Let me confess that I, of course, had no privileged and private access to Vajpayee's heart. So, I had to depend exclusively on his public responses for some meaningful clues.
The sequence of events leading from Pokhran to Agra, via Lahore and Kargil, I had attempted to chronicle in some details in my 'Road to Agra: Hope or Despair?' (available at <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cjesa/conversations/messages/7006>. Post-Agra, the one I found extremely revealing and useful in making out his mindset, as regards peace with Pakistan, is his (almost instantaneous and reflexive) response to 9/11. Immediately after the event Vajpayee sent a letter across to Bush. ("Prime Minister Vajpayee had already written a letter to the US President Mr. George Bush, saying India is "ready to cooperate in the investigations into this crime and to strengthen our partnership in leading international efforts to ensure that terrorism never succeeds again."" Ref.: <http://ipripak.org/journal/winter2003/kashmirindian.shtml>.) Waited for two days. Bush apparently just ignored him. Then he went on air. In a live(?) telecast he offered all supports to Bush in his contemplated war on Afghanistan; and to top it all, urged him to crush the "fountainhead of terrorism" (a shorthand for Pakistan). (See: <http://cndpindia.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/peacenow/Peace-Now-Vol1-Issue2-2003.pdf>.) That was less than two months since Agra. But, in matters of heart, facts be damned! It was also reported that the RSS cadres had distributed sweets, after 9/11, in keen anticipation of severe US reprisals against Pakistan. (In fact, it'd be (much) later revealed that Richard Armitage had picked up the phone to Musharraf and threatened that Pakistan would be bombed back to the stone age!) But, Musharraf, to the great disappointment of the Indian elite, in general, and the Sangh Brigade, in particular, turned the table, even if only for a while, by joining Bush's war on Afghanistan. Became a "strategic partner". Sukla On 24/05/2014, Jyoti Punwani <[email protected]> wrote: > vajpayee certainly didnt seem under pressure -even if he was. he put his > heart into it. most pakistanis remember him with affection. > > > On 24 May 2014 02:38, Sukla Sen <[email protected]> wrote: > >> People do simply tend to forget that Vajpayee's peace overtures to >> Pakistan were under US pressure/initiative to cool down temperature in >> the >> region post nuclear blasts. >> >> "US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and his team concluded the >> eighth round of bilateral discussions with India and Pakistan between >> January 29 and February 2 [1999]. Announcements both from Delhi and >> Islamabad at the end of these talks are that the US will continue its >> dialogue on the sensitive issue of non-proliferation over a period of >> time." >> [Source: <http://in.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/11dixit.htm>.] >> It is soon after Strobe Talbott's visit to India-Pakistan in Jan.-Feb., >> Vajpayee went to Lahore - in Feb. itslef, on Feb. 20 (see: < >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/281764.stm>). >> Musharaf, the then Army chief of Pakistan refused to take part in the >> ceremonial parade meant to honour him. Never mind. >> The Kargil War, masterminded by Musharraf, spoiled everything. >> The War (May-July 1999) itself was brought eventually brought to a halt >> through US President Clinton's personal intervention. He had summoned >> both >> Sharif and Vajpayee to Washington DC. Vajpayee by then was readying to >> face >> a snap poll and somehow managed to resist. Sharif gave in, and agreed to >> withdraw troops. As a consequence, Vajpayee would win the election, and >> Sharif, at the same time, would be deposed in a military coup staged by >> Musharraf. >> >> The next time, it was Musharraf's turn to come - for the Agra Summit. >> Closely following US Deputy Secretary of State (under Bush) Richard >> Armitage's visit to May 2001. (See: p. 28 of *Politics and Economics of >> Central Asia*, edited by A. J. Armanin.) >> "THE Bush administration's shuttle diplomacy in the subcontinent shows no >> signs of flagging despite New Delhi's growing scepticism about the United >> States' efforts at peace-making. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard >> Armitage was back in the region this past fortnight on yet another >> whistle-stop tour. He spent a day each in New Delhi [ on August 23 2002] >> and Islamabad." (See: < >> http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1918/19180230.htm>.) >> Then followed the Agra Summit - July 14-16 2001. >> (For a rather brief yet comprehensive account of Pokhran leading to Agra, >> may look up mine *Road to Agra : Hope or Despair?* at < >> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cjesa/conversations/messages/7006>.) >> And, if last time it was Musharraf himself, this time, Advani - Sushma >> Swaraj duo torpedoed the talks. >> >> Sukla >> >> >> Two choices for Modi's India >> >> AIJAZ ZAKA SYED >> >> Published -- Friday 23 May 2014 >> >> Last update 22 May 2014 11:26 pm >> >> >> For someone who has seldom missed an opportunity to tear into Pakistan >> and >> Bangladesh, accusing the Congress government of being 'soft on the >> terrorists,' ("They are killing Bharat Mata's sons on the border and you >> are treating them to chicken biryani," he once tweeted) Narendra Modi has >> lost little time in reaching out to the neighbors. >> Whether Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sheikh Hasina of >> Bangladesh make it to the grand inauguration of India's new leader or >> not, >> the invitation to the two neighbors besides other SAARC member nations is >> a >> stroke of diplomatic genius. And diplomacy at the end of the day is a >> game >> of perceptions as much as it is of cold realities and hard national >> interests. This round clearly went to New Delhi even before the BJP >> government took charge of the South Block. >> But given his regulation rhetoric as Gujarat chief minister, often >> directly addressing 'Miyan Musharraf' across the border delighting his >> domestic audience, if anyone thought Modi would come out with his guns >> blazing as far as 'dealing with' Pakistan is concerned, they may be in >> for >> some disappointment. >> As far as foreign policy, especially engaging Pakistan, is concerned, a >> tough talking BJP government in Delhi has actually been far more >> reasonable >> and proactive, initiating bold measures to bolster relations. Indeed, >> under >> Vajpayee, the South Asian twins saw one of the coziest periods in their >> relations. >> Sharif still gets all mushy and wistful talking about that historic bus >> trip from Amritsar to Lahore. It's another matter that that particular >> burst of Indo-Pak bonhomie ended on the peaks of Kargil. To give credit >> where due, Vajpayee carried on the journey with Sharif's cockier and more >> adventurous successor in khakis. Apparently, Musharraf and Vajpayee came >> tantalizingly close to resolving the 'K' conundrum during their encounter >> in the city of love, Agra. >> But that was in the past. The future of South Asian relations may not be >> as promising under Modi. But it need not be as gloomy as is being feared >> by >> many. Lashing out at a neighbor as a state chief minister to the glee of >> groundlings is one thing and leading the nation of a billion people is >> quite another. >> Mercifully, India's new leader seems to know the critical difference. >> Indeed, this, coupled with his already shining image abroad, is what >> might >> have prompted the outreach to neighbors. After all, Modi still remains a >> persona non grata in US for what happened in Gujarat 2002. >> For all the power of lobbies, PR multinationals and friends in high >> places, they couldn't get the visa ban lifted although the White House >> doors will naturally and automatically open for Prime Minister Modi. It >> seems for all its hypocrisy and highhandedness that the reigning >> superpower >> habitually displays, some semblance of respect for rights and rule of law >> still exists in the land of the free. >> However, it is not Modi's engagement with Uncle Sam or cousins across the >> border that is likely to keep Indians awake at night. It is his domestic >> business or the not-so-hidden agenda of his ideological clan that really >> needs to be watched out for. >> With its unprecedented numbers and sheer, brute majority in Parliament -- >> accomplished with just 31 percent of the vote share thanks to the >> division >> of opposition votes, religious polarization and hubris and incompetence >> of >> the Congress -- for the first time the BJP is in a position to run India >> as >> it pleases. >> The party could very well bring out the ideological baggage whose glimpse >> we saw in Gujarat in 2002. Not for nothing the state has been showcased >> as >> Hindutva's laboratory all these years. >> More important, on the basis of its own strength and with the support of >> NDA allies, the BJP could even amend and change the constitution to >> reflect >> its own saffron-tinted worldview. >> The chief strength and defining character of Indian democracy has been >> the >> secular and liberal character and spirit of its constitution. Put >> together >> by some of the finest minds and libertarian spirits of their time, it has >> stood the test of time and has been the guiding light in times of crises. >> It has protected political and religious freedom to a great extent and >> ensured smooth functioning of political and democratic institutions >> including judiciary in the country. It is the only hope of voiceless, >> marginalized and dispossessed sections in an incredibly complex society. >> In its earlier avatar, the BJP government did not touch the constitution >> largely because it was dependent on its allies for its daily survival. >> Besides, Vajpayee, for all the talk of being a 'mukhauta' (mask), had >> enough sense to know that India couldn't afford such dangerous >> adventures. >> It is a different proposition altogether with Modi. He doesn't merely >> have >> enough numerical strength to run roughshod -- the Congress has been >> reduced >> to double digits so much so it doesn't even qualify for the status of >> opposition in Parliament -- he spent all his life in the ideological >> trenches of hardline Hindutva. He left home at 18, leaving behind a young >> bride, to become a full-time pracharak (propagandist) of Rashtriya >> Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological parent. He was parachuted >> into Ahmedabad as Gujarat chief minister in 2001 by the BJP on the orders >> of RSS. >> It's hardly a secret that the RSS believes in one nation and one religion >> under one god. Others are welcome to live in the Hindutva paradise as >> long >> as they embrace the 'Hindu way of life' and as second class citizens. >> Given this ideological baggage, what would Prime Minister Modi do? >> Would he like the true and loyal soldier of Hindutva that he is carries >> out its long cherished mission, dismantling the diverse and secular >> fabric >> and character of this great nation to paint it in one, overpowering >> saffron >> hue? >> Or would he rather respect the sanctity of the awesome, historic mandate >> gifted to him in good faith with such enthusiasm by a trusting nation. >> This >> is something that was denied to even Vajpayee, the BJP's tallest leader. >> No >> government since 1984 has enjoyed such decisive mandate. >> Sick and tired of long years of corruption and the curious combination of >> meekness of Manmohan Singh and fecklessness of Rahul Gandhi, a >> predominantly young and ambitious electorate has decisively voted for >> change. This is a vote against the past and for the future. >> Now it is up to India's new leader whether he goes with the nation's >> choice and demands of his conscience to ensure himself a distinct place >> in >> history or remains a prisoner of his past and a divisive dogma. >> Modi stands at a fork in the road and on the cusp of a historic >> opportunity that could make or unmake both him and India. He could jump >> on >> this grand opportunity to push ahead with the mission that his extended >> clan has long worked on and in the process destroy this rich, mosaic of a >> nation. >> Or he could make use of this historic opportunity that few leaders in >> history have had to usher in a new dawn of hope, peace and justice for >> everyone, making amends and perhaps atone for his past. The nation would >> want him to reach out and heal the wounds that have long been festering. >> If he truly believes in respecting democracy and people's mandate, as he >> claimed after reverentially kissing the footsteps of Parliament this >> week, >> this is what he should and would do. You cannot build a sound and >> promising >> future over the gaping grave of a grievous past. >> -- >> Aijaz Zaka Syed is a Gulf-based writer. >> Email: [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Peace Is Doable >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "whyremember" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/whyremember. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > > > -- > rgds > jyoti > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "whyremember" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/whyremember. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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