Imran ignores reality

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's reported remark earlier this week that ties between his country and India would remain tense until the Lok Sabha election got over is an indication that the former cricketer has failed to read the pitch.

Ties had soured when Pakistani terrorists attacked the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 1, 2016, and Islamabad took no steps to reassure this country that it was serious about tackling terrorism. That was also an attack by the Jaish-e-Mohammad, which plotted the recent Pulwama attack, leading to India's Balakot airstrikes.

After Pulwama and Balakot, the Imran government has taken some terrorists into custody. But this is chiefly to assure its international donors and to avoid being negatively listed by the Financial Action Task Force, which would prejudice foreign aid and investments. We have seen similar steps being taken in the past, and then Islamabad returns to business as usual when it comes to cosseting outfits like Jaish and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

In light of this, the next government in New Delhi, no matter which party or leader heads it, is unlikely to calmly return to the dialogue table in the absence of concrete action by Pakistan that it has taken verifiable and transparent steps to eradicate terrorist infrastructure, arraign terrorist leaders, and take them to trial.

Mr Khan overstates his case when he suggests the JeM action occurred due to of India's "anti-Muslim" policies. India isn't an anti-Muslim country, though Sangh Parivar zealots have engaged in violence against the minorities in recent times. However, Pakistan-inspired terrorist activity against this country predates all that.