Opinion In the ring

inside Pakistan wasn’t unexpected. Pakistan has been conspiring and scheming openly with China to have a free run in Afghanistan to their mutual advantage after the US’s departure. It’s equally true India’s not having enough clout in Afghanistan isn’t because of our lack of effort,but because of America’s blinkered and flawed Af-Pak policy. While India has invested a lot in Afghanistan,the US didn’t try openly to prevent Islamabad from blackmailing Hamid Karzai into submission. India can’t follow a standalone

policy,but it should continue advising and prevailing upon the US to not leave the field open for Pakistan. New Delhi must also convince other regional powers about the need for stopping Pakistan from acting as ringleader and China as ringmaster in the region.

— Tarsem Singh

New Delhi

Roads to closeness

The editorial ‘The high roads’ (IE,May 11) rightly highlights the need for connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country by air,rail and road. Recently,there was a Central proposal to build a road from Kolkata to Manipur through Bangladesh. But we don’t know its status. The Lilabari and Tezpur airports should be upgraded to accommodate civil aviation services to help trade and industry in the region. Since our relations with Bangladesh are quite friendly,the government should lose no time in reaching out to Dhaka and getting this done.

— R.K. Kapoor

Mumbai

Work together

APROPOS the editorial ‘After the vote’ (IE,May 10),the role of opposition,apart from keeping checks on government,is to put forward alternative views and solutions to issues. Opposing for its own sake must end and there must be constructive engagement between government and opposition. A harmonious amalgamation of the views of both leads to better solutions of problems and helps in the smooth conduct of legislative business.

— Manas Upmanyu

Shimla

By his example

The MPLAD and MLALAD funds pass through various levels before work begins (‘Over to the MPs’,IE,May 12). This is not just cumbersome but promotes corruption. By scrapping MLALAD and taking responsibility directly in his hands,Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has set a bold example. This will not only simplify the process but also ensure uninterrupted development.

— Shamael Jafri

Lakhimpur Kheri

Just votes

Detention of politicians to prevent them from adding fuel to the fire at trouble spots is common (‘Rahul arrested,takes farmer battle into Mayawati’s camp’,IE,May 12). We know such gimmicks are for votes rather than the cause. Rahul Gandhi is aiming at the 2012 UP elections.

— M.C. Joshi

Lucknow