Quote:PM Modi’s decision to hold out an olive branch to PM Sharif within 48 hours of the so-called ‘surgical strikes’ across the Line of Control must be having RSS backing. That is to say, PM Modi’s famous speech at Kozhikode on September 24 was not a flash in the pan. (See my blog Mohan Bhagwat came to listen to Modi’s speech.)

PM Modi realizes that a re-engagement with Pakistan is an absolute pre-requisite for bringing about some modicum of ‘normalcy’ in Kashmir. This sound advice must have originated from President Pranab Mukherjee whom Modi met twice lately.

Pakistan is indeed in a position to aggravate or help ease the 3-month old crisis in the Valley. And it is in India’s interest to preserve the 2003 ceasefire on the LOC even in its tattered form.

The ‘big picture’ would be that for PM Modi personally, it will be a political disaster if India becomes a national security state, which is almost inevitable if the ‘surgical strikes’ transformed as a ‘new strategy’ toward Pakistan, as many hardliners advocate.

For, that would entail mothballing the development agenda, or at least settling for an abridged version. Which would hold consequences in the 2019 poll.

Quote:the heart of the matter is that we have tied ourselves into a knot. A danger point has been reached in our demonising Pakistan and increasingly believing ourselves in all that crap.

Pakistan no doubt faces a host of problems – like India too does – but it is not about to collapse.

Pakistan suffers from a bad image internationally, but it is far too important a regional power to be ‘isolated’ by the world community.

Pakistan has had a bumpy ride with the United States lately, but that is because it took a conscious decision to strengthen its ‘strategic autonomy’.

Pakistan faces difficulties as regards administering POK and Gilgit-Baltistan, but there is no groundswell of opinion favouring India in those regions.

Pakistan has an urgent need to stabilize Baluchistan in view of the imperatives of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, but the situation is far from critical.

Pakistan has a political economy where the Army enjoys institutional pre-eminence, but it is not as if Army can ride roughshod over others on matters of policy-making, being an institution that is rooted in the nation.

Pakistan may be lacking financial resources, but the military has not allowed the deterrent capabilities vis-à-vis India to get eroded.

Pakistan’s military might have had a corporate interest in the past in fuelling tensions with India, but this is not necessarily the case anymore.

The bottom line is, Pakistan has a ‘thinking’ army leadership. The current leadership is completely sold out on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The military’s priority is internal security.

Quote:No, Pakistan is more of an irritant to India

Quote:[size=14px][color=rgb(81, 85, 92)]The bottom line is, Pakistan has a ‘thinking’ army leadership. The current leadership is completely sold out on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The military’s priority is internal security.Its approach to the Afghan situation, therefore, is changing. The stabilization of the southern regions of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan under a friendly regime in Kabul is the top priority.Besides, China expects Pakistan to be a responsible player. Thus, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s recent induction into Afghan politics underscores how despite President Ashraf Ghani’s warm ties with Delhi, Pakistan does not want the National Unity Government to collapse and has a congruence of interests with the US, China and Iran on this score.[/color][/size]