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The rhetoric of bilateral talks

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By K.N. Pandita

We understand the concerns of the Chief Minister about soured relations between India and Pakistan. He is genuinely worried by innocent killings that take place either as a result of militancy or firing and shelling across the LoC of International Border.

He has been advocating for continuance of bilateral talks believing that differences could be sorted out through peaceful talks. As a matter of principle it is what everybody will say.

But there is much beyond wishful thinking. Foremost is that you need to understand your adversary, his fundamental approach to the issue and the philosophy to which he adheres and which becomes his motivation.   Continue Reading…

Pakistan’s political impasse

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By K.N. Pandita

New Delhi called of foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan. Two reasons can be given. One, Pakistani army (Rangers) augmented terrorist attacks on our security forces in Kashmir valley and have opened unprovoked shelling on our villages across the LoC and IB in J&K during recent weeks.

Second, Pakistani High Commission invited Kashmir Hurriyatis for a meeting in New Delhi two weeks ahead of the foreign secretary level meet. Nawaz Sharif had declined to meet them when he was in New Delhi in May last. Nawaz Sharif knew they were rabble rousers with no representative character and hence did not merit any attention. Continue Reading…

Calling off FS level meet

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By K.N. Pandita

Besides the separatist and secessionist leadership, ruling and opposition parties too have slammed New Delhi’s decision to call off the foreign secretary level meeting between India and Pakistan slated for 25th of August in Islamabad.

The decision of holding foreign secretary level meet was taken in the aftermath of Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with Narendra Modi on the occasion of latter’s oath taking ceremony in New Delhi in May last.

Both had decided to break the ice and Modi took the initiative. The expectation was that a new chapter would be opened in bilateral relations.   Continue Reading…

Ghazavatu’l-Hind: A matter of Faith

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By K.N. Pandita

Ghazavatu’l-Hind is a narrative hotly talked about in Islamic social and political circles these days, especially among the Al Qaeda and TTP think tanks. It is no figment of imagination; it has roots in hadith (tradition), which we shall take into account.

The debate is dimensional. Ghazava (plural ghazavat or ghazavi) is an Arabic word meaning armed campaign. The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) personally led many campaigns during his lifetime against adversaries. Muslim historians have recorded these with considerable accuracy. Continue Reading…

India: Policy pitfalls and way out

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By K.N. Pandita

The question expressly asked is this: With a massive mandate from the electorate, will NDA government, led by Narendra Modi, succeed in bringing about a thaw in country’s frozen and typecast domestic policy? If the axiom that a country’s foreign policy is actually the extension of its domestic policy is accepted, any fundamental change in domestic policy should have its reverberation in that state’s foreign policy.

We know that UPA government’s long stint in office witnessed emergence and gradual rise of various categories of regional and sub-regional identities in the country, each of them aspiring for assertion. Hindsight shows that UPA government lacked the quality of astute statesmanship in accommodating them on the premise of country’s federal structure rather than succumbing to lust for power. The emerging identities did not hide focusing on power sharing politics on regional level.   Continue Reading…