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By KETAKI GOKHALE and PAUL BECKETT
NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is preparing to explain an agreement to improve relations with Pakistan after facing sustained political flak from his opponents -- and lukewarm support from his own party -- on the issue.
Mr. Singh is scheduled to address parliament Wednesday in a speech an official from his party said "will set at rest all questions, apprehensions and speculations relating to the India-Pakistan joint statement."
In the joint statement two weeks ago, Mr. Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to decouple discussions about terrorism from broader talks between the two countries on issues such as trade and travel.
That was a risky stance with an Indian public that has been particularly wary of its neighbor since November's attacks in Mumbai, in which over 160 people were killed by terrorists from Pakistan.
The statement, which Mr. Singh brought home from a meeting at a multinational summit in Egypt, also included a resolution to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and a passing reference to the insurgency in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, another sore point between the two neighbors. Pakistani officials have suggested that India is helping the Baluch separatists, a charge India denies.
The agreement stood in stark contrast to comments Mr. Singh had made a month earlier during a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Russia. There, he tersely told Mr. Zardari that his mandate for talks with Pakistan was limited to how the country handled terrorism.
Some observers say the prime minister, 76 years old, is willing to take the same kind of political risk on Pakistan that he did to ensure passage of a civilian nuclear-technology deal with the U.S. last summer.
At the time, Mr. Singh's willingness to face a vote of no confidence in Parliament was viewed by many as a rare sign of his determination to push through an issue he considered crucial to India's future. His brinksmanship, including the recruitment of a party to his coalition when leftist partners withdrew, paid off when the government won the no-confidence vote and the deal went through.
Since that political battle, Mr. Singh's Congress party, with its United Progressive Alliance coalition, scored a convincing victory in May's elections. He has been emboldened to stand up for causes he wants to leave as his legacy, given that he is unlikely to stand for another five-year term, his supporters say.
In an unusual series of public comments, Mr. Singh has stuck to his course on Pakistan. On Saturday, he dismissed the notion there was any difference of opinion between him and his party. A spokesman for the prime minister wasn't available to comment Monday.
Mr. Singh was born in prepartition British India, in a small town called Gah, which is now part of Pakistan.
"He doesn't want to walk away from Pakistan," said Tarun Das, chief mentor of the Confederation of Indian Industry, an industry trade group. "He wants to leave a legacy of peace with Pakistan. He won't give up."
The personal role Mr. Singh has taken on the nuclear deal and Pakistan is in contrast to his often timid, soft-spoken style. At many points during his last administration, those qualities were viewed as weaknesses in the face of governing allies who opposed his agenda.
Some observers say they wouldn't be surprised if Congress party leaders press Mr. Singh to retract his dovish statements.
"There may be a political move to make him toe the party line," specifically, that India has to see Pakistan take tangible action against terrorism before it will resume talks, said Seema Desai, a London-based analyst with consulting firm Eurasia Group.
Ms. Desai added that the prime ministers' joint agreement has the "potential to become a big political stick that the opposition will beat him with continually."
Even if Mr. Singh resists pressure from his party, bringing peace between the neighbors will be a struggle. Among other concerns, many Indian and U.S. officials are skeptical Pakistan has sufficient determination to stamp out domestic terror networks that target India.
Singh Faces Doubts on Pakistan Strategy - WSJ.com
NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is preparing to explain an agreement to improve relations with Pakistan after facing sustained political flak from his opponents -- and lukewarm support from his own party -- on the issue.
Mr. Singh is scheduled to address parliament Wednesday in a speech an official from his party said "will set at rest all questions, apprehensions and speculations relating to the India-Pakistan joint statement."
In the joint statement two weeks ago, Mr. Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to decouple discussions about terrorism from broader talks between the two countries on issues such as trade and travel.
That was a risky stance with an Indian public that has been particularly wary of its neighbor since November's attacks in Mumbai, in which over 160 people were killed by terrorists from Pakistan.
The statement, which Mr. Singh brought home from a meeting at a multinational summit in Egypt, also included a resolution to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and a passing reference to the insurgency in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, another sore point between the two neighbors. Pakistani officials have suggested that India is helping the Baluch separatists, a charge India denies.
The agreement stood in stark contrast to comments Mr. Singh had made a month earlier during a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Russia. There, he tersely told Mr. Zardari that his mandate for talks with Pakistan was limited to how the country handled terrorism.
Some observers say the prime minister, 76 years old, is willing to take the same kind of political risk on Pakistan that he did to ensure passage of a civilian nuclear-technology deal with the U.S. last summer.
At the time, Mr. Singh's willingness to face a vote of no confidence in Parliament was viewed by many as a rare sign of his determination to push through an issue he considered crucial to India's future. His brinksmanship, including the recruitment of a party to his coalition when leftist partners withdrew, paid off when the government won the no-confidence vote and the deal went through.
Since that political battle, Mr. Singh's Congress party, with its United Progressive Alliance coalition, scored a convincing victory in May's elections. He has been emboldened to stand up for causes he wants to leave as his legacy, given that he is unlikely to stand for another five-year term, his supporters say.
In an unusual series of public comments, Mr. Singh has stuck to his course on Pakistan. On Saturday, he dismissed the notion there was any difference of opinion between him and his party. A spokesman for the prime minister wasn't available to comment Monday.
Mr. Singh was born in prepartition British India, in a small town called Gah, which is now part of Pakistan.
"He doesn't want to walk away from Pakistan," said Tarun Das, chief mentor of the Confederation of Indian Industry, an industry trade group. "He wants to leave a legacy of peace with Pakistan. He won't give up."
The personal role Mr. Singh has taken on the nuclear deal and Pakistan is in contrast to his often timid, soft-spoken style. At many points during his last administration, those qualities were viewed as weaknesses in the face of governing allies who opposed his agenda.
Some observers say they wouldn't be surprised if Congress party leaders press Mr. Singh to retract his dovish statements.
"There may be a political move to make him toe the party line," specifically, that India has to see Pakistan take tangible action against terrorism before it will resume talks, said Seema Desai, a London-based analyst with consulting firm Eurasia Group.
Ms. Desai added that the prime ministers' joint agreement has the "potential to become a big political stick that the opposition will beat him with continually."
Even if Mr. Singh resists pressure from his party, bringing peace between the neighbors will be a struggle. Among other concerns, many Indian and U.S. officials are skeptical Pakistan has sufficient determination to stamp out domestic terror networks that target India.
Singh Faces Doubts on Pakistan Strategy - WSJ.com
