Give peace a chance

Sir, - Ms. Malini Parthasarathy's article, ``Engagement, not containment'' (TheHindu, Jan. 26), is timely. It analyses in depth the need for engaging Islamabad's military regime rather than adopting a strategy of containment that is risky. If Gen. Pervez Musharraf is given a chance when he comes forward for bilateral talks, tension in the region may lessen, thanks to his hold over the military establishment.

In the global arena, any big power goes by its own strategic interests. This is reflected in the stand taken by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Strobe Talbott, during his recent interview to TheHindu. It has been made clear that America does not believe that its relations with any country should be taken as the reference point for its ties with India. The U.S. sees India and Pakistan as having their own differing circumstances and differing concerns and therefore treats each on its merits.

In such a situation and when the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, is yet to come to grips with the reality of Islamabad's involvement in the IA plane hijack, the open declaration of a new doctrine of ``limited war'' by the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, may not go well with India's sustained efforts at isolating Pakistan internationally for its active role in sponsoring terrorism. The author is therefore correct in concluding ``it is yet to be satisfactorily demonstrated by those who dismiss the present regime in Islamabad as an untrustworthy interlocutor that the strategy of `containment' does not have high diplomatic, security and political costs.''

Syed Gowher Ali,

Chennai.

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Sir, - In her brilliant analysis, Ms. Malini Parthasarathy rightly highlights the fact that the Government's strategy of containment will entail high diplomatic, security and political costs.

During the last five decades, India has incurred heavy costs on the Kashmir issue; even though Kashmir is a non-issue and fait accompli, successive Pakistani regimes have been harping on it and waging a non-stop proxy war by encouraging terrorist activities.

Still, instead of adopting the doctrine of ``limited war'' which may prove risky and dangerous, it is better for us to change our policy approach. ``An approach to Pakistan must consist of several strands, including a recognition that an engagement of the military regime in Islamabad is perhaps inevitable'', observes the author. This line, however, does not mean abandoning India's eternal vigil on the military regime.

K. Ramamurthi,

Chennai

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