Indo-Pak relations
As usual, there is an upswing followed by a downswing. The upswing was in Havana with a warm handshake between Manmohan Singh and Musharraf agreeing to form a joint mechanism to fight terrorism. The downswing came soon after with the Bombay Police Commissioner producing proof that the ISI had a hand in the Bombay serial blasts inthe trains which killed 200 and wounded 800. Now the Havana agreement would be put to the test. It is almost certain that Pakistan will deny any involvement. It is equally certain that India will not accept that position. So the agreement would become a dead letter. There can be no joint mechanism when there is no joint opinion or consensus as to the cause of terrorism and who backs it or sponsors it. It is denial denial and denial. Musharraf denied in the US that the ISI is supporting the Taliban.President Karzai is no less worried than India about the threat of terrorism in the form of Taliban and Al Queda from its southern border with Pakistan.
What is the big game Pakistan is playing? Whom is it trying to hoodwink? Unfortunately, the US though it knows the real state of affairs is afraid to call the bluff as it is afraid that an even more dangerous regime may replace the military dictator. Politicians have a stake in dancing to the tunes of the electorate which the Military dictator does not have to do. Hence the best bet of US is Musharraf. The only problem is how long is the honeymoon going to last? Internal strife is rampant in Pakistan. There is pressure from Musharraf's allies to restore democracy. Even the West is routinely chanting "restore democracy" for the benefit of the galleries.
There is bound to be an upheaval by the middle of 2007 if present trends are any indication. Musharraf has trump cards up his sleeve in the form of Al Queda top rung leaders whose whereabouts he would be knowing. He would be playing the cards one by one when the time comes for a show down. Gaining a few more years in the process. Ultimately he will have to flee the country as his predecessors did and seek refuge either in Turkey where he spent his childhood or in US where his kith and kin live.
One can only pray that in desperation the General does not press the nuclear button which may become his panic button to precipitate one more war, this time mutually destructive, with India.
Let us keep our fingers crossed.
What is the big game Pakistan is playing? Whom is it trying to hoodwink? Unfortunately, the US though it knows the real state of affairs is afraid to call the bluff as it is afraid that an even more dangerous regime may replace the military dictator. Politicians have a stake in dancing to the tunes of the electorate which the Military dictator does not have to do. Hence the best bet of US is Musharraf. The only problem is how long is the honeymoon going to last? Internal strife is rampant in Pakistan. There is pressure from Musharraf's allies to restore democracy. Even the West is routinely chanting "restore democracy" for the benefit of the galleries.
There is bound to be an upheaval by the middle of 2007 if present trends are any indication. Musharraf has trump cards up his sleeve in the form of Al Queda top rung leaders whose whereabouts he would be knowing. He would be playing the cards one by one when the time comes for a show down. Gaining a few more years in the process. Ultimately he will have to flee the country as his predecessors did and seek refuge either in Turkey where he spent his childhood or in US where his kith and kin live.
One can only pray that in desperation the General does not press the nuclear button which may become his panic button to precipitate one more war, this time mutually destructive, with India.
Let us keep our fingers crossed.
posted by vichchoobhai at 9:46 PM
6 Comments:
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did you work with doordarshan in the eighties? your writing sounds like it.
Nothing against current affairs.. just wondering..
Hey how did u gues? U r absolutely right. I used to work for DD in eighties. Were u in Delhi those days? But then u would not have been born. I can be like MTV channel too, when i want to. Why dont u read my other blogs ANTVENIN and VIRTUOSITY to get a sample. But at times i get bored and that is when i remember my doordarshan days. And why not when I have captive audience like rae. Blog vodiddakkaagi tumba thanks amma. Vodutta iri.
voddutini, maatra salpa interesting idre recommendu madthini. next time nam coffee joint banbidi. gotagatte yaaknauella alle sayitairtivi anta.
nice thought on my 'i love you daddy'. haiku, btw, is 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 syllables again.
nevertheless, loved the thought.
did help rethink my stand.
thanks Rae. If u love someone and dont express it it is not love. It is a feeling stifled within u. Let it come out. I did that mistake and rue for it.
God bless u!
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