Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan (TSP), Feb. 26, 2010

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 Mar 2010 09:19

SSridhar wrote:Pakistan to get two nuclear reactors from China
Has China got IAEA & NSG approval for this ?

It was expected news . Paki will go to any false length to save their H&D.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Mar 2010 09:25

jrjrao wrote:This tale is what Kayani was telling to one and all in DC. It is hard to believe:
Kayani impressed U.S. officials, think tankers and journalists with the extent of the military's campaign against extremists. Since 9/11, the Pakistani army has sustained 30,810 killed and wounded, 10,000 in 2009 alone, or 10 soldiers a day. Terrorists arrested or killed: 17,742.
...
Link

“Muslims have the right to lie in a good cause” Gen. Zia to Pres. Reagan

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Mar 2010 09:26

Prem wrote:
SSridhar wrote:Pakistan to get two nuclear reactors from China
Has China got IAEA & NSG approval for this ?
It was expected news . Paki will go to any false length to save their H&D.

Prem, expected news all right. But, China as a member of both NSG & IAEA and Pakistan as a member of IAEA simply cannot decide to collaborate like this without proper approvals.

bart · Post by **bart** » 30 Mar 2010 09:36

Pakistan's army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani read this as acknowledgement of the fact that "Pakistan had as a nation stood up to terrorism."

Yeah, stood up and saluted, maybe.

'India plans 52 projects to control Pakistan's water'

These guys are obviously ranting and raving without any justification, but it would be nice if the GOI made a statement denying there were 52 projects and said that the correct number is 49. It would scare the bejeebers out of them.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 Mar 2010 09:53

'India plans 52 projects to control Pakistan's water'

How criminal of India !! It must match the mahanumber 72!!

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Mar 2010 10:07

bart wrote:. . . but it would be nice if the GOI made a statement denying there were 52 projects and said that the correct number is 49.

No, Bart. It is not 49. Only 33 have been (are being) constructed so far and another 106 are under various stages of consideration only.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Mar 2010 10:45

Pakistan never disappoints.

Moscow metro bombers could be linked to AfPak terror network: Russia

Plotters of the twin suicide blast at Moscow subway stations that killed several people could have links with the terror network based in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, Russia said on Tuesday.

Malayappan · Post by **Malayappan** » 30 Mar 2010 11:03

Late but still...
Pakistani citizens in US need Pakistani passport for Indian visas
Two thoughts -
1. Hope this is an order to be followed in all embassies / consulates / high commissions (and that should specifically include UK)
2. Internal rules too to provide for exemplary punishment for breaching the rule.

csharma · Post by **csharma** » 30 Mar 2010 11:29

From Vikram Sood

http://soodvikram.blogspot.com/

Policy on Pak terror craven and confused

On the other hand, we seem to consider magnanimity as a policy option. Each time we do an Agra, Havana, Sharm el Sheikh or New Delhi, the Pakistanis presume we are caving in and simply get more adventurous and truculent. Besides it does not suit Pakistan to make peace with India at this point in time because doing so would mean that the Pakistan armed forces and intelligence would have to get more committed in Obama’s war in Afghanistan. All indications are that Pakistan is preparing the ground to raise the temperature across LOC as we hear of increased violations and encounters.

Yet one of our foremost political analysts has recommended at this juncture, a day after we heard fulminations from Syed Salahuddin, that we should exhibit largeness of heart, grand strategy and breadth of vision by inviting Gen Kayani to India and give him comfort about India’s policy in Afghanistan. Never mind the thousands of Indians killed by terrorists trained, indoctrinated and equipped in Pakistan. We are a big country and can take these losses or an inert sponge that will continue to absorb because Indian lives are cheap, so runs this argument.

Who is this foremost political analyst?

Thinking out of the box is fashionable but what is this one? Is this breadth of vision, height of folly or preemptive capitulation?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 30 Mar 2010 11:47

arun · Post by **arun** » 30 Mar 2010 12:20

Prem wrote:
SSridhar wrote:Pakistan to get two nuclear reactors from China

Has China got IAEA & NSG approval for this ?
It was expected news . Paki will go to any false length to save their H&D.

Talk of P.R. China supplying the 3rd and 4th nuclear reactors for the Chasma power plant in defiance of their NSG and IAEA obligations have been around since October 2008.

Wall Street Journal: Pakistan Secures China's Help to Build 2 Nuclear Reactors

CBS News: China To Help Pakistan Build 2 Nuke Plants

Notwithstanding the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s dubious record of fabricating civilian nuclear deals where none exist (Which is not the case in this instance. See paragraph after next.) such as in the case of France, the timing of the resurfacing of the story of P.R. China supplying nuclear power reactors is interesting.

The resurrection of the story within days of the conclusion of the strategic dialogue between the US and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in which Pakistan asked for an Indo-US like civilian nuclear deal, leaves me with the nagging doubt that the US may have agreed to pacify the Islamic Republic by indicating that it would not obstruct a P.R. China – Pakistan nuclear deal even if it was not in conformity with the NSG and IAEA rules that P.R. China was obliged to follow.

My comment that this was not a case of fabrication by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is based on this May 7, 2009 Press Release by P.R. China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) which is the parent of the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI):

SNERDI SIGNED ENGINEERING GENERAL CONTRACT FOR CHASHMA III AND IV UNITS TO HELP PAKISTAN BUILD 2 MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

On April 28, 2009, Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI), a subsidiary company of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) signed a General Engineering Contract in Shanghai with China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation (CZEC) to provide engineering design and technical service for Pakistan Chashma III and IV units. This is the second time SNERDI was chosen to be the general contractor responsible for overall engineering design after its successful completion of Pakistan Chashma unit I and II, which were the largest and the only nuclear export projects in China.

The signing ceremony was chaired by Mr. XU Qian, Vice President of SNERDI with the witness of nearly 30 high level management from relevant parties. Mr. ZHENG Mingguang, President of SNERDI, and Mr. MAO Xiaoming, GM of CZEC gave their greetings and jointly signed the contract.

Chashma Unit 1 and 2 (C1 and C2) were not only considered to be the most successful projects of sincere cooperation between SNERDI and CZEC, but also widely recognized as the typical model of "south-south cooperation" in the peaceful uses of atom energy between two countries. Over the past decade, SNERDI and CZEC have worked together closely and built up a brotherhood friendship with mutual support, exchanging views and open cooperation. For Chashma Unit 3 and 4, both sides are committed to continue this good relationship and make every effort to the successful of the projects as a model for the standardization of nuclear power plants. It is also expected that, through these projects, both sides can make new contributions to build a safe, reliable, economical and clean nuclear power plant in order to promote the China's nuclear industry so as to lead China to a much broader nuclear market.

Chashma NPP III and IV (C3 and C4) is located near Chashma-Jhelum (C-J) Link Canal in the north-western Pakistan province Punjab, district Mianwali. It is about 1,200 km from the first major cities of Pakistan, Karachi. The two units will be of 300 MWe Class in-land NPPs with 340 MWe capacity, the design life will be 40 years.

On March 1, 2009, SNERDI officially launched the design work for C3 and C4. To tie in with the time requirement for the long lead equipment manufacturing, SNERDI decided and has already finished the drawing in advance for the six major equipments out of seven by the end of 2008. ............................

SNPTC

Forget two fingers, P.R.China has given a whole fist to the NSG / IAEA, though possibly minus the US if they have indeed decided to look the other way following the conclusion of the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue.

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 30 Mar 2010 12:47

Terror recruit caught in Chicago

Could be a decoy to throw the FBI off the scent. Take it FWIW.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 30 Mar 2010 13:39

Iranian intelligence frees Iranian diplomat kidnapped in Peshawar in 2008 -- most probably by conducting a raid inside Pakistan!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010 ... stan_N.htm

arun · Post by **arun** » 30 Mar 2010 14:01

^^^ The below story in AFP more clearly indicates that taking a leaf out of the US book, Iran has now unilaterally launched a cross border operation into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and freed an abducted diplomat of theirs

.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is looking increasingly like a banana republic that is completely unable to protect its territorial sovereignty from unilateral actions of other nations and this should certainly be quite a blow to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s honour and dignity

.

Trust our own MEA, MOD and PMO are taking note:

Iran agents free envoy nabbed in Pakistan in 2008: state TV

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

TEHRAN — Iranian agents have freed a diplomat from the Islamic republic who was kidnapped in Pakistan in November 2008, Iran state media reported on Tuesday, in an apparent cross-border operation.

"Iranian intelligence agents, in a complex operation, have released Heshmatollah Attarzadeh, the Iranian diplomat who was abducted in Pakistan, and brought him home," the official IRNA news agency said.

A separate report on state television's website said gunmen had abducted Atarzadeh on November 13, 2008 in the city of Peshawar, northwest Pakistan. He was on his way to an Iranian consulate when kidnappers killed his local guard.

Iranian media did not give details of Attarzadeh's release but indicated it could have been a cross-border operation..........................

AFP via Google

r_subramanian · Post by **r_subramanian** » 30 Mar 2010 14:37

Ouch - it hurts!

China denies visas to Pakistanis in Singapore
China has denied Pakistani nationals direct access to Chinese visas from Singapore while Indians would not be facing any such restrictions.
...

link

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 30 Mar 2010 14:55

** deleted **

kenop · Post by **kenop** » 30 Mar 2010 15:31

I think the author (V K Sood) will have to write a couple of more articles to complete the figure of 3.5
Saudi role and interest in Paki nuclear program

In evaluating Pakistan’s relations with its major benefactors, we tend to consider only the United States and China and normally overlook Saudi Arabia’s role. The kingdom provides ideological succour and, nowadays, Wahhabi sustenance and financial support exert influence on Pakistan’s domestic politics. There has to be some mutuality of interests in this bilateral with Pakistan playing on the kingdom’s insecurities in relation to Iran and Israel, its own domestic dissidence and its vulnerabilities as an oil rich country in a turbulent neighbourhood.
....

Khan’s travel itinerary during his days as the merchant of Armageddon was very instructive. In the ten years till his network was ‘discovered’ in 2004, Khan visited Dubai more than 40 times, apart from visiting 18 other countries. Among the destinations were Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Turkey and, probably, most often Saudi Arabia. (What to do Mecca is there)The role Saudi Arabia paid in the development of the Pakistani bomb in the 1970s is well known. A grateful Zulfiqar Bhutto renamed Lyallpur, Pakistan’s third-largest city, as Faisalabad to acknowledge the Saudi monarch’s generosity.
...
In 1994, a Saudi UN diplomat, Muhammed al Khilewi, was defected with about 10,000 documents among which were some that showed linkages between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and a pact had been signed by the two countries that in case of a nuclear attack on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan would retaliate against the aggressor. It was during the 1990s that the Saudis began to provide financial assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programme when North Korean missiles were traded with the financial backing from Saudi Arabia. The Saudis also came to Pakistan’s rescue after the 1998 nuclear tests when they provided Pakistan with 50,000 barrels of oil per day free, to overcome the effect of sanctions.

In May 1999, Saudi deputy premier Prince Sultan bin Abdel al-Aziz, on a visit to Pakistan, was shown the Kahuta uranium enrichment plant — a privilege that was not granted by Pakistan’s military to their Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto some years earlier. A.Q. Khan had briefed the visiting Saudi minister. Prince Sultan also visited the Ghauri missile factory. Later in the year, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Khan discussed possibilities of cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy in agriculture and genetic engineering.
...

A great deal will depend on how the US reacts to these developments. Adverse US reaction against a Saudi nuclearisation, following an Iranian nuclearisation, is not a given. Pakistan, as a cash-strapped country, could sell its lethal goods to an insecure regime and acquire nuclear depth.

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 30 Mar 2010 16:58

The below story in AFP more clearly indicates that taking a leaf out of the US book, Iran has now unilaterally launched a cross border operation into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and freed an abducted diplomat of theirs

I actually would look at this incident in conjunction with the arrest of an Iranian terrorist from Pakistan and the recent snub to India by Iran. The analysis would be that Iran and Pakistan are mending fences - and in certain ways putting us out of the equation. Leverage with Iran has not been handled well by us.

harbans · Post by **harbans** » 30 Mar 2010 17:31

China denies visas to Pakistanis in Singapore
China has denied Pakistani nationals direct access to Chinese visas from Singapore while Indians would not be facing any such restrictions.

Not surprising. Was in China giving em Chinese almost 1 m USD in biz..they are a pragmatic lot. And if they do sort out AP/ Tibet/ Kailash, Mansarover etc i don't see why China and India can't be more closer. Pakistan really is a non starter in many ways. Paki's are truly the least respected nationality one comes across nowadays. Seriously i should have recorded what some Chinese girls told me about TFTA types, anyways enjoyed the sucking up. Did'nt hesitate calling Pak a terrorist nation to our Chinese friends. Surprisingly many were quite aware. Many were thinking like us on similar lines if not necessarily on the same agenda.

sunnyP · Post by **sunnyP** » 30 Mar 2010 17:46

Pakhtunkhwa or ‘Bengali Model’, says Bilour

LAHORE: Railways Minister and a central leader of the Awami National Party, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has said Bengalis chose to end their allegiance to Pakistan to get recognition and ìnow it is up to the politicians of the country whether they recognise the Pakhtuns by naming their province after them or go for the Bengali Model.î

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28066

arun · Post by **arun** » 30 Mar 2010 18:53

Arindam wrote:
The below story in AFP more clearly indicates that taking a leaf out of the US book, Iran has now unilaterally launched a cross border operation into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and freed an abducted diplomat of theirs
I actually would look at this incident in conjunction with the arrest of an Iranian terrorist from Pakistan and the recent snub to India by Iran. The analysis would be that Iran and Pakistan are mending fences - and in certain ways putting us out of the equation. Leverage with Iran has not been handled well by us.

I would not look at this incident as representing the outcome of the mending of fences between Iran and Pakistan. My view is the consequence of what the Intelligence Minister of Iran, Heidar Moslehi, had to say.

Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi is reported by Iranian State owned television channel Press TV as having expressly ruled out assistance of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the release of the abducted diplomat. :

………………. Moslehi said that after the diplomat was abducted by an armed group backed by the US and Mossad, the Iranian government called on Pakistan to help Iran release the diplomat. ……………………

After the Pakistani government failed to do so, Moslehi said, the Iranian intelligence ministry took the initiative and managed to release Attarzadeh after a series of complicated measures. .........................

Press TV Iran

Naidu · Post by **Naidu** » 30 Mar 2010 20:22

^^ Most likely done via a ransom payment or a prisoner swap with whoever was holding the diplomat. That's what I read into "complicated measures."

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 30 Mar 2010 20:22

Some history:
http://www.nucpros.com/index.php?q=node/7593
compiled December 12, 2009

Sino-Pak Civil Nuclear Technology Agreement

In June 2008 the government announced plans to build units 3 and 4 at Chashma, each 320-340 MWe and costing PKR 129 billion, 80 billion of this from international sources, principally China. A further agreement for China's help with the project was signed in October 2008, and given prominence as a counter to the US-India agreement shortly preceding it. Cost quoted then was US$ 1.7 billion, with a foreign loan component of $1.07 billion. Construction was expected to start in 2009. In March 2009 SNERDI announced that it was proceeding with design of Chasma 3 & 4, with China Zhongyuan Engineering as the general contractor. {this is the exhibit in arun's post above} PAEC said Beijing was financing 85% of the US$ 1.6 billion project.

However, there are questions about China's supply of Chasma-3 & 4. Contracts for units 1 & 2 were signed in 1990 and 2000, before 2004 when China joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which maintains an embargo on sales of nuclear equipment to Pakistan.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 30 Mar 2010 20:40

Ahmed Rashid's take on the Beeb talking about the US TSP dialogue belongs here even though it was posted on the India-US relations thread. Please scroll down to the last comment; nothing that BRites don't know, but neverthless worth a read

.

archan · Post by **archan** » 30 Mar 2010 20:52

Came across this book while browsing Amazon.
FORMATION OF REPUBLIC OF JINNAHPUR: An Inevitable Solution

The book FORMATION OF REPUBLIC OF JINNAHPUR deals with the proposal of formation of an independent country in South Asia to be called as Republic of Jinnahpur. The author Syed Jamaluddin has previously written a book titled DIVIDE PAKISTAN TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM in which he proposed disintegration of Pakistan and formation of 6 new states in South Asia in order to crush the terrorist networks currently nourished and supported by the military regime of Pakistan. In line with this proposal, the author has written this new book to highlight the possibility of formation of Republic of Jinnahpur in the southern part of Pakistan. In the opinion of the author, the Urdu-speaking nation living without an identity for the last 60 years under military siege of Pakistani army should be freed from such a situation. He, therefore, suggests that in accordance with internationally accepted principles of self-determination and right of freedom, the Urdu-speaking nation living in Pakistan should get their own independent country called Republic of Jinnahpur. Syed Jamaluddin proposes start of a massive campaign for liberation of Urdu-speaking people from the military and feudal monarchy of Pakistan.

Anyone read this or his older book, Divide Pakistan: To Eliminate Terrorism?
I'm sure pakis must have thrown death threats at him as well.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 Mar 2010 20:54

CRamS wrote:Ahmed Rashid's take on the Beeb talking about the US TSP dialogue belongs here even though it was posted on the India-US relations thread. Please scroll down to the last comment; nothing that BRites don't know, but neverthless worth a read .

Good job. Atleast you are doing more than fulminating on the Forum. More power to you.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 30 Mar 2010 20:59

Boss, atleast?

.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 Mar 2010 21:04

CRamS wrote:Boss, atleast? .

Compared to the rest of us!

kenop · Post by **kenop** » 30 Mar 2010 21:55

UN to shut Pakistan offices over Bhutto report

All UN offices in Pakistan will close for three days from Wednesday as a security precaution with the world body set to release a report on the assassination of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto.
...

"Offices are going to be closed for the next three days. All UN offices in the country," spokeswoman Ishrat Rizvi said on Tuesday, saying that staff are being advised to work from home in a bid to avoid any possible fallout.

"It's a precautionary measure to avoid any unwanted situation that may occur after the publication of this report, for the safety and security of staff members," she added.

...

Any guesses on the content of the report?
With the level of control A-Z agencies have in the Pureland, I think it will not arrive at any conclusion or maybe attribute it to one of the guys currently enjoying his 72 (B Mehsud tops this list I think)

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 30 Mar 2010 22:02

The UN report will blame several "retired" TSPA officers in the BB assassination plot. Just last week, when the UN guy was in Islamabad, a mysterious riot burned UN offices and attacked the guy's car. The riots were supposedly against price rise and power cuts.

Anyone want to bet that ISI is not involved?

skaranam · Post by **skaranam** » 30 Mar 2010 22:20

Rangudu wrote:The UN report will blame several "retired" TSPA officers in the BB assassination plot. Just last week, when the UN guy was in Islamabad, a mysterious riot burned UN offices and attacked the guy's car. The riots were supposedly against price rise and power cuts.

Anyone want to bet that ISI is not involved?

aren't these guys too predictable....let hope the UN guys know this and the backups are at a off country location...

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 30 Mar 2010 22:26

Rangudu wrote:The UN report will blame several "retired" TSPA officers in the BB assassination plot. Just last week, when the UN guy was in Islamabad, a mysterious riot burned UN offices and attacked the guy's car. The riots were supposedly against price rise and power cuts.

Anyone want to bet that ISI is not involved?

Retired. So it is like resigning military officers and putting them into civilian intelligence posts? Wow "plausible deniability" actually works then.

Naidu · Post by **Naidu** » 30 Mar 2010 23:11

Paki's are beginning to panic:

UN Benazir Bhutto inquiry report delayed

A United Nations report into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has been delayed at Pakistan's request.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accepted a postponement until mid-April hours before its scheduled release.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8595688.

Does it really take that much time to get the coup brigade ready? Or maybe they need the time to secure President Zardari before the shit hits the fan.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 30 Mar 2010 23:20

Rangudu wrote:The UN report will blame several "retired" TSPA officers in the BB assassination plot. Just last week, when the UN guy was in Islamabad, a mysterious riot burned UN offices and attacked the guy's car. The riots were supposedly against price rise and power cuts.

Anyone want to bet that ISI is not involved?

Of course ISI is involved, but I am willing to bet that the "UN" (US

) report will at best be muted on ISI role. Unkil simply won't allow his rentier boy's image to be tarnsihed.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 30 Mar 2010 23:33

by Archan

Anyone read this or his older book, Divide Pakistan: To Eliminate Terrorism?
I'm sure pakis must have thrown death threats at him as well

I have this book. Check my comments in Amazon. Pretty good book.

Samay · Post by **Samay** » 30 Mar 2010 23:36

'India plans 52 projects to control Pakistan's water'

what do they mean by this?

tomorrow they will say to people living in punjab,JK,
dont pee elsewhere ,pee in jhelum,because your pee is pakistan's water,!!
what bs they always make out of nothing ,
dam's store water,but cant store it infinitely

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 30 Mar 2010 23:40

Samay wrote:what do they mean by this?
tomorrow they will say to people living in punjab,JK,
dont pee elsewhere ,pee in jhelum,because your pee is pakistan's water,!!

That cant complain, it is already being done

India poisoning Jhelum River

Reported in daily Jarrar of Jamaat Dawa that in Srinagar 29,000 kilo excrement (pakhana) and 7 hundred thousand litre of urine (peshab) were dumped into River Jhelum before it flowed down to Pakistan.

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 30 Mar 2010 23:44

Chalo Srinagar ! to release your inner Pakistani

I think India should aim to quadruple the 29000 kilos of aid that it provides Pakistan

ArunK · Post by **ArunK** » 30 Mar 2010 23:58

Here is the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 along with its Annextures. Please read it. It is just 25 pages + Annextures. The language is not complicated.

Indus Water treaty 1960
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... ty1960.pdf

Annextures
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureA.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureB.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureC.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureD.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureE.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureF.pdf
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTS ... exureG.pdf

This water issue is being manufactured. There is no merit to it. The first step in refuting it is to educate ourselves with the treaty. Also, I can bet Pakis will never go for arbiteration because, they know that they will be bitch slapped.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 31 Mar 2010 01:59

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8592472.stm

The US heaped praise on the army's recent campaign against the Pakistani Taliban, but it was equally tough on the need for the army to abandon its 30-year-long reliance on extremist groups to carry out foreign policy objectives and covert operations against India in Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Pakistan has said it will not act against Lashkar-e-Toiba, the militant group accused of carrying out the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks in 2008 until relations with India markedly improve.

Lashkar was set up and managed by the army's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and India has refused to deal with Pakistan until it curbs the group.

Both the US and Nato now view the Lashkar as a global terrorist group, with cells in Europe and the US supporting the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Major role

The group is accused of carrying out the February suicide attack in Kabul that killed nine Indians. David Headley, a US citizen, has admitted planning the Mumbai attacks and training at Lashkar bases in Pakistan.

To India's chagrin, the US has acknowledged that Pakistan has a major role to play in peace talks between Kabul and the Afghan Taliban and that India and Pakistan need to come to an understanding over their mutual competition in Afghanistan.

When Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Islamabad in early March, he was bluntly told by the army that he would have to remove two Indian consulates in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, before the army offered him help to talk to the Pakistan-based Afghan Taliban leaders.

For Pakistan, one measure of success of the talks is the degree to which they have rattled India.

India feels snubbed by the US because its officials have not been given access to David Headley. Delhi is opposed to any dominant Pakistani role in Afghanistan and is nervous about any US-Pakistan nuclear talks.

The US will now have to do some fence-mending with India.

However the complex triangular relationship between the US, Pakistan and India depends for success on the US getting the two enemies to talk turkey about their conflicts.

It also depends on getting the Pakistani army to undertake a real rather than an imagined strategic U-turn, because backing extremists of any hue to carry out foreign policy goals is no longer internationally acceptable.