Congress party has reacted to the development quite cautiously.PHOTO: FILE
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Narendra Modi on May 27 will be more than a courtesy call, which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officials are – surprisingly – not resisting. On Friday, S Akbaruddin, the spokesperson for India’s external affairs ministry, was quite cut and dry about Nawaz’s visit: “It is normal practice that when a senior leader comes to your country as a gracious host you also have short meetings as courtesy and as a gesture to the incoming guest.”
But BJP officials maintain that the meetup will be more than just a courtesy call, extending over half an hour.
The party is also aware that the bilateral talks could touch a raw nerve in its core constituency, and has taken to insisting that Modi’s bilateral talks with Nawaz and others would be more in the spirit of familiarisation meetings than something with any substantive diplomatic agenda.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley tweeted that courtesy calls should not be treated as diplomatic meetings.
The Celebration of India’s Democracy: http://t.co/meOoGzScJm
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 24, 2014
And even though the larger ‘Hindu’ elements in the party are not exactly pleased with the invitation to Nawaz for Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, they are restraining from announcing their reservations.
Moreover, more right-wing elements of the Sangh Parivar – a family of Hindu nationalist organisations – have fallen in line after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who did not nix the proposal of inviting Nawaz.
Interestingly, the RSS – the militant wing of the BJP responsible for many terrorist attacks – defended the invitation to Pakistan. It likened it to inviting a neighbour, however bad the mutual relations, to a wedding.
There is also an understanding within the party that the new government is likely to face tough challenges on the Kashmir front. The assessment emerging from Modi’s meetings with Indian Home Secretary Anil Biswas and others, like the former director of Intelligence Bureau Ajit Kumar Doval, is that the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan would have a bearing on Kashmir. India’s security apparatus believes infiltration would increase in Kashmir in the coming months.
On the other hand, the Congress party has reacted to the development quite cautiously.
After Nawaz’s attendance was confirmed, the Congress hoped that thorny issues, such as that of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, would be raised during the meeting.
“They [the BJP] have also periodically been raising the issue of Dawood Ibrahim’s return, who allegedly is being sheltered by the establishment in Pakistan. So, we hope the BJP remains true to the position it has taken over the past 10 years and raises these issues with the prime minister of Pakistan when he comes to India,” said Congress spokesperson and former Union minister Manish Tewari.
Significantly, Hafiz Saeed tweeted, “Meanwhile, instead of appeasing India, Nawaz Sharif should represent [the] nation’s aspiration by reviewing his decision to visit Modi’s oath-taking ceremony.”
Congress’s Shashi Tharoor had a tongue-in-cheek tweet a few days ago:
If Nawaz Sharif does accept the invitation, let's hope @narendramodi will serve him chicken biriyani!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 21, 2014
Meanwhile, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partner National Conference welcomed Nawaz’s visit. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose party was comprehensively trounced in the elections, tweeted, “Very glad to hear Pak PM has accepted invite, shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India.”
Very glad to hear Pak PM has accepted invite, shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India. 1/2
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 24, 2014
I hope that this will mark a new beginning in ties between our two countries. The people of J&K will be watching closely. 2/2
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 24, 2014
Can't help feel sorry for others taking oath or attending because the only photo op that will matter now will be the Modi-Sharif handshake.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 24, 2014
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2014.
COMMENTS (24)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Gp65: Correction accepted. I said in jest, but good idea no? How about Fauji Cement and Fauji Fertilizer?
@bala: Ah. That makes sense. I always liked Tharoor and a statement like that from him was a bit disappointing. Thanks for clarifying.
Would Nawaz have the guts to raise India's building of dams on Kashmir rivers? Modi won't be reluctant to make demands about Dawood, Hafiz Saeed, while Nawaz would stress trade. Without Pakistan making humiliating compromises, India cannot be made to nudge/budge towards peace and Nawaz might just be inclined to do just that?
@biwildered india has only one item in list control terrorism and punish mumbai mastermind attackers roaming free giving interviews on media as guest in your country or there's no point in talks when such acts continue. Btw so according to you Pakistan india must not talk? Then what? Ignore like both countries don't exist for thousand years? Then why talk kashmir and all when you don't even want to come to table to discuss it? What's this hoopla about? Just trp stunt?
Is that an Indian Flag that is shown on the picture?
I hope that between Modi and Mr. Sheriff we can at the very least mellow down the rhetoric, earn some trust on both sides of the border and advance trade relations. I feel at this stage Modi and Sheriff both have a mandate to do what it takes. they must go where no one else dares for the same of the people of both countries and their future. The people on both sides of the divide have spent too many years in poverty and its time we do what it takes to lift 1.5 billion people above poverty lines.
@Chulbul Pandey:
you misubderstood the chicken briyani comment. modi had objected to earlier meeting between sharif and manmohansigh saying that while indian soldiers are dying manmohan is serving briyani to sharif in us.
the comment is a reminder to modi about his earlier stand
"But BJP officials maintain that the meetup will be more than just a courtesy call..."
Sure it will be. After exchanging pleasantries for 5 minutes, Modi will handover a list of "to-do" things to Nawaz Sharif, and for the remaining 25 minutes of the meeting, NS will be cursing himself for not following the FO's and GHQ's advice.
Since it is the first meeting between them, I think it is going to be an ice breaker like sizing up each other. My advice would be not to expect too much from it.
@Raj - USA: NS is a Kashmiri, he loves fried fish and good food. Aloo ghost is not going to impress him.
It does not take 30 minutes to do hello/hi. At the same time this is not a summit meeting. What it does accomplish is break the ice and create a situation where either side feels comfortable to pick up the phone and talk to prevent things from getting out of control on the border. That too is desirable.
The reference to RSS being responsible for many terrorist attacks shows a lack of research. Plus unlike parties in Karachi which have militant wings - no mainstream party in India - whether BJP, Congress, AIADMK, TMC, TDP, BJD have a militant wing. Plus RSS is not a political organization but a socialorganisation and many BJP members are a member of RSS.
@Strategic Asset: Just a tachnical point: investment in stocks is called foreign portfolio investment. Foreign direct investment refers to investment in corporations which provide some products or service. By the way the Pakistani stock market has been performing exceptionally well in the last 2-3 years.
@Karachi Guy: Since when has Pakistan become the world policeman for Muslims. Look at the dismal situation in your country where minorities are killed or use blasphemy laws to put them in jails. Your country is no longer that the founder envisaged. It is a bizarre horrifying caricature of a once mighty vision.
Being an Amdavadi, I am sure Modi will use those 30 minutes to convince Mian to invest his $$$ in overseas accounts as FDI in India for superlative returns. India is after all one of the best performing markets globally this year. Modi should also sign a contract with Fauji cement to use their cement to build Integrated Terminals at Wagah. Both these steps will bring immediate long lasting peace to the subcontinent.
Shashi Tharoor is losing it. In our culture in South Asia, the guests are treated with utmost respect by their hosts. The guests are also very mindful of their hosts cultural and even financial background. . I am sure Mian Nawaz would be just as happy eating daal roti if that was the only items in the menu. If Tharoor was trying to be funny, he needs to work on his humor.
While in Croatia I expereinced the world media has taken a speical note of this meeting and all over Europe and elsewhere it is repeatedly telecast in prime news.
I do not think this meeting will be more than a courtesy call. Because the sentiments that run in the people's hearts of both the countries are way beyond which can be eradicated by this meet up. Hate-preaching and Indian violence acts will have to be stopped by the India for long lasting peace in the region. I cannot hear any news from International media, or the Indian media itself on any injustice on Indian people from Pakistan from past many years. But reports of the opposite have been surfacing a lot.
Without the colours in the flags it becomes a graceful sign of Peace and Humanity!
rss is not a militant organization correct your facts
The truth is Modi will be doing 30 minute one on one meetings with all visiting heads of state (Not just Pakistan). It is clear that they will be exchanging pleasantries an discuss broad regional issues!
Let us give peace a chance.Let there be investions in improving quality of life of the population.Let there be more trade. Let there be hope for our future generations.
The nature of Indo-Pak relations is such that little things becomes matter of great importance.
Now, It is just a courtesy call, after a ceremony, but their will huge press flashing. The gesture is good Modi invitation is responded by Nawaz, it brings a fresh thaw. How much this gesture transform into substance? we have to see in coming years.
Remember, courage is the rare commodity that will be needed for "Substance" from BOTH sides in future.
Best Regards for India, Hope Modi will do his utmost to uplift the Economy and Governance.
regards,
It will provide a first opportunity for Modi and Nawaz Sharif to be face to face with each other, and exchange a piece of each others mind ... however, if and when any serious and long discussion on the contentious issues take place, it is likely to end in a stale mate, with little or no movement in relations ... !! ... Modi can not move beyond India's current position and agree to resumption of the composite dialogue, as long as there is no progress in Pakistan's legal process against the Mumbai massacre masterminds ... and Nawaz Sharif would not be allowed to move beyond Pakistan's demand of resumption of the composite dialogue without any preconditions ... !!
The only saving grace may be some progress in trade between the two countries ...
Modi should not forget to include Alu Gohst in the menu.