Pakistan

Modi wants private success story with Pakistan: Salman Khurshid

Former Indian external affairs minister says Pakistan is incapable of dealing with India's security concerns

Web Desk July 20, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

Former Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid claimed on Monday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted his own private success story with Pakistan and was pursuing a ‘policeman's foreign policy’.

"You can't talk to another country when it is only half the voice of the nation. Unless the whole nation speaks, you cannot succeed with another country. And the big mistake Modi is making is he wants to make his own private success story with Pakistan. That is not possible. That has never been possible. It is not possible now," Khurshid told IANS in an interview.

Khurshid said for a national consensus on ties with Pakistan it is necessary for the Indian government and opposition to be on better terms.

Read: Pakistan committed to improving ties with India: Abdul Basit

Days after an ice-breaking meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Modi in the Russian city of Ufa, where both sides decided to resume the dialogue process stalled since mid-2014, cross border firing has resumed.

Regarding the recent border tensions and responding to a question whether Pakistan has made a ‘u-turn’ from position in Ufa, Khurshid said, “They [Pakistan] are never capable or sincere in dealing with India's concerns."

"We have seen this over and over again. For anyone who is seeing it as an about-turn, we are fooling ourselves. It was never really intended by Pakistan to come on board with India's concerns on security. It was done because they wanted to show something to the world and Modi wanted to show something to India," Khurshid said, adding that Modi had a great panache for quick fixes.

Read: No Eid sweets exchanged between Pakistan, India forces at Wagah border

The former external affairs minister also said that Modi was dealing with Pakistan in a pure tactical manner.

"Whatever Modi decides he has to do with Pakistan must have some strategic inputs. I think he does not really rely on adequate level of strategic inputs," he said.

Asked about his remarks that Modi government's foreign policy was failure, Khurshid said "it has not delivered anything anywhere."

"They have not told us what they want to do. Just going everywhere and getting 21 gun salutes is not what diplomacy is about. Diplomacy is about furthering your national interest, making your presence felt and getting your high priority items. What have we received in the last one year by way of delivery from any country that Mr Modi has visited," Khurshid added.

Read: Salman Khurshid to Modi: Don't expect dramatic results from Pakistan visit

"I think a policeman's foreign policy is what he is pursuing and a policeman's foreign policy, to my mind, is a disaster. Policeman's foreign policy is when you think you can play one against the other. When you can try to be smart with everybody else, not sincere with anyone. That's the policeman's foreign policy and that is more than apparent here," he added.

This article originally appeared on Economic Times.

COMMENTS (17)

sunny | 9 years ago | Reply well salman, in the next loksabha election congress will be wiped out even from the opposition. please continue to uproot the party good luck.

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Well Mr. Khursheed, in the opinion of billions of Indians, Modi's policies have been very effective. Pakistanis have already felt the presence of Mr. Modi and have seen what could be the result of any adventure on border. They are acting like a boy who does all sort of things to get attention. From crying, pleading to create nuisance. Modi has been effective in convincing the other neighbors of support in need and to ensure they are not used for any nefarious activities against India. He also engaged world powers from Europe to US to China. Nuclear deal is signed with US. He is trying to get things which were into doldrums with Congress. Now only if you act like a responsible opposition and not oppose every bill for the sake of opposition, things can work out good for India. You guys did not work but at least let others do.

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Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Salman, nobody in India cares for your opinion. Just keep on spending for personal use from Nanaji's Charity Fund.

someone | 9 years ago | Reply @Striver: I think you are born after 9/11.

MIAN | 9 years ago | Reply @Pranav: GHOSTS is the right word . If after double fencing and mining the entire border and having placed thousands of soldiers to guard it .. spending billions of $ for high technology military items still the Indians cant stop blaming "TERRORISTS" for their own problems ... THEY must be GHOSTS

wb | 9 years ago | Reply @Usman: Well sir, you can say India's occupation of Kashmir. Fact of the matter is, Islamic occupation of India. I'm talking about Pakistan. Yes. Islam has occupied and turned productive/just Hindu land into worthless desert.

AMMAR KAKAZAI | 9 years ago | Reply does he even matter

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply @Hamid: Thats being a HINDU-stani .. always wants others to meet their concerns, NEVER they have tried to address Concerns of Others; They, these HINDUS-tanis are self centered eccentrics and have the big bird of EGO up theirs; I know this as I live among them and at least more than 100 of them work for me in ME.. So tell me what else is new ???

Striver | 9 years ago | Reply @Pranav: Accusing Pakistan of trying to de-stabilize India is like accusing Modi being a saviour of Indian Gujarati Muslims.

ghazal | 9 years ago | Reply NOT THAT I AM FAN OF MODI, but as far as this gentleman and his core team are concerned that were sheer disaster. at least modi has improved relation with all neighbours except Pakistan, they had spoiled with everyone. leave his articulation of nonsense , he is meera / rakhi sawant of our political spectrum.

Usman | 9 years ago | Reply Has the thought crossed this guy's mind that India's concerns are not Pakistan's concerns? Pakistan's concerns however, Balochistan terror, Kashmir Occupation by India and Flood inducing water from India have the potential for Nuclear conflict? . How about we let the Mumbai incident Rest In Peace as it should and talk about some real issues? Whatever diplomatic leverage India hoped to gain via Mumbai to get a permanent seat at the UNSC has evaporated. The sooner India stops dreaming about its non-existent clout, whether in Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Nepal, the sooner we will have a peaceful South Asia.

abu lahab | 9 years ago | Reply @Hamid: Salman Khurshid is ex minister. He belongs to congress.

Pranav | 9 years ago | Reply Modi is Playing with Pakistan. The Joint Declaration from Ufa was a Big Success for Modi and India because Kashmir was Never Mentioned in that statement. Instead Terrorism was Given priority as India wanted. Btw one thing i will agree with Salman Khursheed that Pakistan is Not serious About India's Terror Concern beacuse they are Pakistan's Asset and their Ghost Force's who along with Pak army work to destabilize India!

Javed | 9 years ago | Reply Your opinion does not matter at this moment. Wait for your turn.

Hamid | 9 years ago | Reply External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid criticizing his own PM as well as Modi's peace initiatives! And yet he criticizes Pakistan for not being united in seeking peace. The irony and hypocrisy!!!

Striver | 9 years ago | Reply Salman Khurshid has said it himself: "When you can try to be smart with everybody else, not sincere with anyone". They need to show they sincerely want peace with Pakistan and stop trying to be smart with everyone "playing one against the other". Thank you for telling the truth Mr Khurshid.

Ali Hassan | 9 years ago | Reply Some sensible talk. Except that Pakistan is not capable. How about what Pervez Musharraf did? He went step further w/ India.

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