Terrorism - Articles

The second meeting of the Anti-Terrorism Mechanism (ATM) between India and Pakistan was held in New Delhi on 22 October 2007 to discuss terrorism-related issues and review the progress made at the first ATM meeting held in Islamabad in March this year. Both countries agreed to continue working together to exchange specific information, identify measures required and assist in investigating terrorist activities as part of their counter-terrorism cooperation. The Indian delegation was headed by Mr. K.C. Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, while the Pakistani side was led by Mr. Khalid Aziz Babar, Additional Secretary (UN&EC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

The joint statement issued after the second ATM meet said that the two sides shared new information on terrorist incidents, including a detailed discussion on the modalities for exchanging this information. They reviewed the follow-up steps taken on information shared since the first ATM meeting and in the intervening period. They agreed to continue working towards identifying measures required, exchanging specific information and assisting in investigations. The next meeting will be held in Islamabad according to the schedule agreed upon.

The ATM was established in pursuance of the decision taken by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they met in Havana on September 16 last year. The breakthrough came after their hour-long meeting on the sidelines of the NAM summit, when Dr Singh and President Musharraf decided to put in place an institutional mechanism to counter terrorism. Their statement said that the two leaders met after the Mumbai blasts and "strongly condemned all acts of terrorism and agreed that terrorism is a scourge that needs to be effectively dealt with."

Addressing the NAM summit in 2006 Musharraf said, "A historic opportunity exists that must be seized by the leadership of the two countries to bring to a close the chapter of tensions and conflict in our region." He also showed satisfaction over three years of the peace process between India and Pakistan that had led to confidence building and an improved environment for bilateral relations. Dr Singh called upon NAM members to focus on just and equitable solutions to international conflicts and disputes by establishing a mechanism for achieving such objectives. He urged NAM to promote a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism. The ATM furthers this cooperation to deal with terrorism. The climate for the second ATM meet favored discussing the contours of an information-exchange mechanism since the meeting was held shortly after the bomb blasts in Karachi during the arrival of former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto.

No doubt, setting up the ATM is a healthy beginning, and if meetings continue on a quarterly basis, the beginnings of an institutional mechanism to exchange credible information will become available. The onus, however, is more on Pakistan to move ahead in this regard, as it has been in the grip of terrorist attacks since the Lal Masjid episode. Feeling the heat from international governments and agencies, perhaps, Islamabad has realized the seriousness of the problem posed by terrorist elements on its own soil. However, for the ATM to succeed, genuine commitment from Pakistan is essential as the country has been the breeding ground for terrorists.

New Delhi wants proactive assistance from Islamabad to help track Pakistani nationals suspected of having a role in terror attacks in India and bring them to book. At the previous ATM meeting, India handed over the photograph of a suspect, believed to be a Pakistani national. India has long believed that persons of Pakistani origin were involved in a string of bomb blasts that rocked several cities. This belief is backed by interrogation records of suspected militants who are understood to have "confessed" to the Pakistani link behind some of these attacks. The Indian side's request for Pakistan's assistance is backed by the agreement reached in the previous meeting that both sides would seek and receive information about terror attacks. They had also agreed to immediately get in touch with each another if the required information is urgent.

Although Indian officials have expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, noting that major issues, including a formulation on terrorism, were being negotiated, much remains to be done if the ATM has to become effective. India and Pakistan need to show the political will to root out the menace of terrorism. In this regard, a bilateral agreement on terrorism is an option before both countries. This could be discussed at the upcoming meeting of SAARC Home Ministers, which will be held in New Delhi on October 25 to discuss issues of terrorism, money laundering, drugs and human trafficking.