The Hindu : Front Page : Krishna: we haven’t removed pressure on Pakistan

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Front Page

Krishna: we haven’t removed pressure on Pakistan

K.V. Prasad

Joint statement a shameful draft, says Arun Jaitley

Krishna outlines the contours of foreign policy
Significant shift in Manmohan’s statements: Yechury

NEW DELHI: The Opposition parties on Friday said the government’s stand that it took forward the Atal Bihari Vajpayee legacy vis-À-vis Pakistan was to cover up its “monumental lapse,” even as External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna reiterated that New Delhi pursued an independent foreign policy.

Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of his Ministry, Mr. Krishna emphasised that no progress in dialogue with Pakistan was possible in an atmosphere vitiated by violence or threat to use violence. The India-Pakistan joint statement, he said, encapsulated this view.

The Minister disagreed with the BJP’s charge that New Delhi removed pressure on Islamabad to act against terror.

“While opposing the government, let us not give more credence to what others say over what the Prime Minister and our own government have formally stated. We are not here to question each others’ motives. We are united against terrorism period,” he said.

In his nearly 50-minute response, Mr. Krishna outlined the contours of the foreign policy, engagement with India’s neighbours, different groupings and regions, the Look-East policy, view on the Israel-Palestine issue, and specific issues, including steps being taken by Australia to address the students attacks problem.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said, “In an exercise to aim damage control, an argument has now been advanced that it is a continuation of the line followed by [the former Prime Minister] Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Now it is sought to be used to cover up their own lapse.”

Terming the joint statement a “shameful draft,” he said, unlike Mr. Vajpayee, who suggested composite dialogue from a position of strength by telling Islamabad that it must credibly act against terror, the latest text puts India in a position of weakness by delinking dialogue from terrorism.

He said the talks were held in the backdrop of the 26/11 attacks but India came back with the “albatross of Balochistan” around its neck allowing Pakistan to give primacy to the issue. He did not agree that the only options were war or dialogue as suggested by the Prime Minister. His view was that “limiting” options would weaken India’s position.

Disagreeing with the Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s view that the joint statement was not a legal document, Mr. Jaitley said it has now become the starting point for discussion whenever countries meet next.

Sitaram Yechury (CPI -M) said Dr. Singh’s statements on July 17 and 29 reflected a significant shift from stress on meaningful dialogue after Pakistan fulfilled in letter and spirit not to allow its territory to be used by terrorists against India to emphasising on the importance to work towards normalisation of relations. “How can you have normal relations without having a meaningful dialogue?” He said the government allowed Balochistan being mentioned in the joint statement under the U.S pressure since a spokesman for the President Barack Obama had said that India had to allay fears of Pakistan.

The government had broken the consensus approach on foreign policy, he said and asked it to trace back its steps.

The Opposition was dissatisfied as the Chair, P.J. Kurien, disallowed a clarification by adjourning the House for lunch.

Later, Mr. Yechury said the party would lodge a protest with the Chairman for breaking the tradition in the House.

Also see:

Sonia speaks out in defence of Manmohan on joint statement

No compromise on terrorism: Pranab

BJP dissatisfied with response on foreign policy issues

We trust Pakistan but verify its action, says Manmohan

Excerpts of Prime Minister's speech in LS: July 29, 2009

A confident Manmohan opens space for flexible response

Analysis: Missing the wood for the trees

India and the Baloch insurgency