The meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has not kindled much hope. Delhi-based Hindustan Express, in an editorial titled ‘Dushmani lakh sahi’ (from a famous couplet urging one to not break a relationship even between enemies; hands should be shaken even if hearts are not joined together) writes: “Even though apparently there is no scope for not considering it hopeful, because it was a meeting between political heads of India and Pakistan after a long time at which there was talk about terrorism... the outcome can not give rise to much expectation.”

Obama’s message for Muslims

The Urdu press has had a mixed reaction to US president Barack Obama’s speech from Cairo, addressed to the Muslims of the world. The most widely circulated Urdu daily, Hyderabad-based Munsif (June 8), views Obama’s speech as “a statement somewhere between boldness and caution” (jurat mandi aur ehtiyaat pasandi ke darmiyaan jhoolta hua ek bayaan)”. It has described the “surprising positive reaction in the Arab world” to the speech as a “half-full glass” perception, asking: “To what extent can Obama himself assure that America is seriously intent on starting a new chapter of friendship and conciliation with the Islamic world? It is worth our serious consideration if in the American president has such wide powers that he can, on his own, act against the mandate of the houses of Parliament. It has also to be seen if Obama can make both the American Senate and the House of Representatives support his viewpoint.

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