Straw in the wind

The United Kingdom was arguably the first to respond to the latest phase of the India-Pakistan stand-off. Indeed, it could even be accused o...

The United Kingdom was arguably the first to respond to the latest phase of the India-Pakistan stand-off. Indeed, it could even be accused of going into overdrive as media workers and government spokespersons vied with one another to draw up doomsday scenarios of every kind for the region. Whether this was a consequence of General Pervez Musharraf8217;s belligerent rhetoric or India8217;s coercive diplomacy is difficult to say, but our ministry of external affairs can draw some satisfaction from the fact that the visiting UK foreign secretary, Jack Straw, seems to have been convinced about the genuineness of its stance.

Straw used emphatic language when he said in New Delhi on Wednesday that the UK stood four square behind India in its fight against terrorism. But what was perhaps even more significant was what he pronounced on Pakistani soil a day earlier. Trading directness for diplomacy, he made two important observations. One, that there can be no doubt that Pakistan has in the past assisted people it described as 8216;freedom fighters8217; and whom the world described as 8216;terrorists8217;. Two, that the test of assurances read, the General8217;s assurances is how they work on the ground. The import of these words could not have been lost on the Pakistan president, since it was nothing short of putting him on notice. If there was any confusion on two other extremely important aspects of the current face off, Straw came up with some more clarifications while briefing the Indian media 8212; that Kashmir, despite its international implications, had to be resolved bilaterally and that the definition of terrorism, as laid down in UN Security Council resolution 1373, includes crossborder terrorism. As if to underline all this, Straw reiterated that his country and government stood with all 8216;8216;civilised governments particularly India8217;8217;.

This clarity on issues which have brought two of South Asia8217;s largest nations on the brink of war, may just be a straw in the wind at the moment, but it is nevertheless a significant straw. All the more so given the commonality of perception between Washington and London. What this signifies, in fact, is that patient but tough diplomacy and a reiteration of well-argued stances can work much more effectively for India than any premature action that could lead to a long and bloody engagement with Pakistan. The returns of the first approach may be slow in coming but they have the advantage of yielding lasting benefits in buttressing India8217;s cause globally. The other approach of direct action, in contrast, may end up losing for this country the goodwill and credibility it has built for itself over decades and still not throw up a lasting solution. The significance of Straw8217;s visit is that it underlined the efficacy of waging war through intelligent diplomacy.