Indian, US views on use of Pak territory similar, thinks media

Islamabad, Nov 29 (PTI) Pakistani media Saturday sought
to drive a parallel on views of the Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh about countries that "allowed their territory
to be used" by terrorists, and those held by Washington.


As the bloodbath in Mumbai continued to dominate space
in the newspapers, the Daily Times in an editorial said
Singh's phrases were similar with US views that Pakistan must
be accountable for its lack of sovereign hold over its own
territory.

"But India should be careful about joining this club as
it would take away the option of 'cooperating' with the
present government in Islamabad on the rising tide of terror
in the two countries," said the editorial titled "Pak-India
ties: time to tread carefully".

New Delhi's moves to blame Islamabad for Mumbai terror
attacks amounted to "childish finger-pointing antics", was the
view of the another Pakistani daily 'The News'.

The papers also said that Singh's "veiled reference to
Pakistan" regarding the attacks, threatened to throw a spanner
in the process to normalise relations.

India is "jumping to a conclusion", the newspapers said
adding "it would not help the either side."

The News also said "New Delhi would do well to desist
from childish finger-pointing antics. If indeed it comes up
with evidence of any kind of cross-border involvement, this
must be shared with Pakistan."

The daily said that the "thin evidence" regarding the
terrorists taking boats to India from Karachi "threatens to
produce a new bilateral crisis".

"Pakistan has issued statements from the President and
the Prime Minister in a tone that clearly indicates sympathy
and collaboration," it said.

The daily added that "President Zardari, who took the
risk of crossing the traditional nuclear 'red line' by
offering not to exercise its 'first use' option, will be put
on the back foot if hostile rhetoric now rising in India takes
over."

The News noted that the Indian government, which is
facing criticism over "intelligence failures", had "taken the
easiest, and most cowardly, way out".

"As has happened before, it has raised the convenient
Pakistan bogey, hoping in this way to deflect the barbs and
arrows directed its own way, from citizens and from its
media," it said.

In doing so it completely ignores the reality in India.
This reality includes the presence of increasingly restless
groups of Muslim youth angered by the discrimination they
face," the paper said adding, "the problem posed by these
home-grown radicals has never been addressed by India."

The newspaper described Pakistan's response as "mature
and well-planned" and said Islamabad had "stressed the need
for the two South Asian neighbours to act together in ending a
terrorist menace that has greatly damaged both nations".

The influential Dawn newspaper said Singh's thinly
veiled reference to Pakistani involvement in the attacks is
"quite worrying".

"The prime minister, a skillful, suave diplomat, is not
considered an especially hawkish figure on Pakistan, so the
fact that he chose to lash out against Islamabad is a sign of
the troubled road ahead in Pakistan-India relations," said its
editorial titled "Fighting terror jointly".

It cautioned that the attacks should not spark another
round of blame and counter-blame because the only winners then
would be the terrorists in both countries. PTI RHL
PMR
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