanted good relations with India. Modi has decided to support Pakistan's civilian government and invited Nawaz Sharif in his oath taking ceremony. Despite protests inside his country, Nawaz decided to attend the oath ceremony. Following this, a situation was created so that secretary level talks can resume. To sabotage this talk, Pakistan's Ambassador in India invited Kashmiri separatists during Pakistan Day celebrations.<br><br>Again during SAARC summit in Kathmandu, it was the Prime Minister of Nepal who made both Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers show some friendliness in front of media for the sake of SAARC.<br><br>On the sidelines of BRICS meeting, premiers of China and Russia coordinated with Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers to end the deadlock before giving them SCO's (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) full membership. Their joint joint statement bears Narendra Modi's stamp. No mention of Kashmir, clear focus on terrorism including 26/11 is a great development.</div><div> </div><div>Talks are to be started first at DGMO level followed by NSA level. That means to start secretary level talks (which is always a first step towards restoring dialogue process) depends upon many conditions including outcome of NSA level talks. Narendra Modi knows that Pakistani Army as well as fundamentalists will never take that joint statement easily. They will try to sabotage this process. This happened exactly with increase in ceasefire violation, terror attack in Jammu and finally the Gurdaspur terror attack. Thus there is a dichotomy in Pakistan's policy vis-a-vis India - while the civilian government seeks peaceful relationship, a faction of Army including the dreaded ISI and fundamentalists focus on war with India. </div><div> </div><div>Recent developments in Pakistan has also seen ISI and fundamentalist machinations alienating their old prop the Army. The terrorist factions have become like Frankenstein's monsters and army has had to battle their one-time allies as well. Perhaps this has allowed the Nawaz Sharif government to continue as long as it has.</div><div> </div><div>Both India and Pakistan's civilian government want good relations with each other. Modi supports Pakistani government's efforts at controlling the trouble makers like ISI and fundamentalists. This is what Modi wants to communicate to the global community and that's why Modi's Pakistan policy is on right track.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>
