Relations of India-Pak from 2004 to 2011:

The period from 2004 to 2011 was a mix of ups and downs in the Indo-Pak relations. It
witnessed both positive developments and setbacks. The journey towards peace and stability
between the two countries continued, with efforts being made to address various issues and
build stronger ties.

2004:
Composite dialogue:
Vajpayee and Musharraf hold direct talks at the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad in January,
and the two countries’ foreign secretaries meet later in the year. This year marks the beginning
of the Composite Dialogue Process, in which bilateral meetings are held between officials at
various levels of government (including foreign ministers, foreign secretaries, military officers,
border security officials, anti-narcotics officials and nuclear experts). Composite Dialogue was a
structured dialogue process that covered various issues between India and Pakistan. It began in
February 2004 and continued until November 2008. The dialogue addressed topics such as
Kashmir, terrorism, trade, and people-to-people contact. It aimed to find common ground and
resolve long-standing disputes. In November, on the eve of a visit to Indian-administered
Kashmir, the new Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, announces that India will be
reducing its deployment of troops there. In order to resolve the Kashmir issue, Musharraf
proposed a new format to discuss the Kashmir issue. He gave a four point agenda that include
softening of LoC, self-governance/autonomy but not total independence of Kashmir,
demilitarization of borders and 4 joint management and supervision by both the states. This
proposal was discussed through the back channel and the subjects were kept away from the
media and the public until a final agreement could be reached. But nothing substantial could be
achieved. Finally, the whole peace process came to a standstill owing to Samjhuta Express
Bombings of 2007 and Mumbai attacks of 2008.

2006:
In 2006 there were a few notable events in Indo-Pak relations. One of the significant
developments was the resumption of the Composite Dialogue between the two countries.
However, there were also instances of tension and challenges during that time. Cross-border
ceasefire violations and sporadic incidents of violence continued to strain the relationship
between India and Pakistan. These challenges highlighted the complexities involved in resolving
long-standing issues between the two countries. Later India redeploys 5,000 troops from
Jammu and Kashmir, citing an “improvement” in the situation there, but the two countries are
unable to reach an agreement on withdrawing forces from the Siachen glacier. Also in
September President Musharraf and Prime Minister Singh agree to put into place an India-
Pakistan institutional anti-terrorism mechanism. Despite the ups and downs, efforts were made
to maintain diplomatic channels and engage in dialogue. The year 2006 witnessed both positive
developments and ongoing challenges in the Indo-Pak relations.

2007:
The samjhautha express bombing:
On February 18, the train service between India and Pakistan the “Samjhauta Express” is
bombed near Panipat, north of New Delhi. Samjhauta Express was a train service that operated
between India and Pakistan as a symbol of peace and friendship. However, it was targeted by
terrorists, resulting in a devastating bombing. Sixty-eight people are killed, and dozens injured.
The majority of the victims were Pakistani nationals who were traveling on the train. The
bombing not only caused immense loss of life but also further strained the already delicate
relationship between India and Pakistan. Both the Indian and Pakistani
governments condemned the attack, and officials on both sides speculated that the
perpetrators intended to disrupt improving relations between the two nations, since the attack
came just a day before Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri was to arrive in New
Delhi to resume peace talks with Indian leaders. Initially, the Muslims and particularly banned
outfits from Pakistan were blamed in all these incidents but later on, Hindu chauvinists
confessed their involvement in these acts of terror. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA)
charged eight people in the terrorist attack, including Swami Aseem Anand, a Hindu cleric
formerly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. While Aseem Anand has been
released on bail, three persons charged in the case are absconding, and three others are in
prison. The alleged mastermind, Sunil Joshi, was killed in 2007.

2008:
Mumbai Attacks:
The Mumbai Attacks occurred on November 26, 2008, when a group of 10 terrorists , members
of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant organization from Pakistan, carried out a series of coordinated
shooting and bombing attacks in Mumbai, India. The attacks on the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower,
the Oberoi Trident Hotel, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital,
Nariman House Jewish community center, Metro Cinema, St Xavier’s College and in a lane near
the Times of India office, prompt an almost three-day siege of The Taj. The attacks, which drew
widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until Saturday
29 November 2008. A total of 175 people died, including nine of the attackers, with more than
300 injured. By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been
secured by the Mumbai Police and security forces. On 29 November, India's National Security
Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers, it
culminated in the death of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and ended the attacks.
Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive, says the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-
Taiba and were controlled from Pakistan corroborating initial claims from the Indian
Government. Pakistan later confirmed that the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a
Pakistani citizen.

2009:
Negotiations of Pakistan and India Related to 26/11 attacks:

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the
attacks. Pakistan promised to assist in the investigation and President Zardari vowed "strong
action against any Pakistani elements found involved in the attack". Pakistan initially denied that
Pakistanis were responsible for the attacks, blaming plotters in Bangladesh and Indian criminals,
a claim refuted by India, and saying they needed information from India on other bombings
first. Pakistani authorities finally agreed that Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani on 7 January 2009,
and registered a case against three other Pakistani nationals. The Indian government supplied
evidence to Pakistan and other governments, in the form of interrogations, weapons, and call
records of conversations during the attacks. In addition, Indian government officials said that
the attacks were so sophisticated that they must have had official backing from Pakistani
"agencies", an accusation denied by Pakistan
Investigation:
According to investigations, the attackers travelled by sea from Karachi, Pakistan, across
the Arabian Sea, hijacked the Indian fishing trawler Kuber, killed the crew of four, then forced
the captain to sail to Mumbai. After murdering the captain, the attackers entered Mumbai on
a rubber dinghy. The captain of Kuber, Amar Singh Solanki, had earlier been imprisoned for six
months in a Pakistani jail for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters. The attackers stayed and were
trained by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in a safehouse at Azizabad in Karachi before boarding a small
boat for Mumbai. In August, India gives Pakistan a new dossier of evidence regarding the
Mumbai attacks, asking it to prosecute Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa,
an Islamic charity with ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to investigation. he attackers used at
least three SIM cards purchased on the Indian side of the border with Bangladesh. There were
also reports of a SIM card purchased in the US state of New Jersey. Police had also mentioned
that Faheem Ansari, an Indian Lashkar operative who had been arrested in February 2008, had
scouted the Mumbai targets for the November attacks. Later, the police arrested two Indian
suspects, Mikhtar Ahmad, who is from Srinagar in Kashmir, and Tausif Rehman, a resident of
Kolkata. They supplied the SIM cards, one in Calcutta, and the other in New Delhi.

2010/2011:
 In 2010, there were several significant developments. One of the key events was the
resumption of the India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue, which had been suspended since
the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
 Another notable event was the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and
Pakistan in Islamabad. This meeting was seen as a positive step towards improving
bilateral relations and fostering trust between the two countries.
 In May, Ajmal Kasab is found guilty of murder, conspiracy and of waging war against
India in the Mumbai attacks case. He is sentenced to death.
 In 2011, efforts continued to improve relations. In March, the Foreign Secretaries of both
countries met in New Delhi to discuss various issues, including counter-terrorism
measures and the promotion of trade and cultural exchanges.
 On 10 February 2011, India agreed to resume talks with Pakistan which were suspended
after 26/11 Mumbai Attacks. India had put on hold all the diplomatic relations saying it
will only continue if Pakistan will act against the accused of Mumbai attacks.
 Cricket matches have been used as a platform for diplomatic engagement and people-to-
people contact between India and Pakistan. Notable instances include the 2004 cricket
series between the two countries, which helped in fostering positive relations. Another
significant event was the 2011 World Cup semifinal match between India and Pakistan in
India.