02-26-2004, 02:06 AM
At the core of the opposition to India among many quarters in the world is the notion that Indian nationhood is a nebulous entity. Foremost in this cacophony is of course Pakistan which makes no secret of the fact that it considers the Indian nation an anomaly and would dearly love to see it broken up, even if in the process it endangers its own survival as a nation.
If that were the only opposition to Indian nationhood, life would be relatively simple for those in India who are entrusted with the responsibility for framing Indian foreign policy. Alas, such is not the case. There is a whole gaggle of disparate entities keen to see India dismantled. Not least amongst these is the powerful anti Indian lobby in the US state department which makes no secret of its distaste for a strong india. More pernicious is the left secular lobby in India which barely hides its extraterritorial leanings towards Chinese and other ideological moorings and would not mind sacrificing the notion of india in order to achieve power in the remnants of the subcontinent.
This thread will catalogue the pronouncements and writings of such parties in order to analyze whether there is a common thread among these groups.
It is not coincidental that jaswant singh drew attention to the centrality of Kashmir to Indian nationhood during the Agra talks.
http://newsarchives.indiainfo.com/spotligh.../12jaswant.html
Kashmir core of Indian nationhood: Jaswant
Thursday, July 12 2001 20:26 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on July 12 described Kashmir as the ''core of Indian nationhood'' and rejected outright Pakistan's demand for a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] ''The question of referendum (in J and K) simply does not arise,'' he said at a crowded press conference ahead of the Vajpayee-Musharraf Summit.
Ridiculing Pakistan's demand for self determination he said the UN resolution could not be enforced.
He also said India would not propose a ''moratorium'' on Kashmir to Pakistan as it was not shy of discussing the issue and expressed willingness to discuss the 'No War Pact' provided it covered proxy war and cross-border terrorism.
Commenting on Gen Pervez Musharraf's repeated assertion that Kashmir was the ''core issue'' the Minister said ''it is not.'' ''It is at the core of Indian nationhood. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of Article one and Schedule one of the Indian Constitution. How can I negotiate the Constitution.''
He said no one had ever questioned the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. This was not even raised by the UN. In fact, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also admitted this fact during his recent visit to India.
The Minister said the government was not having any set proposals on Jammu and Kashmir for discussions with Pakistan. The issue would be discussed under a composite dialogue on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, confidence-building measures, Siachen Glacier.
Referring to the government's unilateral confidence-building measures, the Minister said it had also proposed to discuss with Pakistan security-related issues--both conventional and nuclear.
''We are desirous in engaging Pakistan in developing CBMs in nuclear and conventional fields.''
While the Directors General of Military Operations could discuss conventional arms issues, experts would examine in totality nuclear issues.
Asked if Pakistan expressed helplessness in controlling cross-border terrorism, the Minister said the issue would be taken up at the Summit so that Pakistan recognised and addressed the issue. There was no reason for India to give up efforts to combat terrorism.
''We will continue to combat terrorism as we have been doing. India cannot compromise on cross-border terrorism.''
On the issue of prisoners of war, Jaswant Singh said the matter could not be referred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the Geneva Convention stipulated that the countries should accept the presence of POWs in its jails. Unfortunately, the Pakistan had not confirmed such presence, he added.
The issue had been discussed during the Lahore Summit and the two sides had agreed to depute a Minister to visit the jails. ''It is a humanitarian issue about which we are concerned. We will take up the matter,'' he added.
UNI
Other Links
If that were the only opposition to Indian nationhood, life would be relatively simple for those in India who are entrusted with the responsibility for framing Indian foreign policy. Alas, such is not the case. There is a whole gaggle of disparate entities keen to see India dismantled. Not least amongst these is the powerful anti Indian lobby in the US state department which makes no secret of its distaste for a strong india. More pernicious is the left secular lobby in India which barely hides its extraterritorial leanings towards Chinese and other ideological moorings and would not mind sacrificing the notion of india in order to achieve power in the remnants of the subcontinent.
This thread will catalogue the pronouncements and writings of such parties in order to analyze whether there is a common thread among these groups.
It is not coincidental that jaswant singh drew attention to the centrality of Kashmir to Indian nationhood during the Agra talks.
http://newsarchives.indiainfo.com/spotligh.../12jaswant.html
Kashmir core of Indian nationhood: Jaswant
Thursday, July 12 2001 20:26 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on July 12 described Kashmir as the ''core of Indian nationhood'' and rejected outright Pakistan's demand for a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] ''The question of referendum (in J and K) simply does not arise,'' he said at a crowded press conference ahead of the Vajpayee-Musharraf Summit.
Ridiculing Pakistan's demand for self determination he said the UN resolution could not be enforced.
He also said India would not propose a ''moratorium'' on Kashmir to Pakistan as it was not shy of discussing the issue and expressed willingness to discuss the 'No War Pact' provided it covered proxy war and cross-border terrorism.
Commenting on Gen Pervez Musharraf's repeated assertion that Kashmir was the ''core issue'' the Minister said ''it is not.'' ''It is at the core of Indian nationhood. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of Article one and Schedule one of the Indian Constitution. How can I negotiate the Constitution.''
He said no one had ever questioned the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. This was not even raised by the UN. In fact, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also admitted this fact during his recent visit to India.
The Minister said the government was not having any set proposals on Jammu and Kashmir for discussions with Pakistan. The issue would be discussed under a composite dialogue on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, confidence-building measures, Siachen Glacier.
Referring to the government's unilateral confidence-building measures, the Minister said it had also proposed to discuss with Pakistan security-related issues--both conventional and nuclear.
''We are desirous in engaging Pakistan in developing CBMs in nuclear and conventional fields.''
While the Directors General of Military Operations could discuss conventional arms issues, experts would examine in totality nuclear issues.
Asked if Pakistan expressed helplessness in controlling cross-border terrorism, the Minister said the issue would be taken up at the Summit so that Pakistan recognised and addressed the issue. There was no reason for India to give up efforts to combat terrorism.
''We will continue to combat terrorism as we have been doing. India cannot compromise on cross-border terrorism.''
On the issue of prisoners of war, Jaswant Singh said the matter could not be referred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the Geneva Convention stipulated that the countries should accept the presence of POWs in its jails. Unfortunately, the Pakistan had not confirmed such presence, he added.
The issue had been discussed during the Lahore Summit and the two sides had agreed to depute a Minister to visit the jails. ''It is a humanitarian issue about which we are concerned. We will take up the matter,'' he added.
UNI
Other Links