Couple of days ago Pakistan summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner here twice to lodge protests over the NIA’s decision not to oppose bail to Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the case of the 2007 Samjhauta blasts, and for the killing of a Pakistani woman in alleged ceasefire violations. Foreign Office (FO) said that Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh met the Director General (SA& SAARC), who lodged a protest against the decision of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to not oppose the bail granted to Aseemanand on “Special Leave Permission.”
“The Government of Pakistan has serious reservations on the efficiency of the Court in processing and disposal of cases regarding terrorism, especially those involving deaths of Pakistani citizens,” the foreign office said. It said Pakistan expects India to take steps to bring to justice all those involved in the heinous act of terrorism on the Samjhauta Express, in which 42 Pakistani citizens were killed. The Samjhauta Express, the only rail link between India and Pakistan, was bombed in February, 2007. Four Improvised Explosive Devices were planted on the Samjhauta Express, a twice-weekly train service connecting Delhi, India, and Lahore, Pakistan on February 18, 2007, in which 68 lives were lost. Pakistan pointed out to the deputy high commissioner that the man accused of bombing the Samjhota Express and killing 42 Pakistanis on Indian soil in February 2007, Swami Aseemanand had been released on bail. The Foreign Office made another complaint about firing along the LoC that had killed a woman and injured three of her family members in Muzaffarabad. It is notable that while India has assiduously pursued the case of the Mumbai siege of 2008, Pakistan has done little to follow up on the Samjhota bombing despite the high death toll of its citizens. Such actions should not come as tit-for-tat moves. One hopes this is not the case in the present matter. The fact is the rapidly deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan now present a very real threat of regional instability. Despite several attempts, there has been no let-up in unprovoked cross-border firing from the Indian side of the border. Precisely what India hopes to achieve from this is uncertain. Swami Aseemanand was granted bail in the Samjhota case several days ago although he remains in prison since he was also charged with other terrorist offences. While all this continues, peace activists on both sides of the border continue their gestures for peace. On Friday, a candlelight vigil was held as has become the custom on Independence Day on the Wagah Border by peace activists. Indian activists joined in from across the fence. But right now, their attempts at goodwill seem to be lost in the storm of animosity we see everywhere. It is important that greater harmony somehow be restored. Its rapid loss, notably since the Narendra Modi government was sworn in, threatens disaster. The bail of a man responsible for a major act of violence by a court in Haryana will not help matters along. It simply adds to the existing mistrust and creates further disquiet. This will in the end lead us only into further trouble as the storm on the border rages on.
pk.shafaqna.com
