Is Pak such a good friend that Govt can't call it a 'terror state'?

Independent Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar moved the 'The Declaration of Countries as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill, 2016', hoping to repeat the feat of the 'The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014', the last independent member's bill to be passed by the Rajya Sabha. 

A Private Member's Bill, which seeks to declare Pakistan a country sponsoring terrorism, will be opposed by the government in Parliament.

The bill seeks to call out states like Pakistan that continue to associate, promote, patronise and sponsor terrorism against our nation" and provides for snapping all economic and trade relations with that country. 

"For decades we have remained engaged with Pakistan in an attempt to draw it into the mainstream. This Bill is to finally put into motion the process of calling terror sponsors to account," Chandrasekhar told PTI.

Interestingly, it should be noted that the current government had made many promises before the elections, especially with regards to the hard treatment that would be meted out to Pakistan. However, surgical strikes aside, those promises have proven to be largely hollow for the most part. 

Declaring Pakistan a terror state, after all, is merely a confirmation of the reality of the situation. Is there anyone who denies the state exports a large number of terrorists daily? And even one, incidentally, is too many. 

But that was not meant to be, as the bill was dead on arrival, with no support from the government. And as this move was confirmed long before the debate, the Rajya Sabha was mostly empty as well. Subramaniyan Swamy was the biggest BJP face to pass remarks during the 'debate'.

When questioned by PTI, a Home Ministry official had this to say - "India can't declare any country a 'Terror State' as it has to maintain diplomatic relations with all countries. Besides, in principle it is very rare that government supports any Private Member's Bill," a Home Ministry official said.

The Home Ministry conveyed to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about its opposition to the Bill, saying such a move may "jeopardise" international relations. 

There are many questioned that can be made. Does the government not consider this a 'strong' action against Pakistan? When our soldiers routinely are killed by Pakistan-backed agents, are their lives less important than 'international relations'? 

And perhaps most importantly, why are we having any relations with a country that is best friends with our enemies and openly works day and night for our destruction? 

The bill has been withdrawn, but all the questions remain.

• Pakistan
• India