In this handout photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on January 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) and US President Barack Obama hug as the president and US First Lady Michelle Obama (L) arrive in New Delhi. PHOTO: AFP
It now emerges that President Obama had “privately encouraged and pushed” Mr Modi to re-examine his approach to Pakistan, which has been rather less than conciliatory since his election. It is of particular note that President Obama pointed out that Pakistan was taking “serious steps” to eradicate terrorism, and had moved decisively to ensure that the alleged architect of the Mumbai attacks remained behind bars. There is now a suggestion that talks may resume as early as sometime in March and if so, then this is a move that we warmly welcome. It should be no surprise that it has taken so long for this information to surface, as India does not want to be seen to be taking ‘dictation’ from the US. That said, the relationship between India and the US is undergoing an overhaul itself, and that may play in the end to the advantage of Pakistan in that the US may be able to create wiggle-room where before there was none. Ideally, both sides should elect to recast their paradigms, but that may be a wiggle too far — at least for now.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2015.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I believe the writer is correct in his assessment. Deal to talk to Pakistan was struck on President Obama's private prodding. It has been understood that Pakistan will take few steps to produce the conducive environment for talks by handing over D Company members and JUD leadership involved in terrorism against India. Pakistan have also promised to stop military operations against BLA and Baluchi people in 2 months as well granting access to international observers to visit and monitor the situation.India will review it AFSPA districts by Districts and simultaneously Pakistan will pull its forces from Kashmir and Baluchistan to be sued against the terrorists in Frontier area. Lets both hope and pray this deal see the light of the day as it serve the interests of both countries..
Anyone who even cursorily follows the proceedings in WTO knows how hard it is to push India once it has taken a principled stand. Pakistan, on the other hand, is known to have junked their entire Afghanistan policy on receiving a single phone call from Richard Holbrooke.
Amazing that free and fair media does not ask the question on why Pakistan is so desperate to re-start the stalled talks. Pakistan should realize that India has now drawn the red lines so there is even less.... wiggle room.
India has always left the wiggle room open. It has gone back from it's maximalist position of needing Pakistan & china vacate the portions of Kashmir under their control. India has shown its inclination to settle for LOC as border.
But, Pakistan is stuck on the position as it stood in 1950 - plebiscite in Kashmir. India will not accept any solution that may result in secession of Muslim majority Kashmir valley from India.
So, a wiggle room would only be created by loosening the maximalist stand on the part of Pakistan - i.e. Letting go off the demand for Plebiscite and accepting LOC as border.
Would you not have that Pakistan herself will gently wiggle India to participate in peace process? I do understand that you may depend on the UN to a certain extent, but to bank on -- almost supplicating -- USA does not sound nice. However powerful a country it may be.
Bechara Nawaz Sharif, he has to take permission from Raheel Sharif.
If Pakistan is not going to meet the seperatists, then it means it has backtracked from its position, which is welcome.
If it does and talks still continue, then it means India has.
I bet Pakistan will not meet the Hurriat, else Modi will promptly cancel the talks again. This time, Pakistan can't say "you didn't warn us!".
"Meanwhile, India sees Pakistan through a lens whose focus has changed little since Partition and is badly in need of recalibration"
And what position would that be? All wars between India and Pakistan were started by Pakistan. Your own reired Air Marshal Asghar Khan says so. The proxy war in Kashmir too was started by Pakistan. India has no interest in grabbing Pakistani territory. It will however defend its own land and people. This is a sane position and needs no recalibration.
@Tani: I agree with almost every thing ou said except we are not allies. Leaders of oth countries have said we are strategic oartners. That means allies. Being allies does not mean taking dictation. In any relationship there is give and take and that is what India wold consider prior to making a decision.
Having said that, entire news is a hoax. Both Obama and Kerry were pretty upfront aout their message to Pakistan. If they wanted to say something to India, they would have. On a range of issues American position differs from Indian and when it does, they have no hesitation in saying so. The very fact that Obama did not say anything about India Pakistan relations and limited his talk about Pakistan to terrorism, shows that Pakistani foreign office is clutching at straws to bring in some type of parity which. They find increasinly elusive.
You don't need Obama's nudge for India to talk. Let Pakistan stop pushing the terrorists in the guise of cross border firing and stop using terrorism as a state policy. Then you don't need to whine and cry to everyone. Pakistanis should realize that each nation belongs to different league. As long as your army believes that asymmetric war, long lasting peace will be a pipe dream.
Editor - It now emerges that President Obama had “privately encouraged and pushed” Mr Modi to re-examine his approach to Pakistan
You cannot speculate based on your hopes and dreams. Do tell, from where did the this supposed "news" emerge from ? When Obama met Modi privately, only two people were present - Obama and Modi - so which one of these two told you about this ?
The Pakistani media thinks they are being patriotic by keeping their readers ignorant and by propagating propaganda of the establishment ? You are digging their graves...
Only on two conditions would india engage in talks. And that was the same before america came or went from india, 1. No talks to Hurriyat "in india" before meeting indian ministers. . 2. Infiltration that result in cross border voilation should stop. So if this news is true, that means someone has backtracked from meeting Hurriyat in india. America can never dictate india. We aren't allies, nor we take aid from them. To depend or worry about them.They supply us weapons. And if it displeases india we switch to israel,russia,France to buy. Just like we did when we rejected Usa javelins missiles for israel weaponry. So we don't lisen to them unless it's something or our benefit. It had told us to break ties with Iran/get off iran-pak-india gas pipeline. We refused. They tried all sort pressure,buttering, it didn't work. Finally they offered india civil nuclear deal and entry in NSG in exchange of leaving the gas project. And we took the deal that was best for our people long term. Even Americas statement was. "Of Course we would like them to talk. But scope,scale of talks is up to them to decide not america". It will never interfere in India's matter.