Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon says not talking hands India's enemies a success that only encourages them. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
NEW DELHI: As talks between Pakistan and India remain suspended, Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon critiqued his country’s policy of not talking to its Western neighbour, saying it has not changed the attitude of India’s enemies, Times of India reported on Wednesday.
"Our Pakistan policy still faces the dilemmas that Patel's generation faced: of how to prevent the enemies of India from having their way. Patel's answer was clear, as you saw from his Amritsar speech: fight your enemies at a time and place of your choosing but do not make innocents, the people, (or refugees in that specific case), victims of your policy."
Menon’s statement, referring to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, was in response to Indian External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid’s comments over the weekend. Khurshid had said that there was no dialogue with Pakistan at the moment.
Menon further criticised some former diplomats who had urged prime minister Manmohan Singh not to meet with Nawaz Sharif in New York.
"When 40 self-styled experts and some political groups say do not talk to Pakistan until ideal conditions exist and all terrorism stops it betrays a lack of self-confidence. That is precisely what the terrorists and their sponsors in the Pakistani establishment want, for us not to talk to those in Pakistan who might differ from them."
India’s NSA added that using the avenue of talks to punish Pakistan, has not yielded the desired results.
"Not talking does not change the behaviour of our enemies. In fact it hands them a success that only encourages them. At the very least talking to the saner elements in Pakistan could encourage them to stand for the right policies and could create confusion among our enemies," he added.
Talking about Patel, Menon said Indians should build their internal strength to be able to deal with the world more ably.
"That was his [Sardar Vallabhai Patel] core message, which it was from strength that one had to negotiate, not just talk, about the issues. But at the same time, as his own example shows, he did not wait for ideal situations and conditions in order to engage."
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@Khalid Masood: Sir, but you are bowing down to our agents TTP.
@Lala Gee: dont use the word "fake democracy" for India,,,entire world will laugh at you(pakistan)!!!
@sangrez: who are you to say that India is hindu centric,,,our prime minister is sikh,,,and our country is in the hands of catholic,,,and remember India has second largest muslim population in the world,,,,,,India is a pluralistic and multi religious society unlike your country,,,Maulana Abul kalam Azad already expected 67 yrs back ur country's situation,,that seems to be exactly correct!!!
@Khalid Masood: Nepal and sikkim are lot better than your country,,and they are more peaceful,,,compare ur country with ur western neighbours afghanistan,,or iraq,,or syria(i.e ummahs),,so plz leave our neighbouring countrys including bangladesh!!!
@Lala Gee: Who’re your enemies Mr. Menon. Those who stand-by the oppressed people and ask the world’s biggest fake democracy to give them their fundamental democratic right of self-determination. Such a malevolent and evil nature that you consider the people who stand-up for the weak your enemies. No wonder every single neighboring country despise India for these reasons.
The "fake democracy" which you refer to exists in Pakistan, not in India whose vibrant democratic institutions are a showpiece for the world to see. India has a free press, a very critical opposition, a tolerant society which allows minorities to flourish (can you ever dream of having a Prime Minister or President from the Hindu, Christian, Sikh or Ahmedi communities?). I suspect, in your subconscious state of mind, you are venting out the feelings about the "fake democracy" in your own decaying and corrupt society which calls for phony elections but does not respect the main tenet of democracy -- and this is seeking accountability from those in power and propagating justice for all. Democracy is an evolving process and, although it is not perfect, it is the best form of government if it is respected and played by the rules by those in power. Please, Sir, spare us the outburst of a perverted logic and hate-India feelings that are so deeply ingrained in you. By the way, except for Pakistan, India has NEVER had any problems of religious extemism or terrorism with any of its neighbours. Just ask a Nepali or a Bangladeshi (or for that matter an average Chinese, your "all-weather friend) what he thinks of Pakistan, and you will get the response of your lifetime.
@IndMus: who has given you the ownership of india,being a hindu centric india for just under 70 years cannot grant you the land owned by people for centuries
Indians do not want friendship... they want total submission from Pakistan...
Let me tell this Brahman....., as I know he was ambassador in Pak as well in last decade..,
THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.... we are neither Nepal nor Sikkim or Bhutan...
Pakistan is Country of 200 millions people and we can sacrifice all these lives but will bow to your demand...
BETTER LAY OFF......
@mehboobBhai:
it's Menon. Memon has a different meaning
To all pakistanis who still live in India please get out from India.
Don't get any ideas, Pakistan isn't dying to talk to you either LOL
No sane Indian denies the importance of talking with its neighbour for normalization of relations. Talks has been continuing since last 67 years but still nothing positive came out . Talks for the sake of talks only without any result ( though assured ) is meaning less. Continuity of talk is weakness when Pak army is engaged in helping militants to infiltrate. relaxing visa rules for the persons above 65 years is a positive sign which should be implemented in toto( words and spirit)
I would say its more Hindu RSS terrorists who carry out attacks like Samjhota Express, Indian parliament, Mumbai attacks to create further animosity between the two countries by blaming Pakistan for these attacks!
Hope sanity keeps the upper hand.Coming elections do complicate things. But peace can't continued to be sacrificed for ever for election gains.
Good luck to both India and Pakistan. Those who do not want peace are the enemies of both the countries and its masses. Let's forget the past and move forward!
"At the very least talking to the saner elements in Pakistan could encourage them to stand for the right policies and could create confusion among our enemies”
Who're your enemies Mr. Menon. Those who stand-by the oppressed people and ask the world's biggest fake democracy to give them their fundamental democratic right of self-determination. Such a malevolent and evil nature that you consider the people who stand-up for the weak your enemies. No wonder every single neighboring country despise India for these reasons.
sahi bolta hai boss.....
The only problem/ downside to talking to "saner" elements is they have zero power. Deep state has all the power. There have been fluctuations in how much the civvies are in tune with the deep state. Some times they have been hand in gloves, lately they have been clueless. There has been no evidence in history to show talking to "saner" elements is useful. In fact the opposite has been the experience. Surprised to see SS Menon saying this, expect to see clarifications.
Yawnnn..EID MUBARIK Pakistan.. India..last time i checked v dont give a damn :P
i mean literally that india has exhausted almost all its option but to no avail. -no flying pass over india allowed -no visa-close embassy -army on border -declaration sought from UN to name isi as rogue -declaration sought from US to count Pakistan in axis of evil -Lobbying to stop or add pre condition for US aids. -no cricket -no talk and many more...
You know what you should have done? come clean..and without assuming that you are superior in your neighborhood..stop dreaming as if everything goes by like bollywood movie style.. and by crying like shahrukh khan will get you the heroin in the end... Just be normal..and be open to accept your mistakes... accept the fact That: even after 65 years of occupation with 700,000 force.. you are not able to win kashmiri hearts...Pakistan total active duty army is 550,000 even after your "shining india" kashmir still wants distance from you. even after mukti bahini drama...Pakistan would talk to you.
or maybe rather continue...LeT drama, isi phobia, daud ibrahim fever.. what ever you want..its totally in your hand.
Memon is a wise man. Lets talk and not let the enemies of Pakistan and India win!!
Yes, We should talk to Pakistan. Suspending talk will not yield any result. Suspending talks mean status quo i.e Pak will keep exporting Jihadi elements n we keep defending ourselves.
We should make Pak Govt realise that terrorist will not do any good for Pak people. Letting people like Hafiz Saed roam freely n spew venom or giving shelter to Dawood will only bring disrepute to them like it has.
I hope better sense prevails and peace is brought to the Indian subcontinent.
"terrorists and the their sponsors in the Pakistani Establishment"....how about what is happening to Pakistanis in Baluchistan/FATA from terrorists and their sponsors in the Indian Establishment,since 2004(much larger in scale than whatever happened in India).
Do we have someone who is sane across our border?