Click to play videoNew Delhi: India suspects a Pakistani hand behind the Mumbai serial blasts and warns that the peace process could be affected.
Highly placed sources in the Government have told CNN-IBN that there is a definite Pakistan hand behind the attacks.
This gives the first clear indication that peace talks between India and Pakistan could be affected. They also warn that the first casualty could be Indo-Pak Confidence Building Measures.
The India Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks next week could go ahead as scheduled but may end up a mere formality and the dialogue process with Pakistan could be affected. That is India hardening its stance against Pakistan.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma says, “It is not the peace process it’s the Confidence Building Measures which have been there. There has been improvement of relations; there has been engagement, which has been meaningful, if you look at the situation as it prevails. But at the same time there will be no let up in our fight against forces or terrorism.”
Even as investigators sift through the evidence, there is little doubt in South Block that 7/11 is a Pakistan sponsored terrorist act. But there is less clarity on how India should deal with Pakistan.
Former member of National Security Advisory Board K Subrahmanyam says, “The solution is to press for action. Press for certain amount of fresh conceptualisation about the threat.”
The likeliest scenario is that the dialogue process will continue but slow down. The immediate casualty could be new CBMs – such as a liberalised visa regime and expansion of trade and tourism.
South Block is already frustrated with Pakistan's refusal to endorse the Kargil Skardu bus service and what it sees as a deliberate effort to sabotage the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
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