Saudi Arabia & UAE help India score success in OIC: Pak isolated in own 'backyard'

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Amid mounting pressure on Pakistan, the process of its 'isolation' came near complete at the just concluded Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at Abu Dhabi when its repeated attempts to scuttle invitation extended to India was rejected outright.

"The UAE leadership backed by countries like Saudi Arabia remained steadfast in rejecting Pakistani attempt to scuttle invitation extended to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj," a source said here.
"It is a matter of irony that Pakistan has painted itself into a corner by its own public statements. In the absence of any support and left with no option, Pakistan had to sit out of plenary.....Moreover, the Abu Dhabi declaration issued at the end of meeting carries no reference to Jammu and Kashmir". Indian foreign policy engine room also feels that by going ahead with participation, "we have responded to the desire of all the other OIC members to engage with India" and broken free of Pakistani intransigence.

"In effect, Pakistan stands isolated in what they consider as their own backyard," the source asserted."Even after India's pre-emptive strike against terror camps in Pakistan, the UAE leadership reiterated that they remained committed to their invitation to India to address the plenary," it said adding the OIC leadership also made it clear that India was invited for three major reasons - India's global stature, the deep rooted and historic relationship with OIC member nations and 'important Islamic component (a large Muslim population in India).

Back to its old games - something it was successful in 1969 - Pakistan tried 'its best' to scuttle India’s OIC invite "through whatever means possible till the last minute", but it was hardly entertained this year. The government of India also sees that there was 'considerable enthusiasm' among various foreign ministers on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech over the content, tenor and tone of the speech.

Some even described Ms Swaraj's address as 'statesman like'. "India had opportunity to put forward its views ....the cultural ethos, close bilateral ties with OIC member states, the urgent need to address terrorism and the diversity of India’s Muslims," the source said.


In fact, the South Block and India's foreign policy engine room are enthusiastic to note that later
addressing a media conference UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan had said, that the OIC has sent a very positive and clear sign to people of India and "we want to take it forward
where we can embrace India as OIC member one day. Having Sushma Swaraj as guest of honour was historic".

'Sab kucch wahan haen' - says official on US probe on use of F-16 by Pak

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Pakistan has yet again walked into a vicious cycle created by itself vis-a-vis its use of F-16 fighter jets against India during February 27 misadventure and now an US investigation is on.

Official sources in Delhi said they are "sure" that Washington was carrying out a thorough investigation into the use of the US-manufactured fighter as well as the missile onboard it in the offensive operation against India.

"Sab kucch wahan haen (Everything is with them)," a key government source said here.

Things like serial number, the name of the company .....everything is with the US.On this backdrop, sources said New Delhi has 'given proof' to Washington about the use of F-16 fighters.

"The fact that Pakistan has to resort to tactics and alleging that the missile came from a Taiwanese inventory and the Taiwan government clearly putting a denial simply indicate the desperation that Pakistan is facing," the source said.

Last week, senior Air Force officials in Delhi displayed 'remains' of a United States-made missile which could only have been fired from an F-16.

The issue has triggered a major row as the US-delivered jets can reportedly only be used against terrorists, not against other countries.

Debates surfaced whether Pakistan willfully violated the end user clauses by putting F-16 jets in use during February 27 misadventure it wanted to strike at military installations in northern sector.
Pakistani agencies and authorities apparently wanted to look for an escape route and said the wreckage could have been part of a missile sold by the U.S. to Taiwan.

In fact, a Pakistan daily also reported - “How the wreckage of a missile sold to Taiwan ended up in the hands of an Indian military air vice marshal is something only New Delhi can explain".

The reference was to Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor statement that Pakistan has no other plane other than the F-16 to use the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) missile beyond visual range air-to-air missile.

But the Pakistan's motives did not run for long and the bluff was called as the Taiwan Air Force quickly did their "checks and ascertained" that the identification numbers reported by Pakistan newspaper did not match any of its missiles. In fact, a section of Taiwanese media was also annoyed with such allegation directed against Taiwan and said the allegation was like a case of Taiwan getting hit by a bullet while lying down.

The US administration has said that America is seeking more information from Pakistan on the potential misuse of American-made F-16 fighter jets by it against India in violation of the end-user agreement. Commenting on the development on the issue, an Indian official said: "We must give the US some time, they must be conducting the investigation".

Making a climb down, Pak to allow return of its envoy to Delhi: Kartarpur talks on

New Delhi/Islamabad, Mar 5 (UNI) In what is seen as a climb down by Imran Khan regime and diplomatic process of de-escalation, Pakistan on Tuesday announced that the Kartarpur talks as slated will take place on March 14 and also that its envoy to New Delhi - Sohail Mahmood - who was recalled, will return to resume his assignments.

"Pakistan's High Commissioner to India (Sohail Mahmood) will be returning New Delhi after completion of consultation in Islamabad," a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office said in Islamabad. In fact, India's acting High Commissioner to Pakistan Gaurav Ahluwalia was called or invited to the Pak Foreign Ministry by its Director General South Asia and SAARC Mohammad Faisal and Islamabad's decision was conveyed on Tuesday.

It has also been conveyed that the Pakistani delegation will visit New Delhi on March 14 for the talks on draft paper for an agreement on Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan foreign office also said that it stands 'committed' to continue with the weekly contact at the levels of DGMOs.

Last week amid height of tension between India and Pakistan, the Indian government had made it clear that the proposed meeting on Kartarpur corridor between officials from Foreign Ministries in both countries was "not cancelled".

They (Pakistanis) are welcome if they come - as per old schedule - has been the refrain taken by one Indian official. As part of the earlier understanding, an Indian delegation is likely to visit Pakistan on March 28 for discussions on matters pertaining to Kartarpur corridor.

On February 18 - four day after Pulwama terror strike by Pakistan-based JeM - its envoy in Delhi Sohail Mahmood had left India for 'consultation' by his government.

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was called by Indian government for consultation on February 15.

Tensions escalated between the two nations after Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohamed claimed responsibility for attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama which claimed lives of more than 40 CRPF personnel. Retaliating to the incident, India carried out a pre-emptive air-strikes at terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan killing a large number of Jaish militants and even senior commanders.

President Ram Nath Kovind - the country's Supreme Commander of armed forces - on Monday gave away a strong message to Pakistan that if "need arises", India will use all "our might" to protect nation's sovereignty. "India remains firmly committed to peace, but in case the need arises, we will use all our might to protect the nation’s sovereignty. I am confident that our valiant men and women in uniform will rise to the occasion," the President has at an Air Force function in Tamil Nadu.

No offer for mediation, India has all options open : Sources

New Delhi, Mar 5 (UNI) India's diplomatic efforts after Pulwama terror attack and since February 26 aerial strike has evoked "solid support" for India but to suggest that some countries have come forward and offered 'mediation' role will be completely falsehood, a key government source said here.

"Let us make it very clear. We are not looking for mediation (between India and Pakistan). No body has offered us mediation," the source said on Tuesday.

"Various leaders have spoken to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.....there have been solid support but there is no talk of mediation," the source said here.

In contrast, Pakistan is the one which is looking for immediate 'intervention' of a third party, the source said.

At this juncture, the government of India is rejoicing the fact that pressure is being built up

gradually on Pakistan and New Delhi has various options.

"No country or any statement from any country has spoken about the offer for mediation. And from Indian side, it has been made clear to all that whatever is going on now is not an issue of India and Pakistan. It is the issue of terrorism," sources said.

However, it has been made clear that if there is a terror strike, the government of India reserves the right to apply all options.

India has actually "encouraged" all countries including the likes of the US, Russia and even Saudi Arabia "to tell Pakistanis to show action against terrorism".

In fact, sources said Russia and France - even after release of Wg Cdr Abhinandan - had maintained that while release of the captured pilot was a good gesture, Pakistan ought to take actions against terrorism.

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