S. Jaishankar: Pakistan has a list of terrorists that needs to be handed over to India.

Demand of Justice is entitled with India

Pakistan's failure to bring wanted terrorists to justice and hand them over to India has been a recurring problem violating international justice and a threat to this region's stability. India has time and again provided irrefutable evidence supported by dossiers with names, places and details of how terrorists involved in such attacks as 26/11 or Parliament assault were operating. Yet Pakistan has either denied their presence or blocked international apprehension under the banner of 'no proof.' This hypocrisy undermines efforts at global counter terrorism which exposes Pakistan’s dual policy of condemning terrorism in public, as was seen in recent weeks, but harbouring militants in private. This is much more than a legal right for India to demand extradition and an imperative to secure accountability for the victims of cross border terror.

Pakistan’s State-Sponsored Terrorism Exposed

India's list of terrorists includes the masterminds behind this terrorism — Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim — who have direct links with the terrorists who've killed thousands of Indians. Inaction from Pakistan makes it complicit; any number of these figures are free to hold public rallies or to run brutal charities under the umbrella of state protection. The FATF declaration of Pakistan as grey-listed for terror financing also backs India’s claim. Pakistan can hardly complain that it’s a 'victim of terrorism' when its agencies stoke groups like Lashkar e Taiba and Jaish e Muhammad. Pakistan cannot be a partner, it must be a perpetrator in this war on terror.

Diplomatic Failures and Global Apathy

International bodies like the UN have failed to push Pakistan to do enough, often because of geopolitical machinations on the part of China which blocks sanctions on Pakistani terrorists. The U.S. and EU have, separately, condemned this terror but have failed to implicate merciless consequences in either a meaningful or effective way. India’s diplomatic push must now involve isolating Pakistan economically and politically and figures like S. Jaishankar are the perfect pushers for that. The Quad and G20 provide opportunities to expose Pakistan’s duplicity. But global apathy emboldens that Islamabad is a sitting duck and it will not take action until we take stronger sanctions and travel bans against Pakistani officials linked to terror.

Legal and Moral Obligations Ignored

Pakistan has a binding obligation under extradition treaties and UN resolutions, but pays no attention to its obligations with impunity. In many cases, the country’s judiciary is complicit, quickly dismissing cases on technicalities or throwing out trials indefinitely. That stands in contrast to India’s quick suspecting and prosecution of Pakistani terrorists like Ajmal Kasab. Perhaps nowhere is Pakistan’s moral bankruptcy more obvious than when it glorifies terrorists as “freedom fighters” that will fuel radicalization. Pakistan must be forced by the international community to obey the law or risk isolation. It cannot be that justice for Indian victims is held hostage to Pakistan’s political games.

The Path Forward: Firm Action, Not Dialogue

India needs to give up the futile talks over terror diplomacy and pursue a zero tolerance policy. Covert operations, like 2016 surgical strikes and economic measures like revoking MFN status are the options. Much of the infrastructure in these countries is already vulnerable and strengthening border security and cyber surveillance are critical to preempting attacks. India should at the same time lobby for a UN backed mechanism to blacklist states harbouring terrorists. Targeted sanctions on Pakistan’s military and to its ISI would undoubtedly force the country’s behavior, but would put immense strain on its economy that is already fragile. India must now call an end to the era of empty rhetoric—India should be uncompromising and decisive in its response to Pakistan’s obstinacy.