PAKISTAN POLICY IN A SHAMBLES : WHAT A CONTRAST IT WAS UNDER VAJPAYEE !
India’s independence was accompanied by the creation of Pakistan.
Partition had traumatic consequences: the killing of lakhs of innocent men, women and children, and the uprooting of crores.
Since independence, therefore, a vital touchstone for judging Government of India’s handling of external affairs has been its Pakistan Policy.
And presently, New Delhi’s Pakistan Policy is really in a shambles.
Starting with the Prime Minister’s blunder at Sharm-el-Sheikh when he announced delinking the issue of Indo-Pak dialogue from the issue of Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism, to the External Affairs Minister’s recent performance in Pakistan, never before has India’s Pakistan policy been so completely alienated from public opinion as it is today. Even within the Government, Ministers have serious reservations about the policy.
I have personally known Home Secretary G.K. Pillai as a very responsible and competent official and so when at the joint press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan’s External Affairs Minister Qureshi castigated Pillai and bracketed him with terrorist Hafeez Saeed, and I saw our foreign minister quietly swallowing the insult, I was surprised.
My surprise verily became a sense of outrage when a couple of days later, our own minister added injury to the Pakistani insult by publicly admonishing Pillai not for any fault of his but for the signal service he had rendered the country by exposing the ISI‘s role in the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai.
Shri Vajpayee became Prime Minister in 1998 and ruled the country for six years. Today, Dr. Manmohan Singh has also been in office for six years from 2004 to 2010.
NDA’s conduct of Pakistan policy was a conspicuous contrast.
This BJP- led government began its tenure with an evident disadvantage. It was perceived by Pakistan as a hostile government.
But it was this supposedly anti-Pak Government which earned encomiums from the whole world when in a move whose sincerity no one could doubt, the Prime Minister undertook a bus journey to Lahore and had a very warm interaction with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
What followed from the Pakistani side were two events that astounded everyone.
The first was Kargil, an operation executed by the Pak army without the Prime Minister’s knowledge; and the second, an army coup which installed Gen. Musharraf as President.
Nawaz Sharif was not just ousted from power, he was deported from the country.
Only a government confident of itself could have responded to all this in the manner in which Vajpayee did.
He first had the Army use its full might to quell the Kargil operation, which was the General’s own adventure. And he followed it up by another brave move : an invitation to the General for talks at Agra.
The objective was to explore if Pakistan could be persuaded to abandon the terrorist path it had adopted after being worsted in a series of military encounters.
The General came to Agra, talked, and went back empty-handed.
The General drew blank because of his brazen stand that Pakistan was not doing anything in India, and that there was indeed no such thing as terrorism in India; what was happening was a freedom struggle by the people of Kashmir and nothing else!
Agra had demonstrated to Islamabad as nothing else could have that India’s stand on cross -border terrorism would remain uncompromising.
It was this firm stand that made the General ultimately discard his Agra attitude and at Islamabad in January 2004 sign a joint statement with Vajpayee that “he will not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner ”.
One wishes both Dr.Manmohan Singh as well as S.M Krishna realise that firmness of purpose is one of the most necessary sinews of character, and one of the best instruments of success. As of today, the prime purpose of India’s Pak Policy must be to force this neighbour of ours to abandon terrorism.
L.K. Advani
New Delhi
July 25, 2010
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July 25th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I just want to tell that if we have the power in ourselves then only we can change our neighbours. But if the other is more powerful than then will change us. It’s all about balance of power.
I agree that India should persuade Pak to abandon the path of terror.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Congress leaders and workers always work for congress party and not for the nation and there can’t be a better example than what happened while Mr. Krishna was in Pakistan. If Mr. Krishna had something like patriotism in his heart he would have retaliated or defended our Home Secretary but he chose to remain silent as he was not given a free hand by the congress party. He had his hands tied on all the issues and was being guided on what to speak and on which issues to cover, so when all of sudden this incident happened he could not understand what was happening.
As for the look on Mr. Krishna’s face, CNN-IBN praised him saying “Unassuming nice guy had the last laugh.” But the fact is that we made ourselves a laughing stock in the comity of nations. People also started laughing at congress party with their skewed handling of foreign policy and will keep laughing (crying) for next 4 years !
July 26th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Respected Sir,
It is often and said that what our brave soldiers achieved in the war with Pakistan, our politicians lost on the negotiating table.
The UPA’s approach towards establishing diplomatic ties with Pakistan has always been questionable. Starting with the response of our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Sharm-El-Shekh to our Foreign Minister Mr. S.M Krishna’s performance in recently concluded Foreign Minister level talks in Islamabad, all are indicative of how this Government lacks clarity, firmness and resolve in dealing with Pakistan. Their so called lenient approach has diluted even our firm standing on Kashmir that we have held since independence. The manner in which Pakistan has recently responded makes it clear that nothing substantial or worthwhile can emerge from the never ending composite dialogue process with Pakistan.
July 26th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Dear Sir,
The conduct of our External Affairs Minister Mr.S.M.Krishna at the press conference was deplorable. He was sitting like a lame duck while his Pakistani counterpart was making derogatory remarks againt our Home Secretary.
It is pity that whatever the BJP could salvage during its six years tenure in office has been undone by the present UPA Government.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Fantastic blog Advaniji. Please continue with your blogging, so that we can spread this message through email, social networking and other forums. I will share the link of your blog through social networking. Thanks for the article.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Dear Sir,
Since independence, the Kashmir and Pakistan policies pursued by the respective Indian Governments may not bring cheers to any patriotic person and this is applicable to the policies adopted during NDA regime also. Every time we bowed to the American pressure and took decisions which were against our National interest. Because of the wrong policies on Kashmir, our military force stood at receiving end and paid heavy price not only in terms of casualties but dip in its morale. Armed forces were taken for granted by political masters and decisions were taken unilaterally by them. Even the victory of Kargil war is not at all a matter of pride for us because our enemies captured our land and challenged us on our own soil and only we made them to leave our land at the cost of heavy casualties. We failed to gather the support of other countries who were watching the development as mute spectators.
A strong and united India is the only solution to Kashmir problem.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:00 am
SIR,
I APPRECIATE YOUR OBSERVATIONS. INDIA LACKS FIRMNESS. AND ITS WORSENED BY THE FACT THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER KRISHNA IS INEXPERIENCED IN FOREIGN POLICY AND LACKS LEADERSHIP QUALITY.
I AM AWARE OF THE CERTAIN FACTS THAT THE UPA GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO GIVE KASHMIR AUTONOMY AND REDUCE THE ROLE OF THE ARMY. WHICH EFFECTIVELY MEANS THAT IT IS PLANNING TO GIVE KASHMIR TO PAKISTAN ON A PLATTER. IT IS SHOWING GREAT DISRESPECT TO OUR SOLDIERS WHO ARE LAYING DOWN THEIR LIVES TO UPHOLD THE NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY AND INTEGRITY.
July 27th, 2010 at 11:51 am
01. Some months back, the minister for Environments and Forests openly criticized the Home Ministry on its policies on China, that too during his visit ro China.
02. The Prime Minster is forced to defend the minister who is accused in 1 Lakh Crore scam.
03. The Portfolios are being ‘leased’ to the UPA alliances for 5 years. Can the Prime Minster dare to change the tainted ministers of allied parties?
04. Now the foreign minister is openly criticizing the Home ministry official, thus vindicating the Pakistan’s stand point. Is he a minister for India or Pakistan? The Prime Minister is a mute spectator.
Had the Cabinet colleagues believed that they are under the purview of Prime Minister, none of the above would have had happened. No time in the History of India we had such a weak Prime Minister. We are having a Prime Minister who is not considered as Prime among Ministers by Ministers.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Most Respected sir,
Under a defunct, authorityless PM like Manmohan Singh, we are seeing the messup, Chaos in almost every ministry. Foriegn Affairs is just the latest one in this series.
When Manmohan Singh himself messed so badly at Sharm-el-sheikh, what can we expect from known incompetent SM Krishna.
Most ministers like Sharad Pawar, Chdambaram are total failures in whatever they are doing. This all because of a non-authoratative, un-deserving and nominated PM.
We will continue to face such situations in times to come under such PM and his cabinet.
Under such circumstances, Role of strong and responsible opposition like BJP becomes all the more important to ensure that country’s interests are protected.
Best Regards Sir……….Rajat
July 27th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Dear Advaniji,
Let our foreign policy ignore PAKISTAN and concentrate on CHINA in terms of improving relations, trade and also compete with China in the WORLD ECONOMY in building infrastructure, creating employment and also strengthening its DEFENCE capabilities !
The recent talks between INDIAN and PAKISTANI foreign ministers only reminds me of a saying that “NEVER FIGHT WITH A PIG,YOU WILL NOT ONLY END UP WITH DIRT ALL OVER. BESIDES THE PIG WOULD LOVE IT.”
We need to fight terrorists sponsored by PAKISTAN with our own strength and also treat it as our OWN WAR and completely keep the US out of “OUR WAR’.
Our diplomats are continoulsy outsmarted by PAKISTANI counterparts because their intention is to gain one upmanship in their media and keep their votebanks and their ARMY blessings intact.
Lets positiom ourselves with CHINA and not with the failing state of PAKISTAN !
REGARDS
PUNEETH KUMAR
Bengaluru
July 29th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
The Congress Government is now want to lease Pakistan and ISI and for this reason they are trying to blackmailing BJP and other opposition leaders using CBI and Income Tax Department. Some of them are anti-Gujarati community and their intention to malign whole Gujarati Community and for this reason they are busy to defame Narendra Modi as they know Narendra Modi is the apple of eyes of all Gujarti community across the world.
They are trying to attck whole Gujarti sentiment and life and culture and resources of Gujarat attracts them and they want to loot all resources of Gujarat but strong and popular leader like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is stands in the way of their ambition.
Does they want to make Gujarat a colony ?
If they think so then I have to say that the unity of Gujarati people is unthinkable for them.
July 29th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
I strongly believe desire of people of India is more powerful than any institution of India. People are regarded as Gana Ganesh , people is Good and as Hindu by birth it is my birth right to pay respect to or God Janaganesh than any institution of India even supreme count.
Now there are so many self style of judges appearing in media . One self style judge of a particular electronic media is always busy to malign to Gujarati community. He is indirectly showing his partiality against Gujarati community in the same way ant-Gujarti Congress leaders using CBI to defame Narendra Modi.
What a stupid provincialism is it !!!
July 29th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Who are these provincialism minded people always trying to malign Gujarati community ?
One self style anti-Gujarati judge of a electronic media is always busy to defame Gujarati community ?
He is thinking he is the only wise man and rest of India is fool.
His job may be depend on the discretion of Congress leaders but for this reason alone, he can’t import provincialism.
July 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Why CBI is always attacking Gujrat ? Do they want to divide India ? They are calling themselves an independent intelligence agency but working like Congress’ agent.
CBI’s congress stooges should be aware that due to the wrong and inhuman policies of their master = Congress party, a lot of terrorist and separatist movements have grown up.
The provincial attitude of CBI against Gujarti community will destroy the integrity of whole India.
July 31st, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Earlier CBI had a glorious history but present officers of CBI have forgotten their glorious past and now working as a wing of Congress party.
If Congress is creating pressure on their high officials , they should complain it to general people of India and Gujarati Community across the world and it is their legal right to complain against Congress party’s illegal order to malign the whole Gujarti community.
They shouldn’t obey the order of Congress party as this order of Congress party is totally illegal. They should work in an transparent way and not as an agent of Congress party.
August 1st, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Sir,
Every Indian has a very peculiar quality except some of them; he can answer your all the questions like an expert though he may not know the ABC of the topic. Actually it is a negative quality if you answer like that. In the same way when anybody becomes minister he must develop inside him some sense of responsibility. He should study some literature of the ministry concerned and gather a lot of knowledge of it so that he may not damage the dignity of the country. If he doesn’t have the capacity to understand the subject he shouldn’t take charge of that portfolio which is allotted to him on the moral ground. Just to blame others is not a good quality for any respectable man.