Thaindian News

Washington, Oct 4 (IANS) India’s restraint in the face of continuing terrorist attacks by Pakistan-based groups is nothing short of remarkable and in keeping with the best traditions of India, according to an influential US lawmaker.

“The Indian government in light of some of the not one, but multiple acts of aggression has acted with a level of restraint and class that is commensurate with the best traditions of India,” Mark Warner, Democratic co-chair of the Senate India Caucus said last week.

He was responding to a question about Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency supporting Pakistan based terrorist groups attacking American troops and targets in India at a Strategic Dialogue on US-India relations sponsored by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.

India and the United States have both been victims of terror attacks, but India unfortunately, more recently and more repeatedly, Warner said. Consequently, both countries “stand united in opposition to terrorist groups and are both equally disturbed over direct or indirect state-support by certain nations of terrorist activities.”

He lauded the “beginnings of collaboration between the homeland security operations in the United States and the home office operations in India,” calling it a vital area of potential collaboration in the self-interests of both Washington and New Delhi.

Asked if a joint strategy on dealing with a failing Pakistan could be envisaged, Warner dismissed this idea saying, “The Pakistan relationship is clearly one of the most delicate in the world-not just US-Pakistan.”

While “India has moved on to the world stage, Pakistan is still focused on a neighbourhood battle But thinking that there will be the breakthrough and the next big transformative step would be around the Pakistan shellacking, that is doubtful,” he said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)