The writer is a consulting editor with The Statesman and writes widely for several newspapers in India
India and Pakistan keep a hawk’s eye watch on developments in each other’s countries. Elections, thus, are no exception, with Delhi households avidly discussing Pakistan’s internal affairs, such as the appointment of well-known journalist Najam Sethi as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab and the return of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to his country after four long years in virtual exile. General (retd) Musharraf is, of course, dominating Indian discourse towards the run-up to the elections in Pakistan. And for good reasons, starting with Kargil, moving through the Agra summit, touching on his famous Kashmir “solution” and ending with his exit from Pakistan after cracking down on the judiciary and the Lal Masjid. Significantly, the chattering classes of Delhi in particular had moved from a “hate Musharraf” position to an almost warm, welcoming posture through this journey, and hence, found it difficult to cope with the fact that the escalating Musharraf barometer here was actually coinciding with a dipping barometer in Pakistan. There is clearly something ironic in the fact that New Delhi refused to recognise the general and do business with him when he was rather popular in Pakistan, and discovered his “qualities” just after Pakistanis had decided to shun him. The result was that the former president of Pakistan seemed easier on Indian television channels than on Pakistani talk shows, where his nervousness and irritation was often more than apparent.
The fact that the general has returned to full-time politics does not surprise anyone here. At least, not more than the fact that he has actually defied threats to his life and returned to contest the forthcoming elections from not one but three constituencies. Given his obvious unpopularity in Pakistan, he is being seen as a spent force in government circles here. However, there are some in the security establishment who refuse to believe that Pakistan will see a free and fair election and hence, insist on putting their money on the former president with the argument that given the current political options, Washington would like to see a “friendly” face at the helm of affairs. It is no secret in Pakistan, and hence in India, that Saudi Arabia facilitated Musharraf’s return to Pakistan by persuading the government and the opposition to give him full security and a chance at the hustings.
Surprisingly, Musharraf’s statement that he was proud of the Kargil operations did not invite an Indian response, probably because it has not enthused the Pakistanis, with former ISI chiefs debunking his claims, describing Kargil as “hare-brained” and saying that Musharraf should have “faced a court martial” for his misadventure. It is interesting to note that this time around, India does not seem to have any favourites for the elections, having as good or bad a relationship with all in the fray. This is certainly a change from the past, with India quite prepared to do business with President Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan or Pervez Musharraf at this stage.
The appointment of Sethi has been welcomed across the board here, more so as he is a popular and frequent visitor to India. His words are sober, his writings unemotional and he has many friends here who hope to visit Lahore now during the elections. Sethi’s warning that he will deal with all equally while in office as caretaker chief minister was dismissed by some of his India friends. But his appointment has brought home to even the cynics here that Pakistan is serious about its elections and that it is appointing able and impartial persons to the crucial top offices for ensuring a fair poll. A familiar face in position has helped quell some of the suspicions here about the elections in Pakistan being free and fair.
The third aspect of the Pakistani elections that has sparked interest in Indian drawing rooms is the reported feud between President Zardari and his son, Bilawal. Will the young prince return or will he stay away? What impact will his absence have on the PPP? The Nehru-Gandhi family has often been compared in political drawing rooms with the Bhutto-Zardari dynasty with Bilawal being seen by political leaders as more charismatic than the Congress scion Rahul. Even as they speculate, Congress leaders offer silent prayers in relief that their family, at least, is united with relations warm and seemingly uncomplicated — more so, as the Indian elections are just around the corner, with the minority UPA government dependent entirely on the goodwill of unpredictable regional parties to survive the long year to the general elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS (44)
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@ anil India, A para written in Anger.I am aiso Indian and we have to have a deeper understanding of our Neighbour whatever our internal opinion about it.And mind you, opinions can change. Pak is having a Power Structure quite unique to it and different from India. It has GHQPindi, National and Religious Political Partys, Wadhera Feudal Families,Powerful NonState Actors , an educated Middle Class and Farmers & Workers.Conpared to India, Pak has two elements which are dormant in India tili now GHQ and Non State Actors in political space. So Ms Mustafa is helping us understand our Neighbor better.We have to engage and find a commonality with our equivalent groups and communicate our impressions. `Obviously,. Civil Society alone cannot improve the country's external dealings , just as in India our civil society is feeble to influence the Establishment. So we have to improve our understanding and communicate with Pak Civil Society as mature human beings mindful of limitations of a given situation.It is a long arduous journey which we have to Travel. But then, there is shared history of more than a Thousand years to push us forward on this road. I hope you will see it in a different light.
@Seema Mustafa
How much do you know about India , being an Indian ? You discussed about Delhi and drawing room bla bla...But the situation is different...There may be some idles who think and discuss about these things , but for most Indians it is useless . While Kashmiris are worried about terrorism , Tamils in far end think about their Tamil brothers in SL and far eastern states have their own issues . 99 percent Indians don't know who is Bilawal or caretaker PM or is there any post like caretaker PM . It might be your fancy dreams or discussions in south block. While intellectual and business community do their business , politicians do their cheap business considering Pak related things useless. Why should think about a country which has no importance in modern days and every country tries to keep a safe distance from it . It is better for you to write some other topics except Pakistan or Muslims.....
dozens of indians write in comment section they are not interested in pak. hundred up their comments in agreement. lol.
i for one do not care about indian politics... if i didn't i would be making the same declaration on one their newspaper.
ET Mods: Please allow rebuttal to someone who has used many unkind adjectives for me.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: You accused me of many things without stating one thing which was inaccurate in whatI said. Now let me tell you ably what I specifically disagree.
Our home minister( which is similar to your interior minister) has never made a statement that BJP/RSS were responsible for creating misunderstanding between neighbors.
He did say that they were running Hindu terror camps. He was however challenged and taken to court where he was asked why he was not doing his job as interior minister and shutting down terror camps if he knew they existed. He had to apologize and admit that his previous statement was false. In any case, how does this have anything to do with interfering In Pakistan's internal matter. In fact the example you quoted is 100% internal to India.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: "what about your Interior Minister’s confessional speech in which he said that BJP and RSS are running and supporting Hindu extremist camps in India..."
Confessional speech or election gimmick/speech before Gujarat elections? Aren't they in-charge of governance? Who or what is stopping him/them from taking actions/bringing them to justice?
Seriously, don't they have anything better to do
"@Gp65:You are comparing apples and oranges. India has not passed any parliament resolution supporting a terrorist who was convicted of terrorist activities in Pakistan. Nor did the Indian home minister pass comments encouraging Pakistan to take care of its minorities – unlike Mr. Malik’s absurd statement about Shah Rukh Khan. In other words Indian governmentrules not comment about Pakistan’s internal matters unlike Pakistan legislature and government. No one in India has complained about Indian news coverage in Pakistan which is the kind of ‘interest’ Ms. Mustafa is referring to any way." Your words are totally based on unimpressive,false,untrue,fabricated and embellished reasons to camouflage the most worst ever India's habit of interference in Pakistan's extremely confidential matters because as usual this has been India's old bad habit to interfere in any Pakistan's confidential matters and then refuse to confess it while on asking as has been proven in the past and what about your Interior Minister's confessional speech in which he said that BJP and RSS are running and supporting Hindu extremist camps in India which are causing the misunderstandings and misconceptions between the relations and friendship of Pakistan and India????
@Razi: Glad to hear that. I started to have inferiority complex as my comments aren't going through either. And, so that you don't feel isolated, I am an Indian.
@Maula Jat: No matter how belittle or on important a neighbor is, but if it had wages 4 wars and have supported terrorism all through its life span, then you ought to keep an eye on it to check its nerves. The think tanks in India would be monitoring the parties and candidates closely. They will also see which candidates wins on what criterion. The elections will also show where does the priorities of people of Pakistan lies. Do they want a developing Pakistan or are they still stuck in Kashmir rhetoric.
@Parvez: "I doubt you could stretch this to cover India."
Correct. IT cannot even cover Delhi outside the rarified circles of English media and diplomatic community that the author is probably part of. I cannot imagine a couple in Rhini or Vivek Vihar or Rajender Nagar discussing Pakistani politics.
In fact unless they actually came from Kerala or Karnataka, they are unlikely to discuss even the politics in those Indian states.
@Maula Jat: "Why do they waste their time to belittle a country that means ‘nothing’ to them?"
What many commentators have done is pointed out to the author that she should not extrapolate her own experience from a non-representative sample to conclude that everyone in India is agog about PAkistani politics. It is unclear how this in anyway belittles Pakistan. Obviously those who come here and comment (and that includes me) ARE interested in what goes on across the border but by no means are we a majority. In fact we are a very miniscule minority. If you observe you will find that about a couple of dozen Indians comment here of which a dozen comment very regularly. Assuming that there are an equal number of silent observers, the number still does not reach hundred. See?
It seems like ET has decided to publish only those comments that it likes. None of my comments in the last 2 days and many before that have not been published. Obviously, there is no stopping the Indians. It's time to say goodbye to ET.
Najm Sethi...! who
What else one would expect from great fans of India like Najam Sethi & Asma Jahangir.
aye yo guys wait on dont be excited on one day king installation in punjab. but i do agreed with RK sahib/sahiba i wishes are with him.
There is sooooooo much more to Pakistani politics than Musharraf or Najam Sethi or Bilawal's tantrum. What you are really referring to is the possibly the drawing room talk of the ' chattering class ' in Delhi............. I doubt you could stretch this to cover India.
@Riaz Khan Zeeshan Shah, Queen Pakistan is India :s most important neighbor althogh estranged. The momentous changes taking place in Pakistan have a direct bearing on North India and prosperity of Half dozen Nations.Najam Sethi has been very balanced as a journalist. Military action has achieved Nothing against India.Please give a chance to quite diplomacy and saner voices and we may be happily surprised. India has just ceded 8000 Acres to Bangladesh in exchange of ENCLAVES on the Border.. The same will happen with Pakistan also ,if we have patience and realise mutual interests instead of exclusive approaches based on empty rehtoric of rag tag Jehadis, who are used to run India Policy of ISI and GHQ. 1200 Million people andUSD 2000 billion economy on your doorsteps was recognised by Gen Musharraf as an opportunity, too important to be wasted, thru non state actors as happened on 26/Nov 2008. As soon as other Decision makers see this, a new era will dawn for all of us in South Asia. Amen
Mr. Najam Sethi is a 'right' person on the 'wrong' side of LOC.
A journalist is not a gazetteer. No body wants to read bland articles. Bravo to the writer who has brought an interesting Indian perspective to a story on Pak election. Indian friends are in denial. Why do they waste their time to belittle a country that means 'nothing' to them? Will some pshychologist please explain which syndrome is that?
@indian: People in India are interested with regard to elections in Pakistan as much as the latter are with regard to elections held in India. Curiosity should be acceptable.
well delhi households are right now keeping a hawk's eye on delhi daredevils...they've swapped taylor, lost kp and now the ryder fiasco..for delhi, daredevils seem to be more important rite nw than pakistan!
@Gp65: A different request to Babloo's comment which I agree with. Why don't you publish a blog? It would be interesting to get you take on events not just in Pakistan, but India as well. If you already have a blog, I would request you to place the link when you post.
@Queen:
"I am curious as i want to know if this sudden interest is because of Musharraf’s military connections?"
Yes, it is.. Also, it has to do with his past, as I mentioned above. One more point is he brings in the TRP.
He was the face of Pakistan for 9 years . Indians have hated him when he imposed the war in Kargil, have been irritated by his stance at the Agra Summit, have been surprised by his utterances of "out-of-the-box-solutions" in Kashmir. His regular appearances with Indian media and his controversial comments(His justification for Kargil war, that Osama is not in Pakistan, justification for Hafiz Saeed being let off,etc) have made sure he is a darling of the hyper media.
"Is Indian Government apprehensive of the support being provided by the military to Musharraf?"
Pakistan is known to surprise you on the Cricket field, as well as in the Political arena. I am not surprised if the Indian Govt is watching the sequence of events unfolding in Pakistan with keen interest.
I personally don't feel, and get the feeling many Indians share my observation, that Musharaff has any chance of getting back to power in the immediate future.
He will become, I think, important when 2015 arrives, NATO would have exited from Af-Pak, and when Pak Mil feels it needs to flex some muscles, without attracting much negative attention from the outside world.
It is not a surprise that indians are praising Najam sethi. soon American will also publish articles in favor of him
Sethi’s warning that he will deal with all equally while in office as caretaker chief minister was dismissed by some of his India friends. Will someone pls explain to me what this line means? That his 'India friends' think that Najam Sethi will play favorites? Yet another substandard piece from this person.
@BruteForce: Thank you for reading my comments and taking time out to reply :) I was talking about the media coverage being given to Musharraf in India. He appears on Indian talk shows and his arrival to Pakistan was also given prominent coverage by the Indian media. The fact is that majority of people in Pakistan have shunned his ideologies (although there are some who still consider him as a hero) and he has very little chance of winning the upcoming elections. The Indian media has always criticized Musharraf's policies, but in the present situation it seems as if they have changed their stance from "hating Musharraf" to "highlighting" his activities. I am curious as i want to know if this sudden interest is because of Musharraf's military connections? Is Indian Government apprehensive of the support being provided by the military to Musharraf?
Maybe i am reading too much between the lines.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: You are comparing apples and oranges. India has not passed any parliament resolution supporting a terrorist who was convicted of terrorist activities in Pakistan. Nor did the Indian home minister pass comments encouraging Pakistan to take care of its minorities - unlike Mr. Malik's absurd statement about Shah Rukh Khan. In other words Indian governmentrules not comment about Pakistan's internal matters unlike Pakistan legislature and government. No one in India has complained about Indian news coverage in Pakistan which is the kind of 'interest' Ms. Mustafa is referring to any way.
@Queen: Indian media was anti-Musharraf during his Kargill to Agra days when he justified Nti-India jihad. Later he took a U turn, reined in jihadis and started working on 'out of box' solutions and hence gained popularity. Thus Indian media responds to Indian national interest when it comes to foreign policy which is as it should be and inconsistent with the author's earlier OpEd which indicates that Indian media is mindlessly anti-Pakistani. Incidentally lately it is Imran and not Musharraf who has been more visible in Indian media including being a speaker at the prestigious India Today conclave. As for Najam Sethi, I am a huge fan but how many people in India actually know his name outside the Indian journalist community where he no doubt is highly respected? @Babloo: Thank you for your kind words which were indeed unexpected.
Madam........it seems you are living in your dream world. Discussion about internal affairs of Pakistan in drawing rooms of normal Delhi HOUSEHOLDS ? May be these discussions are going on in the drawing rooms of some journalists or diplomats but..."Delhi households avidly discussing Pakistan’s internal affairs".......i just had a hearty laugh after reading this line. Please do not "invent news" jut for the sake of writing.
One cannot quite agree with a statement that India and Pakistan maintain a hawk's eye on each other developments whether political or economic. Indeed a constant vigil has been poignant with regard to the two neighbours who have had a not very cordial past. There is however a positive change that is most encouraging having taken place during the last few years nevertheless the curiosity persists to know more about the neighbourhood. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan can and should be seen as a democracy in the making despite all odds the Islamic state has faced. The completion of the complete term is indeed a significant achievement that has taken place without much reshuffling. India does expect Pakistan to grow as a democracy and mature into an Liberal Islamic state that is modern and progressive. Progress that is comprehensive or overall and modernity of thoughts and ideas. India too has a long way to go and an Indo-Pak cohesiveness will certainly be the answer to it as a more cohesive and cooperative Indo-Pak alliance will further peace and progress within this part of the Asian continent. The next five years will be perhaps equally challenging for Pakistan with regard to the growth of democracy as a system but this is the challenge they need to take up as a nation to make their mark in the modern times and prove their mettle as a nation.
@Queen:
That is pretty easy to answer.
There are many angles to it, but my angle for Musharaff is this:
Musharaff is the only man in Pakistan to have waged war against India, saw the futility of it and came to India to make a deal. When the deal(Agra summit) failed, he realised that India was a status quo power. Even a failed deal is a good deal for India, as it loses nothing. Pakistan cannot afford such things.
So, he turns around and accepts the "soft border" formula. It basically means, India gives up nothing, in turn making travelling across the LoC easy. It satisfies the Indians as well as sugar coat it to the Pakistanis that they have achieved something, gained something substantial, more importantly made India concede on key points, even though in reality it is quite the opposite.
Musharaff is one man who has been there, saw the futility of waging war against India, saw his country's destruction at the people whom he protected, conceded Pakistan's own position of UN Resolution and even outright lying to Pakistanis.
He wanted to finish off the Kashmir issue. So in my book he is important. But, realistically speaking he can't come to power in Pakistan unless the military supports him and rigs the elections.
This is totally abstruse,esoteric and interesting that why India takes keen interest in any Pakistan's extremely confidential matters and when Pakistan does so India says this is interference in India's confidential matters and Pakistani has to refrain itself from doing so..... Why India wants to become "Thanedar" in South East Asia and wants that its role and influence have to be like US as US has in the world and its demands and commandments must be accepted like US??????
India and Pakistan keep a hawk’s eye watch on developments in each other’s countries. Elections, thus, are no exception, with Delhi households avidly discussing Pakistan’s internal affairs, such as the appointment of well-known journalist Najam Sethi as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab and the return of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to his country after four long years in virtual exile. . @Author: Since when is Delhi representative of India? Where I live in the South, no one talks about Pakistan even though most people are upset that Pakistan hasn't taken any action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. I mean no disrespect to Najam Sethi whom I admire, but not one person I know has heard of him. . This article just confirms what I have felt all along, that you live in a bubble and have a tendency to extrapolate and exaggerate minuscule observations from non-representative data to justify your hypotheses.
madam nobody pays much attention to pak except you...
@Babloo Than you people will be knock out by GP65.
Gulam Rasool"Kuldeep sharma" New Delhi
I am neither better off nor worse off after reading this zero sum article. Thank you ET tomorrow never dies.
What I might say might seem contradictory under the circumstances, but hear me out.
The average, even majority Indians don't read or care about Pakistani news. There is a large segment of people like me who regularly visit Pakistani websites and keep updating themselves with not only activities of Pakistan, but of the entire world. But, we are a very minute minority.
The Pakistani news section in Times of India, for example, is just one article in the International News section.
People are interested in what is happening in Pakistan, but those people are are also interested in what is happening around the world. This Authors claim that Indians want to know everything that is happening in India is simply not true.
Pakistan, like it or not, is just another caricature now. An irritant, which is imploding, an Islamist power which affected by its own demons. Especially true in South of India.
As the writer has pointed out that "the chattering classes of Delhi in particular had moved from a “hate Musharraf” position to an almost warm, welcoming posture through this journey, and hence, found it difficult to cope with the fact that the escalating Musharraf barometer here was actually coinciding with a dipping barometer in Pakistan" I wonder why India and especially the Indian media has suddenly started giving limelight to Musharraf?
This author has written better pieces before. Very weird this time ...she is conveying the impression somewhere, some people care for Mushy. Very weird stuff.
"Delhi households avidly discussing..." Really? Since when is Delhi == India? Since when is Delhi known for any intellectual depth/worth?
Najam Sethi, an ideal choice for care taker CM of Punjab! Wish he could become at least one full term PM of the PK. Things would change radically for betterment.
Nothing new or of any interest in her comments. Instead Tribune should ask GP65 to write a column.