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Journalism of Courage
The SAARC political theatre at the foreign ministers-level got underway today by underscoring the breakthrough accord reached yesterday on a free trade area, even as the Pakistani official spokesman contradicted his own leadership later in the evening by insisting that ‘‘political disputes’’ would have to be resolved ‘‘before greater economic integration.’’
At a press briefing, Masood Khan, asked about proposals by Prime Minister Vajpayee on a South Asian economic zone as well as a single currency, said: ‘‘These are good objectives, they must be pursued, but they are long-trm objectives. In the interim, we must focus on conflict resolution and the solutions of problems between all states, especially India and Pakistan.’’
Minutes later, however, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha tried to ensure that the pre-summit discourse didn’t fall into the by now familiar trap by pointing out that Partition 56 years ago did not mean that the rest of the region as well as India and Pakistan could not now dream of making progress together.
‘‘The global current trend is to integrate regionally, in SAARC we are trying to do the same. It’s better to face the challenge of globalisation regionally. If there is any fear in your mind that this is India’s ploy to undo Partition, please take it out.’’
Sinha’s reasonable tone was reiterated at the SAARC chamber of commerce symposium, where he offered India’s willingness ‘‘to move forward rapidly with a South Asian strategy that will help the economic integration of the sub-continent.’’
Significantly, but without reference to the bus/train links that were soon likely to begin between India and Pakistan, including across the Line of Control in Kashmir, Sinha said the region could ‘‘create softer and safer regional boundaries so that the region becomes an economic area that offers profitable, competitive and enriching partnerships.’’
Asked if he was willing to put newshungry journalists out of their suspense by confirming a meeting between the Indian and Pakistani principals, Sinha said, ‘‘No.’’
Masood Khan’s testiness at his briefing also began with questions on the same issue as well as why Sinha was the only foreign minister at SAARC not to request a bilateral meeting with Pak foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri.
This, after both Sinha and Kasuri had hugged each other for the benefit of the television cameras this morning.
Asked why no meeting had taken place between Kasuri and Sinha today, Khan replied: ‘‘I will make your question easier for you. Mr Yashwant Sinha is in town. Please ask him this question.’’
Some said that Khan fell victim to his own bureaucratic hierarchy. Sandwiched between a briefing by Pak Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar yesterday and one by Kasuri tomorrow, he emphasized that there had to be an ‘‘element of simultaneity’’ in resolving disputes between all states, especially between India and Pakistan.
Minutes later he was saying, ‘‘We have to resolve political disputes before greater economic integration.’’ Khan was clearly contradicting his own leadership, which at the highest level is believed to have yesterday persuaded the Bangladesh delegation to drop its objections and arrive at an agreement on the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Highly placed sources here said that SAFTA discussions at the Foreign Secretary-level were blocked when Dhaka insisted that least developing countries like itself should be gven greater time concessions.
It was the Pakistani leadership that persuaded the Bangladeshi side to drop its objections and agree to a three-year compromise solution.
