10-11-2003, 10:59 AM
The India Today article is to the point. For too long Arab states have taken India for granted while turning a blind eye to the terrorism practiced by Pakistan. I am reminded of a remark by a Syrian friend in Graduate school. I asked him why the Arab world takes a predominantly anti Indian stance while at the same time saying nothing about the invasions by Pakistan. He told me very simply that it was because Pakistan is a muslim country. Then the Arab world must understand that if they wish to be lumped together as one entity then the world will treat them as one entity and make no distinctions between the 9-11 hijackers and the rest.
Finally India has woken up to the fact that it cannot be a one way street. One cannot expect as the Arabs do that India will support them unequivocally as she has done for the past 50 years and expect nothing in return. IOW no tikki, no washy. It is not clear that the Arab worldhas woken up to this reality, but it is high time that they did.
But regardless of the way that events pan out , India is not going to sacrifice its national interests any longer just to please the Arabs.
Finally India has woken up to the fact that it cannot be a one way street. One cannot expect as the Arabs do that India will support them unequivocally as she has done for the past 50 years and expect nothing in return. IOW no tikki, no washy. It is not clear that the Arab worldhas woken up to this reality, but it is high time that they did.
But regardless of the way that events pan out , India is not going to sacrifice its national interests any longer just to please the Arabs.