Islamabad:
Ajmal Kasab's conviction by an Indian court for involvement in the Mumbai attacks drew mixed reaction from the Pakistani media on Tuesday, with a section saying that it should help the victims' families to put a lid on an "ugly chapter" while another warning that it "will impact" the Indo-Pak ties.
As Pakistan is still blamed by India for not doing enough to clamp down on "groups that are capable of future Mumbai-style attacks," Islamabad could "wash away this perception" by proceeding expeditiously with the trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, accused of involvement in the carnage, the Dawn said.
"Like it or not, there are fundamental issues between the two countries that have to be resolved; but by holding everything hostage to the terrorism issue, India may have in fact given the terrorists a perverse incentive to try harder the next time," it warned in an editorial.
"India needs to accept that peace in South Asia will not be possible until the legitimate and genuine issues of concern to Pakistan are resolved to the satisfaction of both sides," it said.
However, the conviction on Monday of Pakistani national Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the Mumbai attacks, should "help give some closure to the victims' families and India on an ugly chapter in the country's history."
The Dawn said Pakistan and India also need to learn "the right lessons from experience," including measures to prevent another Mumbai-like incident.
It said, "First, it is fairly clear that the attacks were launched to push Pakistan and India apart, and perhaps even to the brink of war. That common sense ultimately
prevailed is a good thing. But there were enough warning signs to suggest that common sense may not necessarily prevail the next time, so everything possible must be done to prevent a repeat."
Both countries also need to realise that "South Asia and the relations between Islamabad and Delhi are only becoming more complicated as the years pass by," it said.
The two sides will need "great will" to tackle several pressing issues, the daily cautioned.
"Afghanistan has become a bone of contention; military doctrines such as India's Cold Start can lead to undesirable consequences in a nuclear-armed subcontinent; and perhaps potentially more serious than any other dispute the water shortage places an increasing burden on the leadership of the two countries," it said.
The Nation, which is known for its anti-India views, said Kasab's conviction "was no surprise, given how the deck was loaded against him from the start."
As Pakistan is still blamed by India for not doing enough to clamp down on "groups that are capable of future Mumbai-style attacks," Islamabad could "wash away this perception" by proceeding expeditiously with the trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, accused of involvement in the carnage, the Dawn said.
"Like it or not, there are fundamental issues between the two countries that have to be resolved; but by holding everything hostage to the terrorism issue, India may have in fact given the terrorists a perverse incentive to try harder the next time," it warned in an editorial.
"India needs to accept that peace in South Asia will not be possible until the legitimate and genuine issues of concern to Pakistan are resolved to the satisfaction of both sides," it said.
However, the conviction on Monday of Pakistani national Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the Mumbai attacks, should "help give some closure to the victims' families and India on an ugly chapter in the country's history."
The Dawn said Pakistan and India also need to learn "the right lessons from experience," including measures to prevent another Mumbai-like incident.
It said, "First, it is fairly clear that the attacks were launched to push Pakistan and India apart, and perhaps even to the brink of war. That common sense ultimately
prevailed is a good thing. But there were enough warning signs to suggest that common sense may not necessarily prevail the next time, so everything possible must be done to prevent a repeat."
Both countries also need to realise that "South Asia and the relations between Islamabad and Delhi are only becoming more complicated as the years pass by," it said.
The two sides will need "great will" to tackle several pressing issues, the daily cautioned.
"Afghanistan has become a bone of contention; military doctrines such as India's Cold Start can lead to undesirable consequences in a nuclear-armed subcontinent; and perhaps potentially more serious than any other dispute the water shortage places an increasing burden on the leadership of the two countries," it said.
The Nation, which is known for its anti-India views, said Kasab's conviction "was no surprise, given how the deck was loaded against him from the start."
