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Journalism of Courage
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice8217;s objectives in New Delhi were to express solidarity with the Indian people after the Mumbai aggression and buy time to prevent an escalation of the gathering tension with Pakistan into a military conflict. India is obviously thankful for the first and rightly circumspect on the second. Rice is urging New Delhi to maintain its current restraint to avoid unintended consequences from a potential retaliation. Rice wants
India to allow some space for international diplomacy before it exercises its uncontested right to retaliate against the Mumbai provocation that has followed a number of recent attacks from Pakistan-based terror groups with increasing frequency and growing audacity. As Rice headed to Islamabad from New Delhi, America8217;s top soldier, Admiral Mike Mullen was travelling in the other direction. This US diplomatic two-step is likely to be followed by a host of other high-profile visitors from the international community.
If Washington has found it so difficult to get the Pakistan army to crack down on the Taliban and
Al-Qaeda on its western borders, there is little reason for India to believe that Rice and Mullen can get the ISI to change its colours on India. Nevertheless, it is in India8217;s own interest to give some time and space for US diplomatic efforts in Pakistan. When India decides to use military force against Pakistan, that action must be seen across the world as legitimate and a consequence of Islamabad8217;s failure to cooperate. New Delhi, however, can8217;t wait for too long. The UPA government, we hope, has not left the United States in any doubt that it expects quick and decisive results from Pakistan.
