pakistan - The Trawler.org
-
PANT: “The Great End Game” (Outlook Magazine, IN)
387 days ago by Urvashi AnejaHarsh Pant argues in this article that as Washington and Kabul turn a new page in the Afghanistan saga, New Delhi should be keen to take this opportunity to become a more credible actor in its neighbourhood. There is an overarching lack of coherence in Indian response as New Delhi seems to be perpetually on the defensive, first making Washington the sole pivot of its outreach to Kabul and then petulantly complaining about American unreliability. On the one hand, India has been signalling to the US that it views long-term American presence in Afghanistan as integral to regional security. On the other, it’s been reaching out to make common cause with the Iranians, who want to see complete US withdrawal from the region. The Washington-Kabul strategic partnership agreement now provides India with some crucial space for diplomatic manoeuvring so as to regain the lost ground and expand its footprint in a neighbouring state where it remains hugely popular despite its inconsistent policy approach.
-
RAJAMOHAN: “Snubbing Zardari” (Indian Express,IN)
391 days ago by Urvashi AnejaUS President Obama extended a last minute invitation to Pakistan President Zadari to the NATO summit in Chicago, but then refused to engage with him. C. Rajamohan argues in this article that President Obama was highlighting the US frustration at Pakistan’s reluctance to open up over land access to the international forces in Afghanistan. Rajamohan argues that snubbing Zardari does not solve America’s current problem with Pakistan. It only deepens the popular Pakistani resentment against the United States and weakens Zardari vis-a-vis the army.The US also knows that Zardari is not in charge of Pakistan’s policy towards the US or Afghanistan. Finally, if the current negotiations have halted due to a difference of opinion over the price of access for NATO trucks and containers, US-Pak mutual accommodation should not be impossible to accomplish in the coming days.
-
GHAREKHAN:”Not a zero-sum game in Kabul” (The Hindu,IN)
416 days ago by Urvashi AnejaThere has been a perceptible improvement in India-Pakistan relations in the past few weeks; especially noteworthy was General Kayani’s remarks that ‘peaceful co-existence’ should be the principle guiding relations between the two countries. Former Indian Ambassador to the UN, Chinmaya R. Gharekhan argues in this article that this is an opportune time for India and Pakistan to cooperate on Afghanistan. The bilateral relationships which Pakistan and India have with Afghanistan are not, and should not be, a zero-sum equation. Each must recognise that the other has legitimate interests and concerns in Afghanistan. Equally, both ought to, and do believe that a stable Afghanistan is in the interests of both countries.
-
EDITORIAL: “Kayani’s Call” (Indian Express,IN)
425 days ago by Urvashi AnejaThe Indian Express reports in this article that Pakistan Army General, General Ashfaq Kayani, recently stated that Pakistan must find a balance between economic development and the imperatives of defence and security. Kayani is uttering a truism, though in the context of the Army’s stronghold over Pakistan it is an important step. By underlining the importance of generating prosperity at home, Kayani has confirmed that the army is backing Zardari’s policy of deepening economic engagement with India.Delhi must be hard-headed in recognising the obstacles to a genuine breakthrough in relations with Pakistan, but it will be unwise for the UPA government to forego the political opening offered by Kayani.
-
KARNAD: “Cosmetic Diplomacy” (Asian Age,IN)
433 days ago by Urvashi AnejaMost Indian commentators have offered an optimistic analysis of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to India. Bharat Karnad however argues in this article that this is another instance of cosmetic diplomacy between India and Pakistan, looking good but achieving little. The talks between the two heads of state emphasized that contentious issues like Kashmir will be set aside as India and Pakistan strengthen economic ties; Karnad however is concerned whether the operation of Pakistan-based terror groups- India’s chief concern- will receive the same treatment. Karnad also argues that dealing with a one-point source of power- as with former Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf- is aways easier than dealing with an elected government in Islamabad. The sooner Delhi gives up the idea that a democratically-elected government in Islamabad is somehow better, more amenable, from the point of view of shutting down terrorist activity than a military regime, the better it will be in terms of acknowledging the basic reality in Pakistan, and adjusting to it. Karnad also argues that the expectation in Indian policy making circles that Pakistan will internally implode enables the Indian government to continue with the current status quo-ist policies.
-
RAJAMOHAN: “Packaging a China model” (Indian Express, IN)
435 days ago by Urvashi AnejaC. Rajamohan argues in this article that the logic of economic growth and domestic prosperity has finally started to weigh-in on India-Pakistan relations. During Pakistan President Asif Ali Zadari’s recent trip to India he proposed that India and Pakistan restructure their relationship along the lines of the ‘China Model’. The China model is based on pragmatism, privileging national development through stronger economic cooperation between neighbours, and making advances in areas of economic self-interest while negotiating continuously on contentious political issues. Just as growing economic ties between Delhi and Beijing have created powerful new stakeholders on both sides that benefit from a stable bilateral relationship, by expanding trade and economic cooperation between India and Pakistan, Presidents Asif Ali Zardari and Manmohan Singh have a historic opportunity to restructure the India-Pakistan relationship.
Argentina
Canada
China
Colombia
Cuba
East Africa
Germany
Global Commons
India
Italy
Mexico
United Kingdom
USA
Zimbabwe