P. Chidambaram, India’s soft spoken Home Minister, under played his achievement in forcing Pak to act against Hafiz Saeed. It was his most successful diplomatic trip to the US that paid off finally forcing Pak to file 2 FIRs against Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 11/26 Mumbai carnage. It was a most difficult task achieved such ease by our Home Minister. Humility all pervasive when Chidambaram did not want too much credit for his success. He said the facts were before the world and spoke for themselves.
Talking to Times Now news channel, a quiet and soft spoken Home Minister down playing his own role in forcing Pak to act against Hafiz Saeed, said that he only pointed out the facts to the US contained in six dossiers provided to the Pak authorities on the role of Hafiz Saeed in master minding the 11/26 attack on commercial hub of the country. He said India provided incontrovertible evidences against Hafiz Saeed and his movement between December 2007 and November 2008, the details of which were contained in the dossiers that can nail him. US and 60 other countries that were provided with dossier details appreciated India’s stand in the matter. The US in particular was sharp on Pak to act against all the players responsible for 11/26 attack on Mumbai.
Chidambaram said during his two day interaction with the US authorities, he made it clear that India wanted firm action against Hafiz Saeed and others responsible for the heinous crime committed on 11/26. The incontrovertible evidences prove that the attack on 11/26 was masterminded in Pak, perpetrators were Pakistanis, the planners and players were Pakistanis and it was hatched in Pakistani soil. Pak may claim they were non-state actors but then they must prove their sincerity in bringing all to justice by investigating and interrogating the master-mind Hafiz Saeed who is now in their custody. That’s all what India wants for Pak to do.
It was indeed a quiet but successful diplomatic trip P.Chidambaram has undertaken to explain to US and other countries in the world. It finally paid off when Hafiz Saeed was detained and two FIRs were filed against him not for 11/26 attack but for speaking against the establishment and inciting people for Jihad and raising funds for it. Chidambaram rightly asked a question, raising funds for what? It’s for waging Jihad, which is certainly not against Pakistan but against other establishments. Here it is clear inciting Jihad against infidels in India.
Chidamabaram expressed satisfaction at the development in filing FIR against Hafiz Saeed and for him even a half step is a right step in this direction. He concluded that it was too early to comment and asked Indians to wait and watch how Pak proceeds in the matter. Whether they would interrogate him or investigate his role and that of others, would be tested in the days to come. President Zardari has earlier said in London that Pak would act certainly act against all those who were responsible for attack on India including Hafiz Saeed. Let him match his words with deed.
In the end, in Chidambaram, India has found its finest Home Minister, who not only kept his cool and diplomatic nuances in mind while dealing with Pakistan but also successfully achieved a rare diplomatic victory. It is evident from the fact that too many in US power base have spoken about Pak’s failure to act and wanted Pak to act decisively. Even US Ambassador to India, met Chidambaram and told US stand with India and that Pak should act against Hafiz Saeed and other perpetrators, bringing them to justice. Till these are done, a dialogue with Pak is a far cry.
I join millions to congratulate our Home Minister P. Chidambaram, for his finest diplomatic victory in forcing Pak to see reason in dealing with the mastermind of 11/26 attack. Hats off to him. Jai Hind.
