ANALYSIS
For a change, external affairs minister SM Krishna’s three-day visit to Pakistan has produced some result: The two estranged neighbours have decided to relax the visa regime.
For a change, external affairs minister SM Krishna’s three-day visit to Pakistan has produced some result: The two estranged neighbours have decided to relax the visa regime. The agreement on visa liberalisation agreed much earlier was pending for weeks, if not months, and as such signing on the dotted lines was just a matter of formality. However, for the threatened peace constituency of the Indian subcontinent, it is really frustrating that it took years even to provide a semblance of normality to the relationship.
For India and Pakistan — two dominions carved out of the same domain — to continue to strive for a peaceful coexistence is entirely a just expectation. What else is the option? Is it possible to even think of peace while the most scary scenario of unforeseen destruction looms large on the horizon of the subcontinent? The ace cartoonist of a national daily (The Hindu) must be commended for portraying the ‘Indo-Pak talks’ in a manner that depicts aptly the ground realities. In the cartoon, the two foreign ministers are depicted sitting across a table lost in a Bhool Bhulaiya, maze, inside a ticking time bomb.
The continuation of the dialogue is reassuring; however, the slow pace of the process and its inability to produce tangible results at times might be frustrating. Prime minister Manmohan Singh’s heart no doubt is in the right place, he is keen to have peace with Pakistan. Still there is a big chasm between what he rightly intends to do and what he earnestly needs to do. The perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage have to be punished come what may. Pakistan has to be and should be pursued vigorously to bring to justice the criminals behind the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan’s reluctance to punish fittingly the 26/11 terrorists is pretty obvious, yet it is not the only obstacle hindering the peace process taking off. Manmohan Singh’s helplessness to overcome his timidity is actually constraining the process. Imtiaz Alam, secretary general of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and a well-known Pakistani journalist, hardly needs an introduction as an ardent supporter of peace with India. He has been many a times attacked by the extremists in Pakistan for his apparently pro-India views. As such, Alam is not a habitual Indian basher, but his latest observations on Manmohan’s Singh known inabilities are not be easily rejected. He said: “Restrained by over-cautiousness, prime minister Manmohan Singh may miss his second chance... He squandered his first chance with the all-powerful President-COAS General Pervez Musharraf when they were almost close to strike a deal on the most intractable issues of all — Kashmir”.
Even the worst detractor of President Asif Ali Zardari may find it difficult to doubt his intentions to normalise relationship with India. Whether he is able to carry along all the stakeholders, including the powerful Pakistan army, has always been a big question mark. It seems that for the first time in recent history, all the important power centres in Pakistan are backing Zardari in his efforts to sort out long-pending issues with India. There seems to be some merit in Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s assertions that “there is a political consensus in Pakistan to move ahead in the dialogue process with India”. And “the fact that Pakistan has changed the position it held on to for the past 45 years for normalising trade ties is an open testimony to it” sounds more convincing. There cannot be more disingenuous and self-destructive proposition if it is true that Manmohan Singh’s reluctance to visit Pakistan is due to the instance of the hardliners, it is believed that his visit to Pakistan at this juncture will bring to end Pakistan’s international isolation. If the petty parochial interests are supreme, let Manmohan Singh not visit Pakistan.
However, Dr Singh’s refusal to visit Pakistan, if the isolation theory is to be believed, will inevitably add to Pakistan’s international isolation. As a result, who will get strengthened in Pakistan— peace constituency or the hardliners threatening a thousand-year war against India? A closed mind approach against Pakistan suits the macho mindset well; it also helps to cover up the gross inabilities of the rulers to forge a peace process when opportunities were ripe to strike a most favourable deal, suiting to the best interests of India. Since historians have already described Dr Singh as a failure, it is not difficult to imagine his place in the realms of history. Due to his “timidity, complacency and intellectual dishonesty... more and more, he has become a tragic figure in our history”.
Pavitra Rishta fame Usha Nadkarni cries inconsolably as she remembers her brother's death, watch
MASSIVE discount on Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 15, check here how to grab this deal
Juhi Chawla takes holy dip at Mahakumbh 2025, calls it 'most beautiful morning in her life'
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato launches first AI product ‘Nugget,’ says will give it for free to…
Champions Trophy 2025: 5 major records that Virat Kohli can break in this tournament
Shweta Basu Prasad says she was bullied on Telugu film set: 'I was called...'
Gujarat: Lion brings traffic to a halt at Bhavnagar-Somnath highway, watch viral video
India's Got Latent row: SC grants interim relief from arrest to Ranveer Allahbadia
Tesla begins hiring in India after PM Modi-Musk meet, announces multiple job roles in...
Gurugram woman shares interview experience at Zomato, CEO Deepinder Goyal reacts, says...
'Sir ek kiss ho jaye': Paps unleash a horror welcome on Udit Narayan
Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt REUNITE for Hollywood thriller, filming begins in Saudi Arabia: Report
Gujarat: Videos of women patients leaked on Telegram, YouTube, probe ordered
South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home, cause of death revealed
Canada: Delta Airlines plane crashes at Toronto Pearson airport, flips upside down, several injured
Meet Gyanesh Kumar, IIT graduate, who becomes new Chief Election Commissioner
DNA TV Show: RSS' Bihar model ahead of Assembly elections in state
WPL 2025: Renuka, Wareham spark collapse as RCB bowl out Delhi Capitals for 141
Champions Trophy 2025: Ex-Pak cricketer says Pakistan don't deserve to win, 'Chal jaaye toh...'
Samantha Ruth Prabhu's Dippam Dappam dance leaves Chennai students awestruck, viral video
Breaking MS Dhoni's record is no big deal for Dinesh Karthik: 'It’s not something...'
Amid Mahakumbh rush, video of vehicle running on railway track goes viral; here's why
Who is Rohit Chopra? Indian-origin businessman called arrogant by JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon
All eyes on Mohammed bin Salman, as Trump, Putin and Zelensky set to meet in Saudi Arabia for...
WATCH: BJP office bearer dances to ‘Main Hoon Don’ flashing gun, FIR filed
Nepal student death: Massive protests at Odisha's KIIT University, students demand justice
Meet man, son of famous film actor, cracked UPSC exam with full-time job, his AIR was…
Mahakumbh 2025: Fire breaks out again at Prayagraj, no casualties reported
Gautam Adani, India's second richest man, donates Rs 2000 crore for setting up 20...
‘I am not a...’: Jaya Kishori BREAKS silence on her Rs 2.6 lakh Dior bag controversy, WATCH here
Dil Madharasi Teaser: Sivakarthikeyan impresses in rugged avatar, to face off against Vidyut Jammwal
PCB breaks silence on no Indian flags in Pakistani stadiums ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Delhi residents report hearing mysterious ‘boom’ sound during earthquake; what caused it?
After Narayana Murthy's Infosys, Ratan Tata’s TCS makes BIG announcement, set to issue...
JPMorgan Chase CEO rejects hybrid work requests from employees amid layoffs says, ‘Don’t waste...'
Auspicious Start for 'Jatadhara': Mahurat ceremony held in Hyderabad
Kirill Yurovskiy: How to Build a Sustainable Fashion Brand in the UK
Bad news for Jhunjhunwala as the company loses Rs..., stock goes down by...
Audi launches Audi RS Q8 2025 in India: Know price, specifications and unique features
The Power of Ayurveda: Dr Shyam's Ayurveda Leads the Wellness Revolution in Dubai
15 Crucial Factors to Consider Before Choosing MBBS in Georgia 2025: Education Vibes
Narayana Dominates JEE Main 2025 Session 1 with Exceptional Results
Karan Johar says Yash Johar was 'heartbroken' when Amitabh Bachchan's... flopped: 'He believed...'
Meet Acharya Indravarman: The best astrologer in Bengaluru & Karnataka
How to increase your chances of getting a personal loan
After retaining Asia's richest family tag, now Mukesh Ambani's Reliance beats Apple to become...
Ex-star cricketer, wife buy luxury apartment for Rs 110000000, it is located in...
How a name change caused makers of Bira beer to lose hundreds of crores; know what happened
The Power of Networking: How IFERP memberships open doors to global opportunities for universities
India's Got Latent row: Maharashtra Cyber Cell refuses Samay Raina's special request to...
Mukesh Ambani's wife Nita Ambani makes passionate pitch for Olympics 2036, says 'India will...'