Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has dropped a plan to travel to Egypt next month where he was expected to hold further talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following their meeting in Russia this week.
Pakistan’s foreign office has said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will attend the summit of Non-Aligned Nations in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh although soon after the Singh-Zardari meeting in Yekaterinburg the two sides announced plans for a second meeting in July.
Has something gone wrong?
Newspapers on both sides of the border read more into the change of plans than just a normal swap of duties between the prime minister and the president.
The Dawn linked the cancellation to displeasure over Singh telling Zardari in the full glare of the world’s media that Pakistan should not allow its soil to be used for militant attacks on India.
The soft-spoken Singh’s rather unexpected remark right at the beginning of the first-to-face encounter with Pakistan’s leaders since the Mumbai attacks in November ensured that the meeting was unpleasant from the outset, it said.
Pakistan’s The News said New Delhi had handed Zardari a “well staged slight” but Islamabad was setting it aside because at the end of the day the two sides were talking again.
Indian newspapers were less restrained, saying Zardari dropped out of the next meeting after Singh’s blunt talk and that Islamabad wanted to send the message that his rather public reprimand had not gone down well with Pakistan.
Did India over-reach then? Perhaps too much shouldn’t be read into all this. The Hindu points out that this may not yet be the last word, as Zardari has changed travel plans at the last minute several times.
At home though, they are applauding Singh both for his tough talk and the realisation that you have to engage the “imploding neighbour” because that is the neighbourhood it lives in.
Singh had served notice that India and indeed its neighbours were going to see a more determined prime minister in the months ahead, “a far cry from the man who was seemingly too timid to take on his tormentors during the previous five years,” as New Delhi’s Mint wrote.
And columnist and former ambassador Kuldip Nayar said the meeting hadn’t come a day too soon.
“Too much time and too much money have been wasted in talking against each other instead of talking to each other. The two countries have not experienced peace since independence; 62 years is a long period for the people to suffer estrangement and live in fear of war all the time,” he wrote.
Are they slipping back into talking at each other?
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Pakistan expects the Kashmir dispute to be addressed as a result of this exercise. “Both know that these objectives can be achieved only after a confidence-building exercise has created some measure of trust between them. India was keen to get action against terrorism while Pakistan wants to get back into dialogue. Both can’t do more than that because of the pressure of public opinion back home. It is intensely negative on both sides. Indians are riled over the Mumbai attacks; Pakistanis are riled over Indian interference inside Pakistan. Pakistan’s priority now is getting rid of terrorists and the war against terrorism should not be an India-Pakistan war.
- Posted by Javed AliSanjeev!
A MUST NEW TOPIC: REQUIRING DISCUSSION: Please see link.
Pakistan massively upgrading nuclear complex, despite looming civil war.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/05/ sats-show-pakistan-super-sizing-its-nucl ear-weapons-complex/
Is Pakistan really sincere about using U.S. taxpayer and IMF dollars to fight terrorism, while it builds nuclear weapons?
How can the world sit idly by and let this happen?
I think Obama and Clinton need to address this head on, in front of the world.
- Posted by Global WatcherI do not agree with you Rohit S… Your views are very funny, hollow and illogical. Before I start, some questions
What do you mean by India has Grown Economically? The statement is vague please be specific.
What do you mean by Indian Prime Minister is highly respected internationally? Other leaders in G20 command less respect than Manmohan Singh and whatever Manmohan Singh says is followed?
- Posted by RohitThe only solution to Kashmir is India reclaiming POK politically or militarily,not only Kashmir is a integral part of India ,all the border states should be taken up by the center with foremost importance ,which India seems to be lacking and landing up with the contoversies with the Neighbours.India has been calous from the point Pakistan had attatched Kashmir for the first time.India also lost to china .Indian military should be have more vigil on the borders as well known Indian techies can help India in this aspect by building state of the art tactical survelliance equipments and military as US has done.
- Posted by ArnabDont quite agree with you Asmat, india has long been the victim as the world turned a blind eye towards the problem we faced due to pak sponsored terror. US infact has been very generous with pakistan so that pak does not depend on china completely for military and economic aid.
But yes today nobody can ignore India. its has grown economically and has hence gained a larger voice in world diplomacy. The nuclear deal and the latest financial aid from ADB is an example of India’s position.
Also the Indian Prime Minister is highly respected internationally (the G20 summit is an example)to add to that he was just re-elected prime Minister in the world’s largest democracy.
after winning he had told the parliament that he will go more that half way to meet Pakistan if they showed the courage and statesmanship to ensure that pakistan soil is not used to plan or implement any teror attack in india. hence what happened in the meeting with Zardari was just what he had promised the parliament to which he is answerable as this is the norm in a true democracy
- Posted by Rohit SPeace between Pakistan and India can be driven more by threat of repraisal than any other motive. Both the countries are not sincere in peace, though India play its diplomatic cards better than Pakistan.
- Posted by Asmat JamalWestren countries support India not because it considers it at a high moral pedastal but because they want to use India to block the economic giant CHINA.
India is cashing the International envirinments which has moved fast against the Muslim world after the collaspe of USSR.
Lesson for Pakistan is “DONOT LOWER YOUR GUARD”
It would be very silly on the part of India to resume talks with Pakistan, when the latter continues to sponsor terrorism.
Instead of whining and complaining about Pak terrorism, India should be pro-active.
First step in this process is recognizing the fact that “talks” are not the way to dissuade Pakistan from terrorism. Some say not talking is not an option. Since both options are ineffective why waste time in talking?
Second, do not budge one bit about moving troops out of J& K.
Third, continue to expose Pak terrorism at all fronts in the media and escalate the cost Pak pays for terrorism. On Mumbai attack, Pakistan planned and executed well, but Kasab getting caught undermined the whole operation. Negative publicity and diploamtic humiliation was heaped on Pakistan.
Fourth, improve surveillance on Pak ISI terrorist activity.
Fifth, open more consulates in Afghanistan, provide financial and logistical support to Balochi freedom struggle. No amount of lecturing has discouraged Pakistan from terrorism in India, supporting insurgies in NE India, etc.
Sixth, Paks fantasized about inflicting 1000 wounds on India, but they are the ones bleeding with 1000 cuts. Pak economy is in soup, we don’t have to do much about it. Pak targeting Mumabi and Bangalore are aimed at undermining Indian economy. India should continue to focus on economy and development.
- Posted by RajI do not know why people are debating so much on this stupid article. Indo Pak talks have always been futile.
When has the Indo Pak talk resulted in anything good on basis of which it can be said that the further talks will result in any good?
Bulletfish trying to prove “Manmohan is better than Zardari” Does it solve problems? Or if Zardari is better than Manmohan then do the problems get solved?
Umair trying to project irrelevant points like “Arrogant Attitude of India”, “Pakistan will not be Intimated”. Why has Pakistan not been able to resolve the problems between India and Pakistan by let’s say most “Pure” (Pak) talks?
It won’t make an iota of difference in anybody’s life on both sides if the countries talk or not talk or as Mr Nayar says “Talk with Each Other or Talk Against Each Other”.
In my view citizens should not pay attention to these matters till Good Relaltions between India and Pakistan become the only prime factor. When election is fought and won only on this issue, only then we can expect normalcy in relatons.
- Posted by Rohitno way. just waist of time by useless leaders from both sides.2nation theory will remain alive till end of this world.2swords can not occupy one cover.day of judgement too near to posses ur actions and saying.
- Posted by muhammadUmair,
-India will achieve nothing by showing an arrogant attitude.
Is this the same attitude that Pakistan showed towards India with its cycle of denials with the Mumbai attacks by Pakistanis?
-Pakistan will simply not be intimidated by diplomatic posturing.
Intimtidated? Ofcourse it won’t. Yet this will not prevent it from continuing to beg and beg the rest of the world for more aid and debt write-offs.
-Before Singh’s remark he was considered a statesman to some extent, not anymore.
He is still a great statemen when compared to Zardari who never seems to be in Pakistan and is constantly travelling to beg for more money to balance the Pakistan economy. Just read “Zardari pleads for world’s help to stabilise Pakistan” (Dawn, 22/06/2009).
-Mr. Singh will always remain under pressure from BJP and other forces in India who want a tough stance towards Pakistan.
Mr. Singh WON the general election by a majortiy. The BJP conceded defeat. What pressure you are talking about does not exist.
- Posted by bulletfishBilly,
Have you ever heard of the phrase: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES.
Well in case you haven’t, here are a couple of human rights abuses from Pakistan itself:
In 2002, Mukhtar Mai was gang raped as a punishment for a misdemeanour blamed on her brother. Allegedly on the order of a village council in Pakistan. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf banned her from travelling abroad because he feared her visit might “tarnish” Pakistan’s image.
On March 7, 2008, Taslim was subjected to the cruellest possible ordeal. She was made to run before a pack of dogs that bit at her legs until, exhausted, she fell to the ground where they continued to maul her. She was subsequently shot by Zameer Solangi in the presence of her father in order to intimidate him. Also present were Mr. Karim Bux, who is also an uncle of the girl and a councillor in local bodies. It was due to the influence of these persons that the police took no action in the killing and land dispute.
You must also not forget all the Pakistani civil servants and civilians who were murdered by the Taliban when they moved into the Swat region. The same Taliban with whom the Pakistan govt made a so-called peace deal. Except it got BROKEN when the Taliban decided to expand a little closer to Islamabad by muscling into Buner.
- Posted by bulletfish