Pakistan is continuing its cunning maneuvers and India is constantly trying to improve relations under US pressure. Pakistan made the move for talks with US support in order to improve its image in the world.
It proved to be a mere sham in the long run. It was the Indian Government's weakness to deviate from its original resolve "not to have any discussions with Pakistan until it stops all anti-India activities on its soil."
Measures Against Terrorists
Pakistan's morale seems to have gone up by this change. It was elated that India had been caught in its trap. That is why Pakistan adopted a rigid stand in the dialogue. It neither gave up the Kashmir slogan nor did it make any commitment on taking stern measures against terrorists. Why does Manmohan Singh fail to realize that relationship with a country, which has always been hostile to India and has adopted the policy of humiliating and destroying it, can never be developed?
Because of India's weak policy and lack of determination, Pakistan repeatedly vents its anger on us and advises us to improve relations. A fitting reply can be given to Pakistan through determination and on India's own strength.
How can the United States pressure India into talks? No country can earn respect in the world by sacrificing its prestige for the sake of international relations. Has the prime minister forgotten this simple principle of foreign policy? Pakistan and the United States complement each other in their foreign policies and designs. Some time ago, US President Barack Obama had asked China to keep a watch on the situation in South Asian countries. Its direct implication was that China should mediate between India and Pakistan. Later, Pakistan's foreign minister said, during his visit to China, that Pakistan would welcome any role assigned to China to reduce tension between India and Pakistan. This mentality does not certainly go in India's favor.
Dancing to Tune of US
What is the point in dancing to the tune of the United States? It only reveals India's weakness. The United States is forming an equation with Pakistan to protect its own interests. But ignoring India's welfare and respect in this process can never be tolerated nor should the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government allow this.
That Pakistan had taken the dialogue lightly was evident from the meeting that Pakistani foreign secretary had with Hurriyat Conference leaders, blatantly just before the dialogue began. Was this not meant to irritate the Indian Government? What could be more ridiculous than the description of the dossiers handed over to the foreign secretary as "mere literature"? Pakistan was actually pretending to hold talks.
It was not at all serious about them. That is why, its foreign secretary had asked India not to make terrorism a part of the dialogue before he came to India. But terrorism and Pakistan's role in it are the main cause of tension between India and Pakistan. Having a dialogue without including them in the agenda can serve no purpose. Pakistan was not serious about the talks at any level nor was it eager for them to be conclusive. That is why the talks failed.
Resumption of Dialogue
Just two days before the resumption of the dialogue, Pakistan violated the cease-fire and started firing on the Samba region on the India-Pakistan border. Does this not prove that Pakistan's hostile mentality has not changed at all? On the other hand, the Taliban have beheaded two Sikhs for refusing to pay extortion money and to convert to Islam.
Another Hindu was abducted and a ransom of a hundred thousand rupees was demanded. The Manmohan Singh government did not refer to these atrocious activities in the dialogue. This silence exposes the secret of its "secular character."
As against this, the prime minister's reaction to the burning of churches in Orissa was quite different. After the ruthless murder of Swami Lakshmanand in Orissa, people went on a rampage and destroyed some churches and hurt Christians. The prime minister was in France at that time. But this did not stop him from describing these incidents as a "national shame". However, the same government fails to react to heinous activities like killings of Sikhs, demanding extortion money from them, compelling them to convert to Islam and abducting Hindus. What does it imply? Ignoring these happenings that occurred just before the resumption of the dialogue is in consequence with the government's secular thinking?
Its secular pretence was further exposed when the Congress party spokesperson stated that it was the government's responsibility to bring artist M.F. Hussain safely back to India, even though he paints obscene pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses! Contrary to this, the government compels Taslima Nasreen to leave the country repeatedly because she exposes the doings of fundamentalist clerics through her writings. How can such a hesitant secular government having a weak moral counter Pakistan's depravity?
