INDIA’S angst about Masood Azhar is understandable. But their slipshod investigation into the gory Pulwama incident (Feb 14) engenders more questions than it answers.

Initial investigations were undertaken by local police and the Central Reserve Police Force. They collected samples and interrogated people.

India’s National Investigation Agency took over the case five days after the incident (Feb 19). This agency is renowned for night searches and booking people as ‘traitors’. Not content with the police first-information report, the NIA ‘re-registered’ an FIR blaming JeM but without naming Maulana Masood Azhar.

Almost all newspapers reported that the suicide bomber was driving an SUV packed with explosives ranging from 80 to 350 kilogram. But, The Hindu dated Feb 20, 2019, reported “Another [NIA] official said the suicide bomber was driving a Maruti Eeco car and not an SUV as reported earlier but expert opinion was awaited”. Still awaited?

India could have evidenced Pakistan’s involvement through satellite imagery and intercepted conversations (authenticated by voice signatures). After all, India is so good at interception that it alerted Pervez Musharraf about JeM’s imminent attack on his life. The would-be bomber was caught and hanged. Musharraf thanked India for saving his life. Then, India’s external-affairs ministry released transcript of conversation between Musharraf and his Kargil-conflict generals.

The truth is the toll when allegations are politicised. Let India not mix up previous cases without connecting the dots and collecting irrefutable proof.

Saman Malik

Lahore

(2)

INDIA always blames --with no evidence-- Pakistan for any incident that happens on its soil. Despite Pakistan making peaceful overtures, the Indians have never responded politely.

After the latest Indian shrill histrionics, Prime Minister Imran Khan offered dialogue to resolve all issues but the answer was silence. The Pakistan Foreign Office rejected Indian allegations outright and asked India to provide evidence. The FO also pointed out that the outfit India accused of the Pulwama attack Jaish-e-Muhammad has been proscribed and banned since 2002 in Pakistan.

The hysteric Indian media, despite being aware of these facts, is deliberately fanning the flames of animosity against our country. In fact, it is Pakistan that has lost more than 70,000 precious lives to militants and terrorism.

India has always resorted to acts that destabilise Pakistan by funding and supporting a multitude of terrorist outfits. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadhav is ample proof of Indian perfidy. And Indian PM Modi himself confessed to New Delhi’s hand in dismembering Pakistan in 1971.

The reason for the latest episode of Pakistan bashing is not surprising. A general election is looming in India, the Kulbhushan Jhadhav spy case was heard by the International Court of Justice in The Hague and New Delhi wants the Kartarpur Corridor to fail. The Indian government has banned the broadcast of PSL matches and our films.

Enough is enough. Pakistan should pay back India in the same coin.

Jalal Tareen

Quetta

(3)

THE war hysteria and jingoism being demonstrated by India over the Pulwama incident is unfortunate. The United Nations resolution, on a plebiscite in Kashmir remains the basic fault line and is the unfinished agenda of 1947.

Pakistan should not be blamed without any credible and actionable evidence for every indigenous Kashmiri reaction to the ongoing human rights violations by Indian occupation forces in Kashmir. Why is New Delhi refusing to allow access to UN observers to the territory?

Unlike the Indian prime minister’s threats, the measured and mature response is the offer of dialogue by our prime minister. However, this should not be regarded as our weakness .

Pakistan may be exercising the patience of Job but our patience is not infinite.

Zia Hashmi

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2019