Out of the mouth of a babalog politician recently came words that warmed my heart. "We are giving too much importance to Pakistan. It is just a small piece of land, India can't be compared with Pakistan" was Rahul Gandhi's wise comment to the media in Shimla.

Rahul must be given all credit for expressing sentiments, which most seasoned politicians would have been too timid to state. The BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad predictably gave the mandatory reflex criticism, suggesting that Rahul did not know what he was talking about. Actually Rahul's remarks struck a responsive chord with many. I suspect that the silent majority in this country agrees with Rahul that we greatly exaggerate the importance and relevance of Indo-Pakistan relations.

Pakistan occupies a disproportionate amount of time and space of our foreign policy makers. The Indian media is similarly obsessed with the subject. Government spokespersons, politicians, newspapers and TV channels feel it necessary to constantly speculate and comment on Indo-Pak relations. Whether the representatives of the two countries will meet on the sideline of whatever international meet both countries are attending. Whether there will be an agreement of any sort. Whether the subsequent joint statement released will be in our favour or theirs. We are triumphant every time we come across fresh evidence of Pakistan's involvement in terror acts in India. We howl with anger when Pakistan refuses to accept the evidence put before it. We get frustrated when third parties like the USA do not come out unequivocally on our side. Every message we get from Pakistan is discussed and analyzed threadbare on our TV talk shows.

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