Author: Our Political Bureau
Publications: The Economic Times
Dated: September 21, 2001
Introduction: Govt. Welcomes Pakistan
to join the 'World of Sanity'
In sharp contrast to General Pervez
Musharraf's unabashed verbal aggression last night, India took on the position
of the benign elder statesman today. While expressing deep disappointment
with Musharraf's "lay off!" warning, India refused to join the cross-border
slanging match.
Briefing the press this afternoon,
foreign minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh said India did not want to compound
the difficulties that Gen Musharraf clearly faced at the present time.
The message "We are disappointed that he (Musharraf) utilised the opportunity
to attack India.... but 'lay off' to whom and from what?" The message from
New Delhi is clear. India will not join issue with the general in public
forums, instead "welcome" Pakistan's decision to "join the world of sanity"
by aligning itself with the global fight against terrorism. "The central
issue is terrorism, of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan,"
said Mr. Singh.
The current situation was also discussed
at a cabinet meeting today. This was in the light of the inputs sent in
by Brajesh Mishra from Washington and conversations with the US leadership.
The US has made it clear to India that it will not undertake any action
without India's knowledge and would be sensitive to Indian concerns.
But India will continue to centre
the world's focus on the fact that it is Pakistan which is the epicentre
of global terrorism arising out of fundamentalism. "We know what they have
been doing for years. They have kept alive the Taliban, the tanzeems within
Pakistan and in Pak-occupied Kashmir... they have sustained it for years."
He added gently that Pakistan was yet to stop being the promoter of cross-border
terrorism - the tanzeems, the terrorist groups, continue to function at
will in Pakistan, he said. Taking a leaf out of Powell's book, Mr. Singh
said India would wait to see how Pakistan followed up on its words.
Mr. Singh's statements today were
a significant departure from earlier statements from the government, even
the prime minister, which refrained from naming specific countries.
Mr. Singh drew the covers off such restraint.
The decision to do so has been partly
driven by the popular perception that Pakistan would get away with its
terrorists by doing a deal with the US on Osama bin Laden and the Taliban,
leaving India high and dry in the global war against terrorism which India
has claimed as its own.
Dispelling such notions, the foreign
minister referred to the transcript of president Bush's statement last
night where he had said that the present situation presented a unique opportunity
to solve the world's extant problems like the Middle East and India-Pakistan.
