Opinion
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Letters to the Editor
India, Pak., & U.S.
Sir, — It is difficult to agree with your Editorial `Pakistan's defining moment' (Jan. 18) that Pervez Musharraf's high-profile campaign against Islamic fundamentalism and political terrorism had begun in mid-2001 during the run-up to Agra summit. In 1999 soon after taking over, Gen. Musharraf did talk of reforms of the Ataturk model, but continued encouraging the Taliban till September 11, and India-centric terrorism even after October 1/December 13 till the U.S. decisively applied pressure, a reality difficult to ignore. In this context, the view expressed in your Editorial `The new U.S. factor' (Jan. 19) that New Delhi appears oblivious to the long-term political cost of allowing the U.S. to gain strategic presence in India's Pakistan policy, though desirable, is unrealistic, considering the U.S.' foothold in the Indian Ocean, Afghanistan, Pakistan (Jacobabad, with air-conditioned bunkers under construction) and Colin Powell's offer of military assistance to Nepal to fight insurgency, all indicating a long-term presence in the region.
Brig (retd.) V.R.P. Sarathy,
Chennai
Sir, — It is astonishing to see so much hype about Pervez Musharraf's speech. Seasoned diplomats, astute politicians, political analysts and thinkers all expect the eradication of terrorism in stages by Pakistan. The West is also equally gullible. Gen. Musharraf does not mean a word of his speech. Pakistan will support cross-border terrorism to the hilt by providing the necessary infrastructure, finance and moral support. The only solution is what we are doing at present _ elimination of terrorists in small pockets.
Maj. (retd.) E.N. Viswanath,
Tiruchi, T.N.
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