[url="http:// India shall not lose its gripââ¬Å½ "] India shall not lose its gripââ¬Å½ [/url]
[url="http://http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=India+shall+not+lose+its+grip&artid=Cb9kHZXN124=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik="]http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=India+shall+not+lose+its+grip&artid=Cb9kHZXN124=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=[/url]
From Day 1, when the USA decided to attack Afghanistan, it considered Pakistan an essential partner for achieving its objectives in Afghanistan which is understandable. Afghanistan is surrounded by Iran, Russia and Pakistan and Pakistan is the only country which the US can use for its operations in Afghanistan.
However, the way the US handled Pakistan has been totally wrong. The American governmentââ¬â¢s attitude of ignoring Pakistanââ¬â¢s treacherous behaviour has not only delayed the achievement of its objective, it would be a miracle if the US will ever achieve its goal. When American forces occupied Afghanistan, Pakistan allowed a number of Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders to escape arrest and even provided shelter and intelligence to them and is still doing so. However, the US continues to ignore all these things because it believes Pakistanââ¬â¢s help is essential.
The old contacts between the CIA and the ISI and military officials of both countries also helped in softening Americaââ¬â¢s attitude towards Pakistan. Pakistan cleverly used all these factors and squeezed billions of dollars from the US and also obtained a promise first from President Bush and then from President Obama to pressurise India to give concessions on Kashmir and Siachan.
Fearing this pressure, Atalji initiated the peace process with Pakistan and Kashmirââ¬â¢s separatist groups (he confided this to me). When Manmohan Singh became the PM, the American pressure increased tremendously. Manmohan Singh has always been soft to America and easily succumbed to this pressure. He agreed to grant autonomy to Kashmir and to withdraw military from the peak of Siachen. When I contacted him and protested (my contacts with the PM have been always indirect), he stated that the NDA had agreed with these concessions. I contacted George Fernandes and Atalji and both confirmed the NDAââ¬â¢s agreement.
I wrote a strong letter to Manmohan Singh and some of the Indian military officers also objected strenuously. The PM asked me whether the RSS could pass a resolution opposing both the concessions. At my request to P.P. Sudarshanji, the Sangh passed a resolution at the Chitrakoot Prininidhi Sabha Baithak. The PM backed off from the concessions and luckily, President Bush did not push India much. President Obama is determined to get out of Afghanistan and is pressurising Pakistan to help the US to get at least some success in Afghanistan. In return, he has promised Pakistan that he would pressurise India to grant autonomy to Kashmir. He has appointed two high-level bureaucrats to pressurise India.
The February 24 issue of the Washington Post confirmed that India agreed to initiate talks with Pakistan under American pressure and the US will continue to pressurise India on Kashmir. A number of articles, requiring India to agree to resolve the Kashmir problem, have been appearing in the American media. Recently Pakistan has helped the US in capturing some high level Taliban and Al Queda leaders and is now demanding the US to deliver its promise on Kashmir. My fear is that Manmohan Singh will crumble this time.
Therefore, it is essential that all Sangh Parivar organisations including the BJP become very vocal on this issue and build a national consensus not to give any concession on Kashmir.
There is no harm in talking with Pakistan. However, resolving Kashmir is not in Indiaââ¬â¢s interest. In fact, I was able to convince at least three Indian prime ministers that the unresolved Kashmir issue is bleeding and ruining Pakistan as its focus is mainly on Kashmir and is spending a lot more on arms than it can afford.
Terrorist activities in Kashmir kill more Muslims than Hindus and India can absorb the financial burden. Pakistan cannot. Some Pakistani intellectuals are realising this situation and want Pakistan to forget Kashmir, make up with India and concentrate on economic development.
I am also trying to convince the American government that any concession on Kashmir will result in increasing the influence of Taliban and al-Qaeda in Kashmir. As his approval rating has gone down considerably, Obama is focusing more on some short term gains and is ignoring Americaââ¬â¢s long term interests. Anytime America can claim some victory in Afghanistan, it will move out which will result in the fall of Afghanistan again to Taliban and al-Qaeda, and soon after, Pakistan will also fall and the autonomous Kashmir will follow too. Such a situation will be a disaster for India and is not good for the US, and even for China and Russia which also have serious Muslim problems.
[url="http://http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=India+shall+not+lose+its+grip&artid=Cb9kHZXN124=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik="]http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=India+shall+not+lose+its+grip&artid=Cb9kHZXN124=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=[/url]
From Day 1, when the USA decided to attack Afghanistan, it considered Pakistan an essential partner for achieving its objectives in Afghanistan which is understandable. Afghanistan is surrounded by Iran, Russia and Pakistan and Pakistan is the only country which the US can use for its operations in Afghanistan.
However, the way the US handled Pakistan has been totally wrong. The American governmentââ¬â¢s attitude of ignoring Pakistanââ¬â¢s treacherous behaviour has not only delayed the achievement of its objective, it would be a miracle if the US will ever achieve its goal. When American forces occupied Afghanistan, Pakistan allowed a number of Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders to escape arrest and even provided shelter and intelligence to them and is still doing so. However, the US continues to ignore all these things because it believes Pakistanââ¬â¢s help is essential.
The old contacts between the CIA and the ISI and military officials of both countries also helped in softening Americaââ¬â¢s attitude towards Pakistan. Pakistan cleverly used all these factors and squeezed billions of dollars from the US and also obtained a promise first from President Bush and then from President Obama to pressurise India to give concessions on Kashmir and Siachan.
Fearing this pressure, Atalji initiated the peace process with Pakistan and Kashmirââ¬â¢s separatist groups (he confided this to me). When Manmohan Singh became the PM, the American pressure increased tremendously. Manmohan Singh has always been soft to America and easily succumbed to this pressure. He agreed to grant autonomy to Kashmir and to withdraw military from the peak of Siachen. When I contacted him and protested (my contacts with the PM have been always indirect), he stated that the NDA had agreed with these concessions. I contacted George Fernandes and Atalji and both confirmed the NDAââ¬â¢s agreement.
I wrote a strong letter to Manmohan Singh and some of the Indian military officers also objected strenuously. The PM asked me whether the RSS could pass a resolution opposing both the concessions. At my request to P.P. Sudarshanji, the Sangh passed a resolution at the Chitrakoot Prininidhi Sabha Baithak. The PM backed off from the concessions and luckily, President Bush did not push India much. President Obama is determined to get out of Afghanistan and is pressurising Pakistan to help the US to get at least some success in Afghanistan. In return, he has promised Pakistan that he would pressurise India to grant autonomy to Kashmir. He has appointed two high-level bureaucrats to pressurise India.
The February 24 issue of the Washington Post confirmed that India agreed to initiate talks with Pakistan under American pressure and the US will continue to pressurise India on Kashmir. A number of articles, requiring India to agree to resolve the Kashmir problem, have been appearing in the American media. Recently Pakistan has helped the US in capturing some high level Taliban and Al Queda leaders and is now demanding the US to deliver its promise on Kashmir. My fear is that Manmohan Singh will crumble this time.
Therefore, it is essential that all Sangh Parivar organisations including the BJP become very vocal on this issue and build a national consensus not to give any concession on Kashmir.
There is no harm in talking with Pakistan. However, resolving Kashmir is not in Indiaââ¬â¢s interest. In fact, I was able to convince at least three Indian prime ministers that the unresolved Kashmir issue is bleeding and ruining Pakistan as its focus is mainly on Kashmir and is spending a lot more on arms than it can afford.
Terrorist activities in Kashmir kill more Muslims than Hindus and India can absorb the financial burden. Pakistan cannot. Some Pakistani intellectuals are realising this situation and want Pakistan to forget Kashmir, make up with India and concentrate on economic development.
I am also trying to convince the American government that any concession on Kashmir will result in increasing the influence of Taliban and al-Qaeda in Kashmir. As his approval rating has gone down considerably, Obama is focusing more on some short term gains and is ignoring Americaââ¬â¢s long term interests. Anytime America can claim some victory in Afghanistan, it will move out which will result in the fall of Afghanistan again to Taliban and al-Qaeda, and soon after, Pakistan will also fall and the autonomous Kashmir will follow too. Such a situation will be a disaster for India and is not good for the US, and even for China and Russia which also have serious Muslim problems.