Offensive against the Taliban by Pakistan and US forces apparently is not successful possibly on account of Talibans familiarity with the rough terrain and the tough foreign mercenaries fighting alongside them. One reason could be lurking sympathy for fellow Muslim Talibans,which probably is responsible for leaks that give the Taliban advance information about planned military operations against them. These developments raise grave concerns for us,especially in view of the ominous Taliban threat to target India. The consequences of Pakistans nuclear armaments or even a part thereof falling in Taliban hands are extremely terrifying for us and also for the international community. It is imperative that swift enforceable contingency plans are in place. Its details should be a matter of utmost secrecy. Ay,there is the rub and the real problem.
Changes in Britain
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have made incognito trips to the West End without any fuss about security. The Queen did not want to miss the award-winning World War I drama. So along with her husband,she slipped unannounced to see the performance and they were very apologetic for asking people in the audience to let them pass. At the interval,they disappeared and reappeared discreetly. When they left,they received a round of applause,which the Queen acknowledged with a wave. The British royalty can no longer be considered the epitome of conservatism. A passing thought. Will the Queen and her husband make an unannounced visit to the Mecca of jazz fans,Ronnie Scotts at Frith Street in Soho,to listen to a jazz veteran like Wynton Marsalis performing there? Ah,that will be the crowning day.
Undiplomatic disclosures
Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act in the UK,there have been startling revelations in the release of letters written by British ambassadors about foreign governments and the people of the country where they had been stationed. Lord Moran,high commissioner to Canada,felt,Canadians had limited talents. Anyone who is even moderately good at what they doliterature… whatevertends to become a national figure. In the opinion of Anthony Rumbold,ambassador to Thailand,the Thais have no literature,no painting and only a very odd kind of music; their sculpture,ceramics and dancing are borrowed. David Hunt,high commissioner to Nigeria,wrote that the countrys leaders had a maddening habit of always choosing the course of action which will do the maximum damage to its own interests. The most devastating assessment was in a 1967 memo by Roger Pinsent,Britains ambassador to Nicaragua,that the average Nicaraguan is one of the most dishonest,unreliable,violent and alcoholic of Latin Americans. The letters are brutally frank but certainly not diplomatic. A successful application under our RTI Act for disclosure of assessments made by our diplomats about countries where they were posted would be very illuminating. The problem is that any disparaging criticism,even if true,would be withheld by timorous babus because of likely potential damage to foreign relations with other countries. Unfortunately,satyameva jayate has no place in these matters.
