Indianexpress.com : comments : Talking it over

Talking it over

All are clueless. Americans do not know what to do with a favoured ally where the state apparatus is unable and unwilling to help the hegemon. The British are puzzled. Rich Pakistanis buy properties in London. But when Pakistan-trained terrorists attack London’s Underground, there is no help fr ....Read more

Comments

Post comment

7 Comments |

abt terrorismBy: justanotherreader | Sunday , 25 Jan '09 21:14:19 PM Reply | Forward We are in PAIN becos of terrorism over a period of few years and the hence the VIEW that understanding the terrorist state will help is like endless metaphysics ( ridiculous ). I guess a slower,more careful and sterner course of action is needed from us.

how to deal with pakBy: ashutosh Kaul | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 21:00:11 PM Reply | Forward First thing India needs to understand is that West including the US is not in the least bit interested in fighting our wars. Secondly much as Mr. Rao likes the granular examination of Pak society , a cursory examination would tell him that Pakistan is not afraid of tensions with India. It is the basis of their so called "valid" nationhood and it is the glue that binds all the various sections of their society. They seek tension and will create one in a heartbeat, as has been proven any number of times, no matter who calls the shots in Islamabad. Pakistan has to dealt by India on three levels Firstly continue to engage the government and keep relentless diplomatic pressure on it to deliver. Secondly interact with the people of pakistan on cultural and social level. Thirdly and most importantly degrade their ability to wage proxy war by increasing their costs of doing it and by continuous covert armed counter measures. Any thing less is not going to be enough.

Clue lessBy: Martin | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 13:01:23 PM Reply | Forward The writer himself is clue less. You cannot start dialogue with every individual in a country. The elected leaders are supposed to be representatives of the country. If Zardari is in a position today, he has to forget his roots and start taking decisions in the interest of the country. The same is true for every leader not only in Pakistan but every country in the world. The reason for any country to go down is that the elected leaders have their own personal agendas. Indian leaders also have the same problem.

Talking it over - Why?By: oldindian | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 12:25:56 PM Reply | Forward Why is it that people living in relatively decent democracy always hold sermon on understanding thy neighbor. That is a must when your neighbor is a individual or a family. but a nation state is much more. It has to have its own vision and a visionary with a good team to implement it. While playing a saboteur with your neighboring country is accepted norm of international diplomacy, you have to have clear exit strategy and clear understanding of its cost. Consider indira gandhi's reading of bangladeshi politics. She knew when to get in, when to get out and what to do after. When you blindly jump into a mission without this basic understanding (zia's afghan misadventure) you are bound to end up being a rumpus state. And international community needs to be engaged only to the extent of protecting its interests being ruined by thus resulting rogue state. If pak cannot get a decent leader with vision and mgmt skills bad luck for them. We cannot hold candle for them.

Pakistan Misunderstood?By: Swapan Chakravarthy | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 10:52:40 AM Reply | Forward A prophetic apology on behalf of Pakistan. The only aspect I agree with is that India is in a confused state of mind. But then when did we take decisions in self interest first? We have taken the moral role of educating the world but only have become absorbed by their attitudes. The incident with Miliband should highlight our significant failing. So what is the answer to the issues raised? Question No 1 is where does the militray derive its economic might? Answers: pilfering public money, clandestine support to drug trade, resorting to blackmailing (will withdraw forces from Western Frontier), and, of course ability to sell nuclear technolgy on a CD (may be upgraded to DVD version). And who spawned it for the last 60-years. First Britain and then US. Let us therefore not shed tears for 911 or 7/7 and see that we do not have a repeat case of 26/11.

jokerBy: joker | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 10:38:31 AM Reply | Forward Mann......you sure look very angry.

we (the US, Britain and India)By: N J Ramesh | Thursday , 22 Jan '09 5:11:50 AM Reply | Forward The "we" is presumptuous. US presently wants to appoint a "czar" to resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. UK has already announced a Kashmir policy and on face of Indian noises reiterated that it was indeed official. If "we" could really be we, as Mr. Rao likes it to be, there could be real movement forward to make Pakistan feel as part of the same "we" as well. Despite "we, the people" commonality, the idea presently does not gel. But who knows, given the dire straits US is in, and with change in air .....