Monday, January 05, 2009

Ultimatum

India has been clear in demanding that Pakistan take real action to shut down anti-Indian jihadis who are based in Pakistan.

Pakistan has been just as clear in denying there is any link between the Mumbai attackers and Pakistan. Pakistan has demanded "proof" in the hope that Pakistan will never be forced to confront their role in incubating jihadis who use Pakistan as a base.

Well, India has sent Pakistan their evidence:

India gave Pakistan the most detailed evidence yet that it says ties the militants who attacked Mumbai to "elements" in Pakistan — responding Monday to weeks of demands from Islamabad for proof that the siege was launched from across the border.

India has blamed the November attacks that killed 164 people on Pakistani-based militants, but Islamabad has denied the accusations and requested proof.

The evidence handed to the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi on Monday included material from the interrogation of the lone surviving gunman, details of conversations between the gunmen and their alleged handlers in Pakistan, recovered weapons, and data from satellite phones, according to a statement from India's foreign ministry.


India has certain expectations:

India has called on Pakistan to hand over the suspects and dismantle the terror network they say is based across the border. Pakistani leaders say they will try any suspects in the attacks in their own courts.

India's top security official, Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, has said he suspects the Mumbai gunmen may have had ties to Pakistani authorities and not just militants in that country.

"In fact I will presume that they are state actors or state-assisted actors until the contrary is proved. No non-state actor can mount this attack without any kind of state help," Chidambaram told the news channel NDTV in an interview broadcast Sunday.


Consider this submission of proof an Indian ultimatum to Pakistan, then.

And when Pakistan fails to meet India's expectations, the high-stress peace that has followed the massacre will likely break down under stress and false beliefs by one or both sides.

India and Pakistan have atomic weapons, if you'll recall.