10-08-2008, 08:13 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Zardari's dumb charade </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>If only New Delhi had been more clever!</span>
It is amazing how easily India's commentariat and the chattering classes are persuaded by bogus statements that emanate from Pakistan. As soon as Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's interview to the Wall Street Journal was published, there were near celebrations in New Delhi. Here was a Pakistani leader, elected to office at that, who had described the killers of Kashmir Valley as "terrorists". What more could India ask for? Such is the naivete that prevails even in the corridors of power that there was official applause for Mr Zardari's comments - it was pointed out that they underscore his country's 'resolve' to fight terrorism. It was also pointed out that Mr Zardari's comments followed his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. The sub-text of such assertions cannot be missed: Such is the Prime Minister's persuasive powers that he has been able to convince Mr Zardari into toeing India's line! After all, Mr Singh is believed to have discussed the issue of terrorism during his meeting with Mr Zardari - we don't know whether he expressed concern over jihadi violence in Pakistan or Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in India. In the past, most famously at Havana, Mr Singh has not hesitated to describe the perpetrator of terrorism in India as the victim of terrorism - never mind the absence of logic in such description - and under American pressure has set up a joint terror combating mechanism which has distinguished itself by achieving nothing.
Within days of the euphoric response to Mr Zardari's comments, the Pakistani President has thought it wise to retract them and revert to the established Pakistani position that terrorists in the Kashmir Valley are "freedom fighters" deserving of Islamabad's "moral support" - the unstated position is that Islamabad feels obliged to provide arms, ammunition and training, apart from all other assistance, to those who militate against India and indulge in the slaughter of innocent people. Had Mr Zardari been truthful while speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he would have resisted all pressure on him to disown his own words and stood by them. Obviously, he neither meant what he said nor is he interested in reversing Pakistan's insidious policy of promoting cross-border terrorism in India. It is entirely possible that he was pilloried by his American interlocutors while in the US and had a tough time explaining why Pakistan is blowing up bit by bit with every passing day as the so-called elected 'popular' Government is seen whimpering in a corner, unable to so much as lift a finger in admonishment. To demonstrate that he is no less 'loyal' to Washington, DC, than his disgraced predecessor, Mr Zardari chose to use words that he knew he could withdraw later, citing domestic compulsions. And yet we failed to see through this charade!
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>If only New Delhi had been more clever!</span>
It is amazing how easily India's commentariat and the chattering classes are persuaded by bogus statements that emanate from Pakistan. As soon as Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's interview to the Wall Street Journal was published, there were near celebrations in New Delhi. Here was a Pakistani leader, elected to office at that, who had described the killers of Kashmir Valley as "terrorists". What more could India ask for? Such is the naivete that prevails even in the corridors of power that there was official applause for Mr Zardari's comments - it was pointed out that they underscore his country's 'resolve' to fight terrorism. It was also pointed out that Mr Zardari's comments followed his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. The sub-text of such assertions cannot be missed: Such is the Prime Minister's persuasive powers that he has been able to convince Mr Zardari into toeing India's line! After all, Mr Singh is believed to have discussed the issue of terrorism during his meeting with Mr Zardari - we don't know whether he expressed concern over jihadi violence in Pakistan or Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in India. In the past, most famously at Havana, Mr Singh has not hesitated to describe the perpetrator of terrorism in India as the victim of terrorism - never mind the absence of logic in such description - and under American pressure has set up a joint terror combating mechanism which has distinguished itself by achieving nothing.
Within days of the euphoric response to Mr Zardari's comments, the Pakistani President has thought it wise to retract them and revert to the established Pakistani position that terrorists in the Kashmir Valley are "freedom fighters" deserving of Islamabad's "moral support" - the unstated position is that Islamabad feels obliged to provide arms, ammunition and training, apart from all other assistance, to those who militate against India and indulge in the slaughter of innocent people. Had Mr Zardari been truthful while speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he would have resisted all pressure on him to disown his own words and stood by them. Obviously, he neither meant what he said nor is he interested in reversing Pakistan's insidious policy of promoting cross-border terrorism in India. It is entirely possible that he was pilloried by his American interlocutors while in the US and had a tough time explaining why Pakistan is blowing up bit by bit with every passing day as the so-called elected 'popular' Government is seen whimpering in a corner, unable to so much as lift a finger in admonishment. To demonstrate that he is no less 'loyal' to Washington, DC, than his disgraced predecessor, Mr Zardari chose to use words that he knew he could withdraw later, citing domestic compulsions. And yet we failed to see through this charade!
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