THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Ramesh Chander
The writer is A Retired Career Diplomat.
I liked the caption ‘As I Please’ which was generally used by scholar diplomat, Natwar Singh, my favourite writer in his columns. I copied this style often in my blogs. With a view to beat the scorching heat of June which keeps me confined and glued to my computer in my modest study, I have decided to write a weekly blog on current topics of interest which appear in the media under the heading – The Bits and Pieces – As I Please. Here we start, please bear with me.
Hitherto Unknown attribute of Pakistan’s diplomacy and defence prowess – Former Media Advisor to PM Manmohan Singh, Sanjaya Baru in an article in the Tribune under the caption – Time to reassess, size up Pakistan has written and I quote. “The Print’s Swasti Rao, a European diplomat reminded Indians of the many strengths and capabilities of Pakistan’s air force. Apart from its hard power, Pakistan has always enjoyed the soft power of its elite. In a highly feudal and unequal society, Pakistan’s elites continue to be groomed to interact with confidence and class with their Western interlocutors. India’s new middle class that now populates its politics and diplomacy is no match”. These assessments by the elite of India tend to underline the defence and security strengths and capabilities of India on one side and our diplomatic take on the Pakistan’s behaviour and action. Sanjaya Baru, in his own wisdom, has tried to compare and match the Pakistan’s feudal elite with the middle class of India. I am reminded of the appointment of many high-ups from the Princely States as Ambassadors and High Commissioners by PM Jawaharlal Nehru immediately after our independence in 1947 and in the run up to establish IFS to make and execute diplomacy of India. There is no need of any elite to man our diplomacy as they aid to do in Pakistan. Our middle class diplomats and our diplomatic establishment are fully capable to act and deliver. Frankly speaking, there was no need to send, to my mind, even the much hyped parliamentary delegations to tell and explain our take on the Pakistan’s terror. It should have been left to our diplomats to handle the matter as they are fully competent and able to do and deliver. It could have saved us from the unnecessary and avoidable controversies in India and also saved the public money in the larger interests of the country.
Yet another attribute in the India-US Relations – The cat is out of the bag. The more we talk of the change the things remain the same – from Richard Nixon of 1971 to Donald Trump of 2025. General has applied salt to the proverbial wounds inflicted by President Trump in his assertions on the question of halting of military actions in the recent skirmishes between India and Pakistan. General Michael Kurilla testifying before a parliamentary committee in Washington termed Pakistan a ‘phenomenal partner’ in counter terrorism and argued in favour of strengthening ties with both India and Pakistan. President trump’s statement equated India with Pakistan and described both Modi and Sharif as “very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders” and registered his role in the so called ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Earlier President Trump now the Military Brass of the US has equated and hyphenated Pakistan with India. Where do we stand? Let us not waste our time and energy on emotional gestures of ‘Firm handshakes and embraces – Jaffyia Baffian’. At the end of the day no lunch is free in diplomacy. We need to be on our own. There is no other way out. We are to fight our own battle
Chupa Kar Asteen Mein Bijliyan Rakhi Hain Gardoon Ne
Anadil Bagh Ke Ghafil Na Baithen Ashiyon Mein
The sky has kept thunderbolts concealed up its sleeve
Garden’s nightingales should not slumber in their nests
