The Pathankot attack has justifiably raised questions over the future of Indo-Pak talks. Questions are being raised whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pakistan policy is “inconsistent”, and “impulsive” at best. Indications are that the foreign secretary level talks, originally scheduled for January 14, may be deferred now.
The Congress has been quick to punch holes in the Pakistan policy, under the Modi government. The main Opposition party today said “how there was no Cabinet Committee of Security meeting in the last three days”. The party said that while the security forces were busy neutralizing the Pakistani desperados, the PM spent time “on speaking of benefits of yoga”. And that the Defence Minister “was away, as always in Goa”.
The Congress also hit out at the government on the supposed lack of coherence in strategy – it pointed out how the Home Minister had to delete his own tweet and how his own secretary contradicted him. More importantly, the party asked why the PM refused to identify the Pakistani terrorists, merely describing them as “enemies of humanity”.
Had the Congress been in the BJP’s position, and the BJP occupying the Opposition space, the responses, perhaps, would have been similar. After all, in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, Modi had held a Press conference right in Mumbai, raising questions on the anti-terror operations -- a point highlighted by the Congress today.
Conventional wisdom is that foreign policy must not be politicized for narrow political ends. Both the Congress and the BJP are guilty of disregarding this maxim in India.
After having carried forward Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s legacy on Pakistan, the Congress today has suddenly turned hawkish.
So, should the bilateral talks with Pakistan be suspended and Modi demonized for the latest misadventure by Pakistani desperados?
The answer is a resounding “no”. Both Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh have emphasized that we can’t really choose our neighbours and that we got to live with them. After Modi invited the SAARC leaders to his swearing-in ceremony, there’s been a distinct new turn in India’s approach to Pakistan – which strives for two approaches for the two Sharifs. While a hand of friendship is extended to Pak PM Nawaz Sharif, there’s a zero-tolerance policy for Pak army chief Gen Raheel Sharif’s misadventures. It’s an open secret that the Pak PM doesn’t quite enjoy control over his Army, ISI and other non-state actors. It’s precisely for this reason that the civilian leadership in Pakistan should be strengthened and here alone lies India’s long-term interests.
There’s another factor going in favour of Modi – something that Dr Manmohan Singh simply didn’t have. Engaging with Pakistan requires certain amount of political risk here, and only someone here who can claim the support of the vast Hindu constituency can strive for a long-term engagement with Pak. What is worth noting that Modi’s so-called “impulsive” Pakistan policy has the full backing of the RSS.
Foreign policy is all about securing one’s national interests. While there must be zero-tolerance to terror and terror emanating from Pakistani soil, India -- its political parties included -- must back Modi as he strives to put Into-Pak talks back on rails, notwithstanding a Pathankot. Clamping down on terror groups, including the Jaish, LeT, etc roaming freely in Pakistan may be one long arduous process. Engaging with a civilian leadership meanwhile is something that India must explore – for the well-being of Pakistan, and of India.
BW Reporters
Suman K Jha was the deputy editor with BW Businessworld
_20240920231939_original_image_22.webp)
