The Samjhauta Express blast had India and Pakistan pulling in different directions, and diplomats on both sides lament that an opportunity for genuine cooperation on the terrorist front was lost. If India suggested that the victims with 40 per cent burns or more should not be shifted from hospital, Pakistan insisted otherwise, and a boy on ventilator was put on the Pak C-130 aircraft. Then, Indian officials insisted they should be allowed to record statements without the presence of Pakistani officials. Obviously there is still no clarity on whether Islamabad permits this. But the ultimate rebuff came when quiet suggestions were made to cancel the high profile media dinner for visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and instead hand over the money involved for the treatment of victims as a gesture; it fell on deaf ears.

Crossroads

The finance minister in his last Budget had promised to restructure the National Highways Authority of India to make it a more efficient body. It’s been more than a year but a policy decision is still awaited. This despite Cabinet Secretary BK Chaturvedi sorting out all inter-ministerial “differences” more than once. However, it appears that Road Transport Minister TR Baalu has his own ideas: he has reassigned responsibilities of all chief general managers. The CGMs now have state-specific duties and are no longer responsible for a single national highway programmes (like the Golden Quadrilateral, North-South and East-West Corridors, NHDP III and so on) that run through many states. Does this make sense, Minister?

... contd.