The writer is a defence analyst who retired as an air
vice-marshal in the Pakistan Air Force
Let me explain. Last week I wrote a piece for another paper, titled ‘Managing Modi’ that practically subsumed all that I have said above and a lot more on how I expected him to be different from the Modi that we have all feared. I was proven wrong. Though his move of inviting Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration, along with a clutch of other South Asian leaders, was a potent diplomatic initiative, his inability to transform the moment beyond the traditional and moribund was typically Indian and subcontinental.
There was nothing visionary about Modi as he let himself be ridden by the traditional south block mentality of restraining enterprise and initiative in a political leader by shrouding him in suspicion and misgivings, and tying him to a belabouring, non-productive, incremental process of bureaucratic oversight. All he could think of –– in turning the new chapter in India-Pakistan relationship –– was the copy-paste of the stale Indian paradigm of a unifocal insistence on terrorism as the single issue, which has kept both nations from any meaningful engagement other than at the LoC (pun intended).
Consider: someone in the Indian political hierarchy, perhaps Modi himself, thinks of this brilliant plan to invite the ‘smaller’ seven partners in Saarc to his inauguration; a la an emperor’s coronation before his subjects. If all came, which they did, it would be enough to imprint the centrality of India in its immediate neighbourhood –– a prerequisite before venturing on to seek her seat at the world’s high table. After all, an Indian prime minister has yet to honour another leader with his own presence on a similar occasion. This was thus exclusive, and special, as an Indian prime minister was heralded by the rest in Saarc. Also, by clubbing Nawaz with the others, Modi virtually avoided the risk of a rebuff if Nawaz chose to stay away. He also precluded the political risk of appearing overindulgent towards a Pakistani leader.
If Nawaz, however, passed the invitation, India would be well within its right to claim that it tried. It would also then have the opportunity to begin to question Nawaz’s credibility as someone who could not take independent decisions, indirectly bringing into question the role of the Pakistan Army as the real arbiter of power –– a point that India relishes when it wishes to trash Pakistan. Nawaz faced a Hobbesian choice. There was only one way to go. He accepted the invitation after some playful deliberation and appeared to have gained some moral ground by defying convention. The table of surprise was thus effectively returned on Modi. Thereon began the dance of how the subcontinent was now different and how the world will witness a momentous transformation. Good grace on all sides came in heaps. It all looked great till the meeting between the two principals the next morning; Modi’s first day at office.
What happened next is what history is made of between India and Pakistan. Nawaz was received warmly enough by Modi; Nawaz seemed enthused, conscious of the moment and how he stood on the anvil of something really transformational. A 35-minute meeting extended to 50; this was propitious. There was also an odd talk of the two extending their meeting into lunch. But then it all ended. Nawaz walked out, not escorted by Modi, but by his newly-appointed foreign minister. He appeared tired, haggard and forced a smile. The sprite in the steps of the delegation was missing as they staggered out behind Nawaz who hurried away from the place where he had just met India’s new prime minister.
What happened at the meeting was then detailed by Ms Sujhata Singh, India’s foreign secretary, at a press conference, which was soon followed by Nawaz’s own statement he read to the press at a separate event. Sujhata laid out the three crucial points that Modi had made to the Pakistani PM –– and all had to do with terror: Pakistan should not use its soil for terror against India nor let its soil be used to that purpose –– that inferred clear allegations against Pakistan for using terror as a policy tool and tolerating groups that used terror against India; that Pakistan must bring to book all those that were involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and bring about a speedy closure to the case. Hafiz Saeed or Dawood Ibrahim were not mentioned by name in the presser. If they were implied, that can be a fair guess. She made one final point: when asked to comment on Pakistan’s desire to seek peace with India, she retorted, “India too would like the same but for that to happen, terror against India by Pakistan must first be brought to a stop.” India’s foreign minister restated the same the next day. The foreign secretary only affirmed that trade, too, was discussed, when asked. She also laughed away at Pakistan’s attempt at recoining the MFN as NDMA.
This ‘to-do list’ is termed ‘deliverables’ by the more assertive part of the Indian media and has attained an informal currency when seeking measures by Pakistan as preconditions before anything else moves. ‘Deliverables’ must be seen to be ‘delivered’ before India could resume anything resembling a dialogue process. India hasn’t moved an inch beyond 2008. History between the two, thus, remains frozen at 2008.
What happened? These two men were out to make history. Why did it all fall flat? Was it defeatism that once again bridled enterprise?
(To be concluded)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
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COMMENTS (49)
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Syed: Your keep repeating "Mass killer of muslims" as Mr Modi is not going to make it true. That title purely belongs to the muslims as they are the biggest killers of muslims all over the world including Pakistan. With so much of narcotics flowing from Afganistan to Pakistan, it is natural to ask you what you smoke. Simply stating such filth does not exist in Pakistan, does not make it true either.
@vasan: I know it must have struck you under your belly and you are bursting with laughter. Same was my condition when I read your comments. You are trying hard to prove that whatever Shahzad Choudhry has written is absolutely irrelevant and Mass Killer of Muslims Modi's philosophy is out rightly beneficial for Pakistan. You talk of "smoke and eat" as if you can't do anything without smoking or eating. We don't have such filth, though you are praying hard to make us addicted.
@VINOD: Professing the brain waves of mass killer of Muslims minority, seems a joke. A man who won the election only the basis of Muslims hatered, is being advocated to be a well wisher of Pakistan is slightly more than a joke. Today Pakistan is a Nuclear Poweronly because of Indians wrong geo srategic policies. Your RSS and other extremists have inflmed more hatered accross the borders.
Syed : " Indians immature and filthy Geo political moves made Pakistan strong, self dependent Nuclear Power"
I have read lots and lots of jokes on the net and on papers and books. But this takes the title for Joke of all times. "Pakistan strong self dependant" Ha Ha Ha. Boy o boy. I dont know what you smoke or eat. But to come up with statements like this, takes lot of satire.
@Syed: You have no idea what are we talking about. So keep thinking.Your say "Indians immature and filthy" speaks every thing about your brain washed. "Pakistan Strong, self dependant" is another imagination you are welcome to live with; but we wish one day you become strong and progress with the world and not be stewing under terror.
@Rex Minor: Rex Minor and Vinod are trying their hard to somehow prove that whatever Air Marshal has said is very wrong. They have sympathetically tried to suggest that their view or the view of their beloved Modi should be the taken as guide for rest of the Pakistanis. The adverse propaganda and repulsive actions by the extremists on both the sides should be ignored. Let it be very clear that Indians immature and filthy Geo political moves made Pakistan strong, self dependent Nuclear Power.
Vinod,
I have answered your query but the ET mod is not publishing it. Sorry mate, I am not a Pakistani citizen and it is not my social media! I am just a guest participant in this highly emotional and charged media. My interest is in human brains and peoples Psyche and it is all so exciting.
Rex Minor
I
@Rex Minor: You have not replied any point raised by me.Please read with care You have said "The assumption that mussalmans are terrorists or friends of terrorists is a paranoia" Kindly tell me where I have said this and where have I assumed it. I have, all my life, happily lived with my Muslim friends.. There are more Muslims in India and we know them better than you. Then you say "may I ask what brings you to appear on this social media to talk about the foresight of Pakistan political leaders?: Well I am sure that millions of Pakistani people who elected your political leaders are wise and they select leaders with foresight. I wonder why do you have doubt about the wisdom of your own "awaam."? And why are you so stuck with uniform ? It is paranoia of some minds that when ever any one talks about terror they jump and become abusive or aggressive. Remember end of terror is the only way of progress and peace and there is no alternative. All alternatives tried in past 65 years have failed. To call spade a spade is not wrong and that is why I am on your social media. Do not be stuck with “nothing but nothing and nothing positive will come out” I know that most of the leaders of Pakistan are pragmatic and desire peace. Have hope of bright future
@NotSoCommon:
I have glanced through your narrative and find it very interesting. It is true that in the parliamentry democracies it is the parliament representing the people, which usualy establishes the policies and approve the program for the Government. If this has.been the case in India then the leadership in Pakistan definitely did not follow it through, and i guess were of the opinion that it is the leaders who inspire the people for the good of the people and in the interest of the Nation at times take unpopular decision. But it should all change now with Mr Modi who has the inspiration from the people who need their leader to feed them and recognise the charisma of the man who got away free from the judiciary for rape and killings on his watch as the chief Minister of the Province. Pakistan Government and its people must take note therefore, that it is the people of India who have not the desire to seek peace with its neighbour, never had one!!!.
Rex Minor
@VINOD:
You said it and your little man said it too! The assumption that mussalmans are terrorists or friends of terrorists is a paranoia and a phoby and can be easily ascertained in the skinner box or with the help of brain MRT.. Then, pray, may I ask what brings you to appear on this social media to talk about the foresight of Pakistan political leaders? They never had the foresight because most of them were military men with strong backbones, and never took a page from the history of the founder of Pakistan, who negotiated most of his political period with the Congress leaders and only after being let down numerous times that he along with other political leadership decided to separate.
Rex Minor
@Rex Minor: "but today after extended long years the leaders of Pakistan may not necessarily have the foresight, but simply a sharp hindsight to remind the people of Pakistan that nothing but nothing and nothing positive will come out of a dialogue with your next door neighbour."
The more I read your comments more I get concerned; political leaders only work on foresight to move their country ahead and not sit down and cry on spilled milk like "nothing but nothing and nothing positive will come out" If you desire to have a hind sight please analyze your past to see why this has happened. Tell me with a policy of strategic depth, strategic assets and we must whatever we desire other wise nothing else is acceptable and export of terror, how do you think you can have peace and prosperity within and around. Many of your civilian leaders have ability and foresight provided you get out of the groove and permit them to function with peace.
The air marshal is one of the few military men who unlike the views of Albert Einstein, uses not only his backbone but also his brain. he is an excellent writer in english language and for the first time I have the feel that he is not a politician or aspiring to be one but a strategic military thinker and is cocerned with the decisions the heads of Governments make and their military implications. It is interestng to read his narrative but his undue expectations or of the Prime Minister giving importance to the little man Modi or the unfortunate visit of the Prime Minister( I guess at the advice of the military with the backbone) is superflous to say the least. Sir, your leader had the vision and separated from India, but today after extended long years the leaders of Pakistan may not necessarily have the foresight, but simply a sharp hindsight to remind the people of Pakistan that nothing but nothing and nothing positive will come out of a dialogue with your next door neighbour. This has been your history and this is your destiny as you have been condemned to live next to the land of avatars.
Rex Minor
@VINOD: Kind of you!
@Gp65: Thanks!
@Rakib: Very well presented.
Whatever the ex-defence man may say about the meeting between the two PMs meeting, the basic fact is that the military has always been, and is, in control of Pakistan and the civilian govt has never had, and does not have, a free hand. Having enjoyed a lion's share of the US money for living a royal life, which it does not want to give up, the Pakistan military will do everything, as in the past, to keep issues with India alive and unresolved. They have always given its citizens the impression that they are the only custodians against "threats" from India. They will never tell its citizens the fact that the previous wars (all lost by it) were all started by it. The problem lies within, Mr Choudhry and please don't find fault with the PM of another country elected to fulfil the expectations of his own people.
@Rakib: A nice thoughtful and nuanced pst.
Sir,
With all due respect, you cannot be a man of vision by simply waiting for a moment when people would forget the carnage of Mumbai attacks so that you can go ahead with your business with Pakistan as usual. Yes, it is indeed correct, it has been more than 6 years since the attack on Mumbai happened, would you be able to tell us what has Pakistan done to punish the people responsible for this attack in the last 6 years? Are you implying that Pakistan will not punish any of the people responsible for Mumbai attacks and would want to see India to simply put Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek on a platter and hand it over to Pakistan? If this is what you expected from Modi, then I am very proud to have a PM who did not budge an inch.
I am a pakistani first but still would like to comment as follow.
Modi did a good thing in inviting and nawaz in going. 1. the writer should stop thinking like brain washed soldier now that he has retired for sometime 2. We have some comments from our own nationals to belittle our leaders , unfortunately we are the only nation on this earth where citizens ridicule our leaders to the extent that we as pakistanis becme the laughing stock of the world 3. yesterday everything wrong was due to zardari , today its nawaz.
We have been ruled directly by the boots for 35 years and now they are power hungry again . Hamid Mir said the other day Pakistan has 2 govt , ....guess he is right
Pardon my saying but the truth is that this article purely and simply articulates the views of the so called establishment in Pakistan. I feel this may not be the view of the people. Those who, purely in our view, are the mentors of strategic depth and strategic assets will not find it easy to accept that this is one issue "TERROR" that is important for us and we feel that it is very important for people of Pakistan also. Past 65 years of common experiences and today's situation in both the countries makes it evident. As a matter of fact to have expected some major break through on a ceremonial occasion like swearing in is impractical. When the new PM has not even sat on his office table what else we expected. But Those who are leading a tirade against the visit will keep their criticism alive knowing fully well the practicalities and good points of this visit.
@NotSoCommon: Dear Sir you have very aptly put across all the relevant points. I agree. I am also sure that AVM will not agree even if knows you are right.
It is surprising that seasoned people are pushing the concept that a brief meeting would be ground breaking, its a ludicrous and self defeating concept, India and Pakistan have been at odds for decades and to even think that relations will have a turning point at this meeting is full of holes and illogical.
I wonder on what did the Author base his expectations from Modi that he is now disappointed. What else could he have done within hours of being sworn in? During campaign Modi had indicated his vision for Indian domestic scene based on his performance, which earned him his new job, but he has not displayed any original insights on global issues. India has had only two visionary statesmen as PM. Nehru & Vajpayee. Rest,including Nehru legatees, lacking the talent of the former & tact of the latter, have well emulated both giants, making smart adjustments for changing times. Modi will be only one such follower unless he has some closely guarded hidden abilities. Sharif should do business with Modi. He is a proven transactor, time will tell whether he is a transformer too. In transactions a Gujarati's word is seldom brittle, for, he doesn't throw it around loosely. My feeling is many Indians will critique Modi relentlessly on matters domestic-he thrives on controversy-but, most such men will support him on foreign policy.
I would ask the author to see a rerun of the programme Nusrat Javed and Minhas did - it was a brilliant analysis of the meeting between Nawaz sharif and Modi - One of the best analysis on either side of the border. My compliments to the duo.
@Bloody civilian: Never. Mind for yourself. An adversarial advice.
@Strategic Asset: I thought you said you don't care about Pakistan!!!!!
Two opinions are emerging out of the debate, which reflects two extremes one, do or die the other, to live in peace on either cost. I believe we should go through the history and current international affairs and learn from the others experiences
Where is my longer comment ET?
No this did not read well, at all........it was not even realistic.
After reading these tired articles, it tells me that at least a generation will have to pass before sensible thought will prevail
Whenever I see mention of Dawood, and having grown up in mumbai, I am just puzzled. If I were a pakistani, why on earth would I care about Dawood Ibrahim, a former Indian citizen/ a criminal wanted in India. Would I want him on my soil to create Indian version of underworld in Pakistan? What's the point? Only reason that one can overlook such things is the hate between the countries. I am sure there are many such examples
Both societies have deep rooted issues to solve as evident from the inaction of authorities of stoning of women, raping of girls etc. For god's sake and sake of 1.25B + 180M people, get out of the gamesmanship mindset of the past and compete on winning in the economy, technology, science, art and so on. Unfortunately, all this author is focusing on is how NS looked when stepping out and all that gibberish, which ironically puts the author himself in the tired banality he is so eagerly accusing the politicians of.
@A Khan: Vision? And what does that foresee?
Terrorism is the single issue threatening both Pakistan and India and must be defeated for either country to offer a better tomorrow to their citizens. Terrorists may be stakeholders and brothers for many in Pakistan, but few in India suffer from any such illusion. India will defeat terrorism with or without the cooperation of Pakistan, it must be clearly understood. India will also raise the costs for terrorists indulging in misadventure.
If Pakistan still believes terrorists are assets that will do their bidding in India and Afghanistan, it is living in an fools paradise, only to discover they are liabilities. Please recognize it is Pakistan where Guns are freely available, not India. It is also Pakistan which has more trained arsonists adept in the use of weapons and bombs, not India. Now ask yourself who is under greater threat, Pakistan or India. It does not need great intellectual ability to arrive at the right answer.
Now ask a simple question, after the way it has conducted relations with neighbors, does anyone still believe that India will ever cede even a square inch of territory, including Kashmir ? Once citizens realize they have been taken for a ride, strangled and pauperized in the name of Kashmir --- I shudder to think about what happens to those who took them for a ride. Wake up Brother, this is the twenty first century where Knowledge and Technology separates winners from losers, not the seventh century where knives, swords and daggers prevailed. The faster you come out of the world of illusions, the better the chance of citizens reaping the benefits of progress. Control of Media, jingoism and megalomania can only take the country so far.
It is a pity that learned people like this Air Vice Marshall have not understood the damage caused in Indian minds by the Mumbai attacks. While we Indians will improve our security and vigil on the border, it does not give an iota of excuse for Pakistan to gloss over such a dastardly crime planned and funded in Pakistan and executed by pakistanis. The one and only way out for Pakistan to come out of this conundrum is to prosecute the culprits behind the Mumbai mayhem. Or else India will keep talking about talks which are about again talks. We will improve ourselves economically while pakistan is going down the chute on all fronts, be it Polio or economy or security or terrorism or religious sectarianism or education or what not. MMS or Modi or anyone else as Indian PM cannot and will not alter Indian stand till Pakistan books the culprits. Statesmanship in Pakistani eyes may mean that India should forget about the past while Indian leadership will demand that mumbai attack planners and financiers are punished. Indian govt owe this to Indians. India is a status quo country which has enormous patience to play the waiting game. Pakistani leadership may do anything to get a hand of friendship for their own internal support. But India is not going to extend till Indian agenda about Pakistani terrorism is fixed, once and for all.. ET Pl publish
The respected Air vice-Martial is very unhappy with the way the meeting between the two Prime Ministers went. He surely has a clear vision of what should have happened so as to satisfy him. What should have been done and what not done.
Will he now be kind enough to tell us that in as great a detail as possible?
Our armed forces have consistently underestimated India. This bravado was the reason for all our embarrassing failures in wars and confrontations with India. It looks like Vice-Marshal Chaudhry just like his colleagues in the services don't want to learn from history.
Nawaz was treated this way by India because of the weakening of the Pakistan state in multiple fronts- economic stagnation, ethnic and sectarian strife, dependence on foreign aid and our splendid isolation in the international arena. We are not respected by any one as we were respected even 10 years ago.
The truth is Nawaz knows the realities whereas the Vice-Marshal is firmly out of touch with reality. If we cannot deliver on India's demands then we should stop demanding India this and that and spending our energies in perpetual confrontation. If at all we want to survive.
Chaudry Sahib, We are destroying ourselves better and faster than ten of Modi put together. He can sit tight and wait for some equilibrium to develop here and we become whatever we are busy destroying ourselves for to become, before he or any other Indian leader could reasonably deal with us. Are you or any one sure in this land that the Sharifs are going to be around in a few months time?
Dear author,
If you want to see Modi as a damp squib, you would do Pakistan a huge favour by staying away from the policy makings/makers in Pakistan. Let me explain why so,
1) "What is common between a weak Manmohan Singh"? There is one thing that is common, and it is definitely not what you believe. They both believe in continuing the foreign policy of India and not change it based on the individual/party that is in govt. What it spells out is that in India its the parliament and state that defines policies and not whims of individual.
2) "There was nothing visionary about Modi..... copy-paste of the stale Indian paradigm of a unifocal insistence on terrorism as the single issue, which has kept both nations from any meaningful engagement other than at the LoC": Please explain to us, in YOUR vision, how do you see a meaningful dialog happening between India and Pakistan in a backdrop of Kargil or Mumbai and with a history stained in "a thousand cuts to India"? Pakistan may be OK to talk with its Taliban in the backdrop of the constant attack, fortunately for us and unfortunately for you, India is not ready for such negotiation. Another commonality between Modi and Singh.
3) "Also, by clubbing Nawaz with the others, Modi virtually avoided the risk of a rebuff if Nawaz chose to stay away. He also precluded the political risk of appearing overindulgent towards a Pakistani leader." : This was Modi's master stroke. In one invitation he managed to convey he is looking forward to a cordial relations and trade with each one of the neighbors and also emphasised to Pakistan that it is after all ONLY ONE of its neighbor with which India is looking forward to expanding her relationship.
4) "..Nawaz’s credibility as someone who could not take independent decisions, indirectly bringing into question the role of the Pakistan Army as the real arbiter of power –– a point that India relishes when it wishes to thrash Pakistan." : Believe me India does not relish in thrashing Pakistan, spl not when there is blood being spilled on our borders and cities. We would just love to complete ignore you if we can. Moreover, is that not the absolute truth about Pakistan? Do you really want us to believe that its the civilian govt that is at the helm of power. Weren't there Pakistanis themselves that were cautioning (a milder word) Nawaz before making the trip, and wasn't his going to India being looked as him taking an assertive stand?. Isnt Pakistan's India policy defined by the Army? India is giving Nawaz Sharif a second chance but don't blame us if we look a bit skeptical.
5) "...... Sujhata laid out the three crucial points that Modi had made to the Pakistani PM –– and all had to do with terror: Pakistan should not use its soil for terror against India nor let its soil be used to that purpose –– that inferred clear allegations against Pakistan for using terror as a policy tool and tolerating groups that used terror against India;.... ": Pray tell us how India's demand is unjust and how the inference is untrue? Starting from the policy of "a thousand cut to bleed India" to the hatching of the Mumbai and Parliament attack on Pakistni soil and multiple individuals present in Pakistan who are accused of attacks on India, can you blame anyone to reach such conclusion?
6) "when asked to comment on Pakistan’s desire to seek peace with India, she retorted, “India too would like the same but for that to happen, terror against India by Pakistan must first be brought to a stop.” " : If Pakistan truly wants peace with India shouldn't it be a prerequisite from Pakistan itself? You may have a different definition of Peace but for the rest of humanity it means not being responsible, directly or indirectly, in any attack on those you desire to have peace with.
7) "She also laughed away at Pakistan’s attempt at recoining the MFN as NDMA.": She laughed but the rest of the country is scratching their heads trying to understand the state of Pakistan where a policy, that is deemed mandatory by WTO and which Pakistan has time and again promised to provide to India, has to be renamed to appease (or confuse) its people in giving to India. And please understand NDMA is not covered under WTO which means it is India that is doing Pakistan a favour by not pressuring it to sign MFN.
When will you & your like minded merchants of hate for the external world & contempt for local population not in uniform have mercy on our country?
Couldn't wait to read the concluding part. You have a vision, sire!
Why is it so hard for Pakistan to understand India using "terror" as a condition,. when Pakistan uses the same "terrorists" as a threat and a negotiating chip ?
If the rest of the world doesn't lend money and bail out Pakistan, it will be taken over by militants...and that's a blackmail.
If India doesn't compromise on Kashmir, FATA jihadis will turn on India...and that's a blackmail.
There is only one way to deal with a blackmailer...destroy him. Is anyone negotiating with Pakistan ? Not Iran, not Afghanistan, not India. Not even the terrorists who are supposed to be Pakistan's strategic assets...that's hilarious.
Even before Modi's invitation Nawaz seemed to be extra keen to go to India. He had keenly invited Manmohan Singh, who refused to come despite his earlier consent. Then Nawaz climed to go to India without any invitation. During his visit the way he waived his hands and gave smiles, it looked as if he had acheived something very great by simply getting in India, to see his sugar mills. He couldn't predict Modi's behaviour and was out of his wits to respond to Modi's allegations. Then what for did he go to India, is a big question? Can we say that PPP government made "Memogate Scandal" and there could be a "Delhigate Scandal"? With the background of Nawaz previous attempt to create "General Revolt" in the Army by promoting another general as Cheif in place of already Serving Cheif, while he went went for a foreign visit, any ill can be expected from him to break the Institution. The preludes Nawaz government had taken with the conivance of his other partners has been disclosed by the Geo TV incident. PCO CJ Iftekhar disgracing Armed Forces in the courts with his Suo Moto and public provocation by "Missing Persons" rallies. While Geo TV spreading general hatred against Army. General humiliation of Army through false concocted case against General Musharraf in conivance with Iftekhar. This may have been an attempt to seek Indian help instead of US to defeat Pakistan Army, so as to get rid of any threat to their family democracy.
So we wouldn't touch terrorists just because India wants us so.What kind of behavior is this.Don't we have self confidence in ourself.False egos have left us nowhere.Fear that someone will take the credit proves only one thing that we admit we don't have wisdom to know what is good or bad for us.
Looks like no one understands Modi in Pakistan. Modi is not here to make history which is readable in Pakistan. Modi has to deliver to the Indian public who voted him in power. Modi or for that matter anyone else in India has a solution to Kashmir problem which is acceptable to Pakistan. Pakistan wants nothing less than entire Kashmir and that Modi will never deliver. So what next ? Can Pakistani experts put the nuts and bolts of Kashmir solution in public domain which will be acceptable to all the stake holders? Will Pakistan follow the UN resolution in exact words ? Take the first step and then only ask India to follow it up.
Methinks the AVM saab has been watching too many of the saas bahu serials as he insists on looking for plots and sub-plots where none exist; in a simple invitation to a swearing-in (coronation as he calls it). Mr Sharif was gracious eough to accept the invite and attended the ceremony.
What kind of break throughs did the think tanks and experts expect from Modi / Sharif at this meeting, especiallt when Modi had just assumed power? All Modi said was that for the peace initiatives to progress, which both sides desire, an environment had to be created wheresaid talks could be held.
AVM Saheb: Let me explain as much as I can, both as a South Indian and as a Christian.
Though his move of inviting Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration, along with a clutch of other South Asian leaders, was a potent diplomatic initiative, his inability to transform the moment beyond the traditional and moribund was typically Indian and subcontinental.
Clutch of other South Asian Leaders? Please do not fool yourself. Pakistan thinks it is the only neighbor India has whereas the truth is that a Bengali is concerned about Bangladesh the same way a South Indian is concerned about Sri Lanka. We in the south do not care about Pakistan at all, but when you send jihadis to kill civilians during the Mumbai attacks, then we do not, shall not ever tolerate it.
There was nothing visionary about Modi
If you expected Modi to hand any territory on a platter, then let me tell you that Modi can never do that. not can Sonia, Rahul or Nanmohan. The fact is that Indians such as I will never let that happen.
Modi instead may have spoken about trade. if Pakistan is unwilling to reciprocate, it is Pakistan's loss.
(Not to be concluded...)
Mumbai wound will take time to heel. Pak should understand this.when cowards firing @innocents woman and children hurt the liberal Indian feeling towards pak.this is reality.neither MMS nor modi can change.becoz this is s feeling of comman Indian.