June 24, 2005 ☼ Foreign Affairs ☼ Security
This is an archived blog post from The Acorn.
Pakistan is on the offensive.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, unscrupulous-businessman/refugee-protector/terrorist-trainer/all the above, and of course, cabinet minister, has called it a test of India’s commitment to the peace process (linkthanks Manu). General Musharraf is expected to take up the matter on Sheikh Rashid’s behalf. All this after Pakistan brazenly violated the terms of the agreement that launched the ‘historic’ bus service.
India is treading softly, almost apologetically, signalling that it is unlikely to allow the controversial Kashmiri to make the bus journey across.
One will be forgiven for believing that it is India that has something to be apologetic about. Dr Manmohan Singh admitted that Pakistan had violated the terms of the Kashmir bus service agreement — but did nothing to indicate how his government would react. It will be crying shame if, so soon after one transgression, he allows another one.
Insisting on moral, legal and constitutional proprieties is not bureaucratic ‘babuspeak’ as some have come to criticize it. India is defined by its adherence to a constitutional system where rule-of-law is expected to prevail; Pakistan, by doctrines that are dreamt up whenever the necessity arises. In its bid to make peace with its troublesome neighbour, committing and tolerating flagrant violations of India’s own core values is self-defeating.
Related Link: Secular-Right on the Hurriyat’s visit.
If you would like to share or comment on this, please discuss it on my GitHub
Previous © Copyright 2003-2024. Nitin Pai. All Rights Reserved.