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Pak is in clear violations of its commitments: Sinha
Published on Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 00:31, Updated on Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 00:41 in India section
Tags: Devil's Advocate, Yashwant Sinha
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Former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha feels UPA ministers are “speaking in different voices” on ties with Pakistan after the Mumbai terrorist attacks and seem to have lost their “grip.” Sinha also feels that the steps taken by Pakistan are not enough. "I think what Pakistan has done is most inadequate if not eyewash," he said.
How does the BJP assess the government’s handling of relations with Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist attack on Mumbai. That’s the big issue I shall explore today with the former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha.
Karan Thapar: Let me start with a simple question. Has the government been wise in handling Pakistan after the terrorist strike or in your impression has it been weak?
Yashwant Sinha: Not judging between strength and weakness, but somewhere the grip seems to have loosened over the last few days.
Karan Thapar: In other words, the government began reasonably well but at this moment it has lost its grip on the situation?
Yashwant Sinha: Yes, because even our government is speaking different voices. We heard the External affairs minister say one thing, the Defence Minister say another thing on the same day. I think it would be better if there was greater unity and cohesion within the spokespersons of the government.
Karan Thapar:In other words, you suspect that there isn’t a single-minded approach in the government?
Yashwant Sinha: I think they should discussed it more amongst themselves and come to a very clear conclusion as to what needs to be done and everyone should say the same thing.
Karan Thapar:So, would you go one step further and say that there is confusion in the thinking of the government?
Yashwant Sinha: I don’t know. But from what I have said it appears that somebody is not ruling out in any possibility, any option. Somebody is rule out any options and that does show that there is lack of cohesion in the thinking.
Karan Thapar:Does this worry you?
Yashwant Sinha: It worries me because we are dealing with a very difficult situation
Karan Thapar:The government has of course chosen to put pressure on Pakistan through the international community and primarily through the Unites States and the United Kingdom given that India can’t make Pakistan act on its own. Do you believe that this is the best strategic approach?
Yashwant Sinha: I would differ slightly. It is alright to rope in the UN and the UK, but I would have preferred the government to send out emissaries to all important capitals of the world. I mean why should we ignore Paris? Why should we ignore Berlin?. We should have sent a politically high-level emissaries to all these capitals with incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of Pakistan in the Mumbai attack and even take on them aboard on our side
Karan Thapar:When you are saying at the political level, you are saying ministers of the government should have gone, not bureaucrats or civil servants?
Yashwant Sinha: Yes, I mean not only ministers of the government, but if the government thought is fit, they could involve representatives of other political parties also because this is not a government issue, this is not a political party issue. This is a national issue.
Karan Thapar:So, for instance, if you or Mr Advani had been asked by the Prime Minister to go to certain capitals to brief the government there, you would have been willing to go?
Yashwant Sinha: I think you would have taken upon the national duty certainly.
Karan Thapar:And in not doing this the government has A, failed to bring all political parties together on the same platform, and B, it has failed to make its voice and its evidence as it possesses it, seen and heard in all the capitals where it should have been seen and heard?
Yashwant Sinha: Yes, it should be seen and heard by the international community and not merely by a few countries.
Karan Thapar:In the mean time, Pakistan has taken a few steps which the state department has described as positive, which Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has called “great steps.” How do you in the BJP view these things?
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