S. M. Krishna's assertion about reviving cricket ties with Pakistan has sparked a slanging match between the BJP and the Congress, coming as it does in the wake of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana's revelations about the ISI's role in the terror attack.
The external affairs minister on Wednesday triggered the political 'power play' between the ruling party and the Opposition when he indicated the government's in-principle approval for a bilateral cricket series with Pakistan.
"Peace talks will go on, cricket matches will go on and simultaneously, our relentless efforts will continue to bring to justice all those responsible for the heinous crime against India in Mumbai. These are two different aspects," Krishna said.
When pressed further on the point that the government had earlier said a dialogue with Pakistan would not proceed till it takes credible action against the 26/11 plotters, he said: "I have said both these things will have to go on… have a look at the Sharm-el-Sheikh declaration." The India-Pakistan joint statement of Sharm-el-Sheikh on July 16, 2009 said action on terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process - a stand for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh got a lot of flak in the country.
The government's keenness to push for normalisation of relations - despite Rana's revelations that the Pakistani government and the ISI masterminded the Mumbai attack - has the BJP up in arms.
Slamming Krishna for his "ill-timed and unfortunate" statement, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said: "This is a chance to establish the role of the Pakistani establishment in planning and executing the terror strike in Mumbai at an international level. Instead of doing that, our foreign minister is busy promoting peace talks and cricket matches." He said the party was not against people-to-people contact or resuming cricketing ties, but this was not the time for it.
"This is the time to make Pakistan accountable for ISI's role in the 26/11 attack. The foreign minister should have seized the opportunity to expose the direct role of the Pakistan government on the global platform. But the government seems to have different priorities," Javdekar said.
The Congress was ready with its counter-attack. Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said: "I will not react to the foreign minister's statement. I have neither seen it nor heard it. But I am surprised at the BJP's response. What were (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee and (Pervez) Musharraf doing after the Parliament attack? What was the BJP government doing after the Kargil war? Look at you own track record before you criticise others." It was at the then PM Vajpayee's initiative that the Indian cricket team visited Pakistan in March 2004 after five long years.
Javdekar was, however, quick to respond. "When the Congress talks of the BJP's initiatives, they should remember that while we initiated peace talks, it was Vajpayee ji who extracted, through the January 2004 joint statement, the commitment from Pakistan for the first time that its territory will not be used to promote terrorism against India. What has this government achieved vis-a-vis Pakistan? And why are they in such a hurry to normalise diplomatic ties?" he asked.
While the two parties are likely to continue bickering, sources said the government is desperate to build on the bonhomie generated by the PM's cricket diplomacy in Mohali and will probably slip in a short cricket tour by the Indian team to Pakistan. An announcement in this regard could be made at a "suitable platform" soon.
A government source said the possibility of such a tour is being explored in consultation with the BCCI and may be announced at the foreign minister-level talks later this year. Plans are also afoot to hold a bilateral cricket series in India later, maybe in March 2012.
"Like it or not, but we have to move forward on ties with Pakistan," a source said.
On Rana's revelations, the government said they boost India's case internationally.
"We are in the process of chargesheeting David Headley. In due course, chargesheet on Rana will follow," home secretary G. K. Pillai said. Source
