The Narendra Modi government’s decision to >call off the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan following Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s decision to engage with Hurriyat leaders (Aug. 19) is a welcome one. It will certainly send out a strong message to Pakistan that its envoy’s engagement with Kashmiri separatist leaders is unacceptable to India. It is clear that Pakistan is not serious about peace talks.
N.R. Ramachandran,
Chennai
Mr. Modi has sent a tough message to Pakistan that separatists do not represent Kashmir and that India cannot compromise on the stand that Kashmir is an integral part of the country.
A. Srikantaiah,
Bangalore
Mr. Basit’s meeting with separatist leaders is a gross violation of the code of conduct expected of a diplomat, and nothing but blatant interference in our country’s internal affairs. He should be ordered to leave the country.
K.M.G. Vivekanandam,
Madurai
The action of the Pakistan High Commissioner has not gone down well with India. Mr. Modi took the unprecedented step of inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in ceremony, which raised hopes of developing more amiable and close ties with Islamabad. But it seems the gesture was in vain.
Arvind Singh Chauhan,
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
In the context of frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and its High Commissioner’s talks with Kashmiri separatists, New Delhi’s quick reaction was a much-needed step. The government has avoided repeating the UPA government’s mistake. Mr. Modi wants friendly relations with neighbouring countries. But Pakistan holds a machine gun in one hand and roses in another. The coup-prone nation is not dependable.
D. Ashokan,
Tiruvarur
It was silly for the Modi government to adopt a tough stance on Pakistan by calling off the talks. And the Prime Minister’s patrons and fans in the media are doing everything to bloat his ego. Pakistan has only done what it has been doing for years. Mr. Modi is clearly playing to the gallery on the issue. Overtures such as inviting Mr. Sharif to the swearing-in were unnecessary. Equally unnecessary was Mr. Modi’s ‘proxy war’ comment. The Prime Minister seems to be in a bit of a muddle now and his (and his team’s) inexperience is showing.
M. Balakrishnan,
Bangalore
The calling off of the talks is not the premature or thoughtless act of an inexperienced government, as claimed by some. It has been prompted by our experience as a nation in dealing with our unfriendly neighbour. Engaging Pakistan is futile. It has resulted in wasteful expenditure. New Delhi has rightly sent a no-nonsense message to Islamabad.
Mathew Oommen,
Pune
Pakistan cannot expect to have good neighbourly relations with India while interfering with India’s affairs, unjustifiably keeping the Kashmir issue alive, waging a proxy war and holding talks with separatist elements of Kashmir who are responsible for creating a reign of terror in the State. Pakistan should remember that Kashmir is an integral part of India and that no force on the earth can snatch it from us.
Ranjit Kumar Paul,
New Delhi
Unprovoked and deliberate firing across the LoC, engagement with separatist leaders and peace talks cannot go together.
Unnikrishnan Nair,
Pathanamthitta
