Talks are the only way to put an end to terrorism This refers to the editorial, “The Pakistan sojourn” (August 4). Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's decision to attend the South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Home Ministers' meet, ignoring terror threats, is a step in the right direction. Saarc is an ideal platform for India to take into confidence friendly countries in its fight against terror. Ironically, Pakistan, which has borne the brunt of terror of the worst kind, is yet to come to terms with ways of handling its internal enemies. Islamabad's refusal to acknowledge the ‘non-state’ actors operating from its soil, and its continuous perpetration of cross-border terrorism, is disturbing and detriemtal to its interests.
Evidently, Singh hopes to engage the attention of member countries and infuse sense in an adamant Islamabad. Moreover, it appears that there can be no substitute for dialogue in bridging the nearly beyond-repair attitude of Pakistan. Talks are the only way to halt terror on its track. However, Islamabad has to be applauded for arranging a fool-proof security to Singh.