MEDIA & MATTERS
Ballroom diplomacy
SEVANTI NINAN
|
Following the nuanced statements of General Musharraf as he reinvents himself many times over on his recent visit to India…
|
Photo: AP
In a new, ‘moderate’ role: General Pervez Musharraf.
Musharraf Saheb and Aroon Purie Saheb,
Thank you ji. You have created a diversionary media coup at a time when we are waiting and watching only to see what happens next in Pakistan. You are taking bold step by creating a forum for telling home truths to each other, and we the people are humbly appreciating. Not since our Shekhar Gupta suggested to Nawaz Sharif Saheb that he must invite our PM ji to go to Pakistan by bus have we had such a big peace initiative from the media at a warlike time. You told us you think the media are responsible for creating war hysteria between India and Pakistan, but now and then ji, they do try to be constructive.
It was bold and brave of you Musharraf Saheb to come, despite your family’s fears for your safety, though who would want to kill you here is a mystery. We have not killed any foreign leader in recent memory. If a coup is to be there, it will be in your country ji, and you are much safer here. It was also magnanimous of you to come after those 16 not-always-friendly cover stories India Today did on you over all these years. But Musharraf Saheb and Aroon Purie Saheb, you are both smart gentlemen, it is what they call a win-win situation for both of you. You gave India Today’s Conclave a coup by addressing it, when you were President, and they are returning the compliment only, allowing you to create news here so that newspapers back in your country can report that you are ready to play a role if the cause of Peace requires it. You are expressing cynicism about media, but come on sir, you will agree it is a willing and eager platform, always anxious to oblige when someone wishes to use it. We are happy, Musharraf Saheb, to let you reinvent yourself on our soil.
High hopes
We are hoping, or at least India Today is hoping as Aroon Purie Saheb said, that you are someone who could still be the force to reckon with in Pakistan’s politics. (Think of what a coup that would be for him.) So they asked you to come here and tell us how things can change. You returned the compliment by saying that “we the moderates must guide events”. That was neat, and if anybody in the room gagged, we did not hear it. As the Pakistani media used to say indignantly in 2007 after you imposed an emergency, the Indian media continued to bet on you as the best option for India to deal with. Old habits die hard.
Surprises
Whatever else you are sir, you are not chicken-hearted. You knew we would ask rude questions and you pretty much gave as good as you got. But sometimes no, you got a little more than you expected. You reminded us of what we are doing to the Muslims and Kashmiri Muslims on our soil. Whereupon our Maulana Madani Saheb told you that Indian Muslims weren’t looking to you or Pakistan to solve their problems. You didn’t like that. It showed in your face. But what to do. As our Vir Sanghviji told everybody the same Sunday morning, we have developed little bit differently here, since 1947, than you people have. We also send our Muslims off to bring home Oscars for us.
But India Today is a gracious host. Maulana Madani is missing from their web edition’s transcript of the event, even if they couldn’t stop it being telecast live on Headlines Today.
We admire your consistency, Musharraf Saheb. You used the platform to tell us again that we must solve the Kashmir dispute. You did not tell us whether we should take American help. You protested against Pakistan bashing in our media including in the magazine that hosted you. You asked us why the perceptions of Pakistan in India are poor and bad from all points of view. What to do ji, like you, we also watch TV news and read the newspapers. Our General V.P. Malik, your old Kargil foe, stood up to ask what are the chances of the army taking over Pakistan again? Whereupon you got huffy and said it was an internal matter of Pakistan and its political leadership. If you know something we don’t, you did not tell us.
General Malik asked you, how can India help Pakistan in its problems? You told us, by supporting General Kiyani and the ISI. We did not gag, we smiled politely. See, we understand the limits of ballroom diplomacy. And conclave showmanship.
After that, Musharraf Saheb, we gave you a standing ovation. Because our host told us to, he thought you had been a good sport and given us his money’s worth. Our foreign office types may have bristled at that but, as our advertising types will tell you ji, we are like that only.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
