November 12
Two days after a feel-good meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Maldives, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today clarified the new terms of endearment.

Facing flak already from Opposition members for calling Gilani “a man of peace”, Manmohan Singh was categorical that any progress in relations with Pakistan would be dependent on Indian public opinion being satisfied that Islamabad had done justice to those who had perpetrated the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. “Otherwise the peace process between us can’t move forward,” he reportedly told Gilani in his meeting with him.

Not mincing his words, Manmohan Singh said, “While I remain optimistic about the resumed dialogue process, relations between India and Pakistan are always subject to incidents.” He revealed that he had discussed with Gilani the action taken so far by Pakistan on the 26/11 attacks and had warned his counterpart that “another incident like the Mumbai terror attacks would be a setback to the process of normalisation that had been started.”

The Prime Minister said Pakistan had agreed to send a Judicial Commission to visit India and gather evidence to prosecute those accused over the 26/11 attacks and he “expected some progress in that area.”

Manmohan Singh defined his approach to Pakistan as one of “trust but verify.” Anticipating that Opposition parties were likely to lampoon him for his praise for Gilani during the Parliament session beginning soon, the Prime Minister made it clear that “he did not have blind faith in one individual and would look for genuine movement towards normalisation of relations”.

Manmohan Singh clarified that he had met Gilani four times so far and found him willing to discuss all matters, including terror. He was hopeful that the second round of the resumed dialogue would be a more informed one and was optimistic about its outcome.

He said in his talks with his counterpart he got the impression that the Pakistan Army was on-board with the peace initiative.

Asked what would be the test of Pakistan’s sincerity on issues, he said if there was “solid evidence” that Pakistan’s establishment was involved in encouraging acts of terror that would be a negative. But if steps were taken to normalise trade relations with India, including implementing the Most Favoured Nation status announced recently, he would consider that “a positive move forward”.