Now, I am not at all advocating that we should never talk to Pakistan or that these efforts should not be made. However, as the wise would advise, only those who have the ability to appreciate any quality can do so. There is no point in advertising the virtues of a comb to a bald man.
If Pakistan is consistently being intransigent, unreasonable, and has already made up its mind about its agenda, there is hardly any merit in exhorting it to re-think over the facts.
The ugly spat that erupted between the foreign ministers of both countries, was far too sour and too apparent, is a case in point. Had the Pakistanis been serious about taking action on anything, they would have done so, and atleast been appreciative of the Indian statesmanship and patience, despite India handing over voluminous, incriminating evidences, dossiers, transcripts, voice samples, and confessional statements of terrorists and masterminds.
What I don't understand, though, is how and why people are dubbing St. Qureshi as the peace deal-breaker, the villain-in-chief!! C'mon guys..where was the deal in the first place? When were you ever, in your heart of hearts assured of their genuine intent in taking action against the perpetrators of 26/11 (been almost 20 months since then)??
All along, Pakistan and St. Qureshi - being the gentleman that he is, have just stayed true to their words....India wanted them to act against terror. So yes, that's precisely what they have been doing all along - ACTING (pretending to show as if they are doing something) against terror!
How dumb do you think people are, Mr. Qureshi? Do you think we cannot spot your bluff? Do you think the constant charade of we-need-more-evidence holds any water? Sure, it took you to tell us that courts are independent bodies and need their own time. Thanks ever so much.
But pray, tell me, how can we not see how you do not take cognizance of the substantial evidence that India provides?
This, when you allege of an Indian hand in Balochistan, without ANY evidence at all? Tails I win, heads you lose, eh?!
How dare you take up our domestic problems (in J&K) as your concern? Was I just born? For, how come I totally missed seeing your world-care nature and attitude all this while?
How dare you equate a top diplomat from our country (Home Secy no less) with the rogue, demented fanatic and terrorist being sheltered in your country? Even the most uncouth of ministers would never take their imagination against a sovereign country's diplomat to such deplorable lows. Try labeling likewise against the lowest US official, Mr. Qureshi and try getting the time of your life!
It's us, who need to understand that we should talk only when, with, and if,
Unless that happens, we can keep having discussions about our pain points, keep submitting dossier after dossier of incriminating evidence, and keep getting asked for more from our end. My problem is not in being positive, being patient, having perseverance, having faith, and continuing talks. What I have a problem with, is in seeing all our sincere efforts, diligent diplomatic parleys being mocked at, and seen as being done by us as if we are no good to be able to have/exercise any other option.
Let our qualities not be construed as our weakness. Let our statesmanship not be seen as our sterility.
It's also important to not kid ourselves here - we are dealing with a country that is beset with problems of its own, governed by predominantly fundamentalist people, marshaled and controlled by its ever-powerful Army, and always feeding on a hate/kill India/Indians propaganda, espoused and patronised by the country's powers-that-be. After all, if it's in their interest to see Indo-Pak rivalry and jostling going on and on, why and how on earth can any kind of peace talks succeed?!
Till we get any better people, state machinery and mindsets to deal with, we'd have to continue dealing with the Qureshi's of the world. Rest assured, they will continue to ACT against terror.
Hope I am wrong - but I will be extremely surprised, if they ever happen to feel satisfied with the plethora of files containing evidences submitted from India.
