Opinion
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Letters to the Editor
Lack of statesmen
Sir, — P.V. Indiresan's article, `Why don't we have friends?' (Jan. 17) sums up the reasons for India not commanding any respect in the international community nor having any sincere friends. Right from 1947, our foreign policy has miserably failed to secure us friends and allies.
We failed to solve the Kashmir problem in 1947, 1965 and 1971, all of which offered golden opportunities. Instead, out of self-righteousness, we took it to the United Nations. We lobbied for China's membership to the U.N. but were rewarded with the 1962 debacle. We fervently supported the Palestinian cause without any quid pro quo from the Organisation of Islamic Conference. We fervently opposed apartheid but Nelson Mandela has never unequivocally supported us on Kashmir.
We, with unnecessary alacrity, were the first to support America's anti-ballistic missile plan, were the first to applaud and support America's war on terrorism in Afghanistan but have gained nothing in return.
We had one friend in the former Soviet Union on whom we could rely and, that too, is no longer there, with the Russian Federation economically and militarily weak. Should we enter into a war with Pakistan, I am sure we will be squarely accused of aggression and nobody in the Security Council will veto any resolution condemning India. At best, Russia might abstain.
On the other hand, Pakistan has played its cards shrewdly and is now commanding the respect and support of the powers that be. Will we ever have leaders who are statesmen and not merely politicians with only vote banks in mind?
K.V. Chalam,
New Delhi
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