India owes Nepal

• This refers to ‘With neighbours like these’ (IE, February 8). Thank you very much...

• This refers to ‘With neighbours like these’ (IE, February 8). Thank you very much for covering the recent unfortunate developments in Nepal. It is also laudable that your new spaper has denounced the royal coup and strongly advocated the restoration of democracy in Nepal. Currently, there are many schools of thought in India regarding its policy towards Nepal. Academics, diplomats, journalists, politicians and private citizens differ on this. Let us not forget that during British Raj many hundreds and thousands of Nepalis including some of its former prime ministers and key leaders helped Indian leaders in their fight for independence. Today, the Nepalese are helping India look after its security, in the Indian Army as well as in private houses. India must reciprocate. Help us restore freedom and democracy in Nepal.

— Bikash Nepali Kathmandu

Wait until 2023

• Jaithirth Rao’s ‘A simple ‘sorry’ will do’ (IE, February 9) unfortunately includes the same knee-jerk, emotional arguments that he claims the other side (presumably, the Indian media) used. The one and only criterion for US success in both Afghanistan and Iran is that a US-friendly, moderate government is installed, and conditions stay that way for the next 20 years. Anything else includes dangers which the US cannot countenance, namely either US-unfriendly or weak nations that support or are helpless in stopping terrorism. US success or failure can only be judged in 2023.

— Arul Bhaskar New York

Peace at last?

• After long years of bloodshed, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared a formal end of the violence. This sets the stage for a full-scale revival of the peace process. The announcement has generated hope that the situation in the Middle East will change.

— Md. Mudassir Alam Aligarh

Stop the hypocrisy

• The BJP-led NDA is being hypocritical when it questions the dismissal of the Parrikar Government, especially since earlier the BJP appointed Governor J.F.R Jacob had dismissed then Congress CM Pratap Rane. If Rane’s dismissal was not undemocratic then, one does not find the present action wrong. The conduct of the Speaker is against all accepted norms, a subject on which the BJP maintains a conspicuous silence.

— Harish H.V. Bangalore

POWs must return

• It is a shame that Indian POWs are still languishing in Pakistani jails in the most barbaric conditions, despite the fact that our government handed over thousands of Pak POWs to Pakistan. On the one hand, Pakistan is sponsoring CBMs and on the other, it is indulging in anti-India activities.

— P.P. Talwar Dehra Dun

Black hole

• This refers to ‘‘item girl’’ Nigar Khan being asked to leave India. The entire film world is accustomed to violations of law starting with payments in black money, issuing dud cheques, succumbing to mafia threats and visa violations. They pooh-pooh the law-abiding. Those who employ foreigners without work permits must also be punished.

— Gangadhar G. Barve Mumbai