ISAS Briefs

The Indo-Pak Joint Statement on 16 July 2009 marks a significant concession on India's part on two points - i) the delinking of action by Pakistan against perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks from the Indo-Pak Composite Dialogue; and ii) the inclusion of Balochistan in future Indo-Pak discussions. India's Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has been criticised at home for the statement but his stand lies in the larger interest of improving relations with Pakistan and addressing the concerns of the international community (with respect to the war on global terror). In doing so, Dr Singh has not compromised any of India's basic interests.