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New Delhi, 31
October 2003
India
celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights and fireworks with greater
gusto this year –– thanks to the enhanced spending ability of
consumers, provided by giant economic strides and a bountiful
monsoon. The Diwali Dhamaka (bang) was made louder by the Government
and the onset of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, the
harbinger of possible peace, by offering Pakistan a set of 12
confidence building measures. This was lauded as an attempt to move
toward normalising relations with the neighbour, all over the world,
USA being no exception. First, there were Diwali celebrations
organized in the White House, a first in American history and
unmistakably the proof of growing clout of Indian diaspora in that
country, which has always done justice to the national and social
contribution made by migrants.
The Pakistani
immediate response was one of disdainful rejection. But the
explosive contents of this move, specially in the context of
people-to-people contacts and the impact of second track diplomacy
which crave for peace and friendship, on second thoughts goaded the
advisers of the military dictator there to accept most of the
proposals interalia with many negative riders. We think there may
also be an American hand that did some arm-twisting. As an
indicator, the American media, which is generally unmindful of
Indian concerns/events and does not act without a cue from rulers,
splashed this news and followed it up with diligence. A sample of it
is the editorial that appeared on 26 Oct in the Washington Post, a
GOP mouthpiece –– and we reproduce it below.
Helpful
Overtures by India
India's
recent overtures to Pakistan couldn't be more politically
inconvenient for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Until
recently, Pakistan had been calling for talks on the Kashmir issue,
while India was the ostensible spoiler. Now, India is seen courting
a rapprochement — a move which pleases the United States and puts
Gen. Musharraf on the spot.
In
Pakistan, the intelligence community and military benefit from the
cold war with India, and are unnerved by moves to minimize the
tension over Kashmir. New Delhi's distancing from Pakistan in the
wake of a December 2001 suicide attack on India's parliament suited
these forces just fine. Gen. Musharraf's gruff response to India's
latest outreach was a nod to them. But a thaw is in the long-term
vital interest of both India and Pakistan, is important for U.S.
efforts in Afghanistan and significant to all countries within
radioactive range of these two nuclear powers.
Gen.
Musharraf has Pakistan's interests in his sights as he deals with
India, but is also trying to accommodate some still-powerful (and
potentially subversive) elements in his country. India's patience
with Pakistan signals a respect for this balance, but there is still
a danger New Delhi won't resist a temptation to overplay its
stronger hand, derived from its control of its portion of Kashmir
and its economic and military superiority.
On
Wednesday, India visibly upgraded its peace initiative by appointing
the respected L.K. Advani, its deputy prime minister, as senior
envoy for negotiations with Kashmiri separatists. India also
proposed bolstering or restoring rail, air and sea links with
Pakistan and establishing a bus line between India's and Pakistan's
portion of Kashmir. New Delhi also suggested resuming sporting
contacts, a move cheered by cricket fans and busily reported by the
foreign media. Pakistan is considering the offer, but voiced
disappointment over India's unwillingness to discuss the dispute
over Kashmir.
India's
gesture was particularly noteworthy given the recent context. During
a September U.N. meeting, Indian-Pakistani relations took another
hostile turn. Gen. Musharraf delivered his defense of what he called
Kashmiri freedom fighters, and called on India to address their
grievances to stem attacks. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee accused Gen. Musharraf of diplomatic blackmail through
terrorism. The damage done was not immediately apparent, but
confrontations between the two countries are always cause for
concern.
The
State Department has tried to steward better bilateral relations
between the two countries, but didn't visibly react to the U.N.
spat, although Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage addressed
the issue during his visit to Pakistan earlier this month. India's
outreach marks a de-escalation of hostilities. It is unclear to what
degree the United States prodded New Delhi in this direction, but
the government was reportedly cheered by the Bush administration's
decision to risk Pakistan's ire by classifying Indian Dawood Ibrahim
a terrorist and proving he lives in Karachi by publishing his
Pakistani passport number and phone number in Karachi. Pakistan had
long denied he was living in the country. To India, the move proved
Washington was willing to take a principled stand on terrorism,
despite its keen desire to cajole Islamabad's counter-terror
cooperation. If Washington's handling of the Ibrahim matter indeed
helped bring about India's overture, Washington should be saluted.
Washington
should continue helping to repair the thaw. Gen. Musharraf should
try to capitalize on India's outreach and look for ways to engage
the country without provoking a backlash. New Delhi should be
careful not to push Gen. Musharraf beyond the political breaking
point.
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