Nobody’s listening

Nobody's listening

'Above the din' (IE, January 16) makes a compelling argument for keeping dialogue open with Pakistan even as it seems to sink deeper into chaos. But dialogue with whom? The Pakistan military does not seem amenable to letting its civilian government communicate openly with India. As Mani Shankar Aiyar correctly points out ('The hostility industry', IE, January 16), while India has been a stable democracy for 65 years, Pakistan seems to have allowed its military to exert too much control over politics in the same period. Under the circumstances, the enduring challenge for India is to encourage initiatives that improve relations between the civilian populations of both countries.

— R.P. Subramanian, Delhi

Building trust

THE lack of trust between India and Pakistan needs to be repaired with better economic and political ties, not with an eye for an eye approach ('The hostility industry', IE, January 16). As Mani Shankar Aiyar argues, the hawks in India must realise and respect that people on both sides of the border seem to want peace. Vengeance may fuel a cycle of violence and is not a substitute for dialogue or confidence-building measures. India must engage Pakistan diplomatically instead of militarily, through the channels of trade and cultural exchange, as it seeks a final solution to its long-standing conflict with Pakistan.

— Sagar Patil

Pune

Play your part

THIS refers to 'Banking on reform' (IE, January 15) by Rudra Sensarma. The new banking act is expected to deter small players from entering the banking sector. We should be ready to bear this small cost if the benefits of financial inclusion are to be reaped. Moreover, it is not that the government is abdicating its responsibility by delegating the task of financial inclusion to the RBI. Everybody has a role to play in encouraging growth and the government alone should not be the agent of welfare. It is for the same reason that private entities are increasingly expected to uphold the value of corporate social responsibility.

... contd.

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