Indian leader "gets it." Tells Pakistan to get with the program. (1 Viewer)

[Missouri Mule]

What about our own gutless political leaders who want to put off the war on terror to the next generation? Ironically, I believe the Indian is himself Muslim. (If not, I stand corrected.) Ever wonder why our U.S. relations with India have gotten so cozy lately? Wonder no more.
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Pakistan’s fight against terror half-hearted: Manmohan Singh
(DPA)

15 August 2005

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his Independence Day address Monday, urged neighbouring Pakistan to ”totally dismantle” the terrorist infrastructure in the country, asserting that India will deal a hard response to further violence in Jammu and Kashmir state.

Soon after the Indian premier’s address, suspected militants blew up an improvised explosive devices near two venues of Independence day functions in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the explosions was carried out near a stadium in the state capital Srinagar, an hour before chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was to attend the National Day celebrations.

There were no casualties, and the functions were held as scheduled, with Sayeed noting with satisfaction the progress of the peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting separatist militants in the disputed Kashmir region over which the neighbours have fought three wars since independence. Besides Kashmir, Pakistan’s pledge to remove the terrorist infrastructure is a key issue of the peace process India and Pakistan started last year.

Addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort, Singh said Pakistan had put “some checks” on activities of terrorists from its soil, but “half-hearted attempts” would not suffice. India mounted an unprecedented security cover in New Delhi and state capitals to avert any terrorist strikes on the 59th anniversary of its independence...

(Snip)

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Display...bcontinent_August522.xml&section=subcontinent

 

[nkgupta80]

this isn't a new thing... Indian leaders have had this same anti-terrorist stance against Pakistan (we've been fightin terrorism for a long ass time). Its actually the US leaders that fiiinally "get it." sad thing is, we're still supporting Pakistan as an ally.

I believe the Indian is himself Muslim

\

No the prime-minister is sikh.

BTW our president is Muslim and the second most powerful figure is a woman, italian, christian... and this is all in a country where the majority are hindus. That my friend is equality at its best.

 

[Missouri Mule]

this isn't a new thing... Indian leaders have had this same anti-terrorist stance against Pakistan (we've been fightin terrorism for a long ass time). Its actually the US leaders that fiiinally "get it." sad thing is, we're still supporting Pakistan as an ally.

No the prime-minister is sikh.

BTW our president is Muslim and the second most powerful figure is a woman, italian, christian... and this is all in a country where the majority are hindus. That my friend is equality at its best.

Thank you for clearing that up. I do believe that the Indian attitude is hardening toward Muslim extremists. I have a friend in India and his view is that "nuclear therapy" is probably inevitable. Not my words -- his.

You do understand of course that our tilt toward Pakistan in the Cold War had to do with the not so friendly government of Indira Ghandi toward the U.S. and her tilt toward the Soviet Union. Since that time our two governments have moved closer together and this will probably accelerate in the future.

It was my gut feeling on 9/11 that the core problem of terrorism had Pakistani origins. I haven't really changed my mind. It is fairly obvious that Musharref is playing both ends against the middle but as they say, a half loaf is better than no loaf at all -- I guess. We'll see.

Iran is the other major problem. They have an outlaw regime but the people are friendly toward the U.S. I wish I had the wisdom to make the proper call on that issue. Syria is run by a fool.

 

[nkgupta80]

You do understand of course that our tilt toward Pakistan in the Cold War had to do with the not so friendly government of Indira Ghandi toward the U.S. and her tilt toward the Soviet Union. Since that time our two governments have moved closer together and this will probably accelerate in the future.

It wasn't that Indians weren't friendly towards the US. The US had a very interventionist policy during the Cold War compared to the USSR. When India professed nonalignment, USSR was ironically lenient towards this policy compared to the US. US secretary of state John Dulles actually labled this non-alignment as "immoral" and such negativity furthered the rift between the West and India. US also didn't like the socialist practices incorporated into the Indian government. Interestingly, Indira Ghandi actually went to the US for arms sales/support, but the US disregarded it. Thus a closer bond formed between the USSR instead. US in retaliation formed a stronger alliance with Pakistan.

Good thing is that relations are closer, and that can only mean good in the war against terror.

 

[Missouri Mule]

It wasn't that Indians weren't friendly towards the US. The US had a very interventionist policy during the Cold War compared to the USSR. When India professed nonalignment, USSR was ironically lenient towards this policy compared to the US. US secretary of state John Dulles actually labled this non-alignment as "immoral" and such negativity furthered the rift between the West and India. US also didn't like the socialist practices incorporated into the Indian government. Interestingly, Indira Ghandi actually went to the US for arms sales/support, but the US disregarded it. Thus a closer bond formed between the USSR instead. US in retaliation formed a stronger alliance with Pakistan.

Good thing is that relations are closer, and that can only mean good in the war against terror.

That's going back a long way with John Foster Dulles and his "brinksmanship" policy. That was Eisenhower's Secretary of State and Eisenhower was certainly a very moderate Republican president. In those days the fear about Communism and the bomb permeated our lives every day. I still remember those silly drills we had while in grade school during the '50s. But as you say, times have changed and for the better.