Fatima Ahmad, Pakistan
Surjeet Singh, a convicted Indian accused of spying in Pakistan, has been released in June this year after almost three decades of imprisonment. Earlier, the announcement was made for another Indian spy named Sarabjeet Singh, caught in late 90s under the same accusation and also for terrorist attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad. On the eleventh hour, a statement released from Presidency rectifies that Surjeet and not Sarabjeet, will be released as he has completed his term of life imprisonment. This clarification of President House soured the situation. On the other hand, India was expecting and then started demanding the release of Sarabjeet Singh. It was said that Dr. Khalil Chishti, who had been sentenced in India for 30 years was released on the pledge that Pakistan would release Sarabjeet Singh. In fact there is no resemblance between the cases of Sarabjeet and Dr. Khalil, as Khalil was arrested on the allegation that he had murdered a man in a local fight. While Sarabjeet was accused of terrorism and court proved that he had conducted bomb blasts in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. In the earlier years of imprisonment, India didn’t recognize Sarabjeet as an Indian, but later on in 2006 they claimed that he is an Indian.
From the time of independence both countries have bundle of unresolved problem. Like Kashmir, Siachin and Sir Creek maritime border. Each side has inflicted injuries on the other. Confidence Building Measures (CBM’s) should be taken by both sides and Government should prepare effective agendas for dialogue. Every country is Sovereign and nobody sacrifice the sovereignty of the state. All that we need to understand is that peaceful and smooth relation with neighboring country is beyond the ego and anger.
