Pak. at the crossroads

Sir, - The heartening news is that Mr. Clinton contrary to our expectations kept his promise. He has not resorted to any diplomatic obfuscation, as diplomats are prone to. He has bluntly told Pakistan to ``eschew violence across the borders or else...''

The bad news is that India has to fear more now. It is an irony. We trembled with fury when the U.S. equated India and Pakistan and laid the blame for the tension across our borders even- handedly. We felt sore at the U.S. trying to weigh unequal claims equally. We tremble now at the prospect of what is to follow from the very tough stand taken by the U.S. against Pakistan. The prospect of Pakistan turning into a rogue state is a grim certainty.

Pakistan had invested heavily from the moment of its birth its emotion, armaments and men in the emotive issue of Kashmir. It is easier to light a fire than douse it. The country will be enveloped by the conflagration created by itself.

If it doesn't contain the jehad-touting enthusiasts and continues to be preoccupied with funding, training and arming the militant elements it will face the same fate as the erstwhile Soviet Union. The country will sink under the burgeoning debts. Sind, Baluchistan will demand secession and the country will get fragmented.

Knowing that it can never wrest Kashmir from its stronger neighbour India, Pakistan should desist from continuing to delude itself. It should veer away from the exhausting and fruitless exercise and start investing its scarce resources on its own people. The alternative prospect is too horrible to contemplate.

R. Rajamani,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, - Pakistan is in a lose-lose situation. If it tries to restrain the militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Frankenstein created by itself would turn against it. If Pakistan were to do nothing, it will slide down the slippery slope of financial ruin due to the social ostracism from the international community. It must weigh the cost benefit ratio and take a pragmatic decision.

Preeta Suresh,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, - Mr. Clinton should be congratulated for his outspoken remarks about Indo-Pak. and Indo-U.S. relations, his empathy with the poor and sympathy for the victims of violence. He has realised that things in the subcontinent have changed drastically during the last three decades necessitating a different American approach to India. He is candid enough to admit that friends need not agree on all issues and that divergence of views does exist on nuclear proliferation.

In many ways, his advice to Pakistan and India was a bitter pill. The package of four `R's - restraint, respect for the Line of Control, renewal of dialogue and rejection of violence - put forward by him to solve the Kashmir problem deserves greatest consideration by both the countries.

S. Kuppuswamy,

Bangalore

* * *

Sir, - Your Editorial ``Mixed message to Pakistan'' (March 27) is constructive in its message emphasising the fact that there is no alternative to genuine bilateral effort to restore the ``promise and process of Lahore'' without further loss of time. To this end, Mr. Clinton has paved the way by frankly advising Gen. Musharraf to come to grips with the realities to bridge the Indo- Pak. divide by respecting the sanctity of the Line of Control and by creating conditions for resuming a dialogue in terms of the Lahore Declaration.

Keeping in view Gen. Musharraf's readiness to resume talks with India, it is better to accept his offer, especially in the context of the support extended by the U.S. However, the shared view endorsed by Mr. Clinton after discussions with Gen. Musharraf ``that human rights of all its people (Kashmiris) must be respected'' adds a dimension with reference to the stand of New Delhi. Hence your conclusion that resuming the dialogue on bilateral basis is the only course left for the return of mutual trust is quite logical.

Syed Gowher Ali,

Chennai

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