The recent Indian offer to resume talks after a prolonged state of deep freeze has been welcomed by the Pakistan government and the international community at large. But there has been a general feeling of disappointment as the talks yielded no tangible results. India's viewpoint has remained very strict right from the start and has remained unwavering in its stance which focuses solely on terrorism.
The biggest hindrance in the initiation of peace process between the two countries has remained a general trust deficit. Apparently, this lack of trust compels India to keep a high vigilance on its borders with Pakistan. The much chanted peace slogans by India distorts reality and hides behind it a different story altogether.
This can be confirmed by India's jumping to the immediate conclusions of thrusting the blame on Pakistan within hours of the Mumbai attacks. Moreover, India's ever increasing presence in Afghanistan speaks volumes as it conceals a desire to become a superpower and, therefore, dominate the entire region.
New Delhi's involvement and funding to the Taliban's is raising concerns in Pakistan as well as internationally as General McCrystal also considers India's active role in Afghanistan as negative influence on the war on terror. The recent rhetoric about 'Cold Start' strategy by Indian army chief Deepak Kapoor and his statement expressing India's ability to "combat and defeat China and Pakistan simultaneously" further reflects India's hegemonic mindset.
What the region needs at this particular moment is 'peace preaching', which should penetrate deep into the social fabric of both the neighbours, which is not possible without the mutual consent of the respective governments. India needs to rethink its Pakistan policy and initiate sincere and earnest efforts to bring the much needed peace in the region.