NEW DELHI, July 13: The familiar but inevitably unnamed official sources went into business in New Delhi on Thursday, planting suggestions, ideas or even veiled warnings that Pakistan could yet be involved in the Mumbai train blasts that killed close to 200 people this week.
If this is indeed the official thinking in New Delhi, it is very likely to have been shared in the conversation US President George W. Bush had on Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. President Bush rang up the Indian prime minister to condole and express solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
On its part Pakistan appeared to sense the unease in New Delhi over a brewing blame-game that by several accounts seemed headed to cloud the proposed foreign secretary level talks between the two countries here next week.
“If India feels that these talks should be postponed to a later date, we can go along with that,” Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam was quoted as telling NDTV.
She said Islamabad’s willingness to agree to rescheduling of the talks was not because the blasts have been allegedly linked to Pakistan but because of the “domestic” problem in India.
“We understand the big tragedy (has occurred)... We will wait for India’s convenience,” Ms Aslam said. There has, however, been no official word from India seeking deferment of the talks, she added.
In the same interview quoted by the PTI, Ms Aslam also said if New Delhi has any “so-called evidence” about Pakistan’s culpability in the devastating tragedy, it should share it to see if Islamabad acts on that or not.
In its carefully worded report, NDTV also said it had exclusive information that “indicates” that National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet that Pakistan’s involvement was definite.
Meanwhile, it is said the banned Students Islamic Movement of India or SIMI, one of several groups suspected in the attacks, denied responsibility.
Intelligence agencies in Kashmir are investigating a call made by a man claiming to be part of Al Qaeda, the report said.
Another news channel reported more of the same — that India suspects a Pakistani hand behind the Mumbai serial blasts and that it “warns that the peace process could be affected.”
CNN-IBN news channel quoted its own highly placed sources in the government as saying that there was a definite Pakistan hand behind the attacks.
“This gives the first clear indication that peace talks between India and Pakistan could be affected. They also warn that the first casualty could be Indo-Pakistan Confidence Building Measures,” the report said.
About the foreign secretary level talks though it said they “could go ahead as scheduled but may end up a mere formality and the dialogue process with Pakistan could be affected. That is India hardening its stance against Pakistan.”
