NDA was attacked over annulment of India-Pakistan talks even as the government and BJP said the neighbouring country cannot “walk with separatism and talk with Government of India” instantaneously. In a move that effectually cancels the India-Pakistan dialogue process restarted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just three months ago, the government called off talks between the Foreign Secretaries scheduled in Islamabad on August 25, 2014 over Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s decision to meet Hurriyat leaders. The decision was conveyed to Basit just minutes after he met the leader of J&K Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Shah, that the meeting “with these so called leaders of the Hurriyat” undermines the constructive diplomatic engagement initiated by Modi. Even otherwise, there will be no use of talking to Pakistan because that is a country with split power blocks. Furthermore, they are very staunch religious people. Nobody in power in that country are really bent upon the real welfare of that country.
Every time we have witnessed that whenever there was a peace talk, the very next day ceasefire was violated at the border. They never lived up to their promises. They will not be interested in solving issues with India. Realising it, India should plan its policy on Pakistan. The only logical reason for calling off the talks would have been the LoC violations and making it a condition that this matter has to be discussed and sorted out. The Hurriyat has so far proved to be a damp squib. J&K needs more funds for development, creation of jobs, better education and health schemes instead of funds for ouster of Kashmiri Pandits. It certainly appears that the decision to call off the talks was a political one due to pressure from some hawkish elements in the party who even did not support Vajpayee and his efforts. Perhaps, it will also suit Nawaz Sharif as he is also under pressure right now. No credible foreign policy can be based on “blow hot, blow cold”. This decision will set the whole process back to a logjam, but that’s worth it.
According to the government’s statement, “The invitation to so-called leaders of the Hurriyat by Pakistan’s High Commissioner does indeed raise questions about Pakistan’s sincerity, and shows that its negative approaches and attempts to interfere in India’s internal affairs continue unabated. Under the present circumstances, it is felt that no useful purpose will be served by the Indian Foreign Secretary going to Islamabad next week.”
This was indeed a strong message to Pakistan that talking to separatists and encouraging terrorists is not in the interest of India. If they are not in India’s favour, we need not follow. Every issue needs different handling. The situation on the China border is not different and Congress wants NDA to be strong on China’s border issue. However, they are lenient with Pakistan when they talk to separatists. Congress, for the sake of opposing, should not oppose everything NDA does. Let us be united in sensitive issues of Kashmir, separatist issues, border issues and terrorist activities.
All past engagements with Pakistan has been an exercise in futility because Pakistan has always backstabbed us. They have never been held responsible for the failure of mutually engaging activities. There has never been any red line drawn, what is acceptable and what is not. Both the lines and the messaging were ambiguous. Our government is not against talks or discussions, but any engagement under Modi has to be outcome based. It is important to establish and sign the treaty before beginning of the peace talk or ceasefire.
