Opinion Why engage?
Shekhar Gupta,in Pak daydream,wake-up call,has correctly diagnosed Pakistans periodic madness in believing that its in a winning position against India,at a given time.
• Shekhar Gupta,in Pak daydream,wake-up call,has correctly diagnosed Pakistans periodic madness in believing that its in a winning position against India,at a given time. The latest phase of this self-induced delusion started when US President Barack Obama set a deadline to US exit from Afghanistan,facilitating not only Pakistans long-dreamt strategic depth but also its overlordship in Afghanistan. However,since the Pakistani Establishment,or rather a tiny soldier-spook cabal,makes the policy essentially hostile to India,Gupta does not explain why engaging with Pakistan in the dialogue process is so important. He rightly advises Manmohan Singh to promptly modernise and strengthen Indias defence forces.
M. Ratan
New Delhi
US possibilities
• Shekhar Gupta constructs a scenario in which India tells the US of its intention to move Indian forces to the Pakistan border in case Pakistan repeats a terror attack of the 26/11-type. There are different possibilities: given its compelling dependence on Pakistan,the US may insist that India desist from the move. Alternatively,even if the US asks Pakistan to refrain from a terrorist misadventure,it may feign helplessness saying it has no control over them,or it may just ignore the advice. As long as Indian strategy is US-centric,Pakistan will chuckle at Indias discomfiture.
Y.G. Chouksey
Pakistans problem
• This refers to K. Subrahmanyams Alibi for tension. One welcomes it for its blunt tone. Frankly,one wonders when is a terrorist like Hafiz Saeed owned up by the Pakistan military establishment as a state actor and when does he cease to be one? Is he assigned the job of telling off India on the Indo-Pak river waters issue? The Indus Water Treaty was concluded through the good offices of the World Bank. The available data doesnt indicate India fully utilises its share of the waters. Pakistans internal matter cannot be Indias concern nor should they spill over into this country.
Prasad Malladi
Nidadavole
Immature society
• The editorial Not to scale was apt. We Indians dont see the wood for the trees. We can turn a blind eye to wrong doings daily around us,but feel offended by so-called nude paintings,scurrilous writings and mistakes in maps. We are yet to grow into a mature society.
Satwant Kaur Mahilpur
Too soon to say
• It would be too early to say that the Presidency University Bill undoes a folly. If Presidency becomes a state university,there will be no getting away from Alimuddin Streets unholy influence as long as the CPM is in power. The academic merit which Presidency had prior to the democratisation,was despite its affiliation to the University of Calcutta.
Bidyut Kumar Basu
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