Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Neighbour's Envy

These days Foreign Office at South Block, New Delhi must be wondering about that famous 'Rin' question. 'Padosi Ki Kameez Meri Kameez se Safed Kaise?' Padosi, of course, is Pakistan. And following are the reasons for the feeling of more Safedi across the border.

Firstly, USA lifted all the sanctions which it had imposed on Pakistan, when it performed nuclear tests in 1998. Against India, however, many of those sanctions are still there.

The next reason is more concerning. USA has decided to give Pakistan those much delayed F16 fighter aircrafts, capable of carrying nuclear payloads. This deal was blocked by Clinton regime at the wake of nuclear tests. This curb goes off too.

Reason given by visiting US Foreign Secretary, hold your breath, is that this has been done to protect Pakistan from Taliban and Al Qaida! Beats me!! Ab Kis Baap Ko Apney Hi Bacchon Se Khatra Hoga. Al Qaida, Taliban, and Pakistan, after all, all are a family.

Now comes the most preposterous one. UK has decided to appoint an honorary consul at Mirpur in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. India, of course, has lodged protest citing it as disputed area, under illegal occupation of Pakistan. British High Commission has said that there are nearly 500,000 people from that region in UK. So this is for people's benefit.

In other words, this is a tacit acceptance of the fact that this region is now a legal Pakistani area. What can India do ? Just rant, nothing else. Only a fortnight ago, Mr Pranab Mukherjee was harping on the fact that his government has better foreign and hostage policy. With these latest developments, it has gone Phut now.

The old chap needs to understand that nothing beats vote politics, be it India or US. Attack on Afghanistan and Iraq has helped Bush garner crucial votes. Pakistan has been of great help. Therefore, now Mushy baby and Bushy baby are the best of the pals. Nothing can dislodge that for now.

Also, what is more significant is that Pakistanis are apparently an influential category among the voters of Blackburn, UK which is, incidentally, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw’s parliamentary constituency. Vote politics, again.

Tomorrow is Vijay Diwas, and that shirt, it seems, will remain white for a while now.
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