Where is our sovereignty?

By Marvi Memon
July 22, 2010

This past week was a busy one with important dignitaries visiting Pakistan. The question to ask is whether or not the ministry of foreign affairs made the best of these opportunities. Let’s examine the Indian visit. No sane foreign policy analyst was expecting a breakthrough but certainly after many Track II visits and prior meetings between the foreign secretaries, it was not an unnatural expectation that some level of understanding would be achieved by this high-profile visit.

It is unreasonable to suggest that the media always blows such matters out of proportion. It only reflects national expectations. After so many preparatory meetings some forward movement, however small, was a reasonable expectation.

So our foreign minister failed us. His undiplomatic banter the following day helped divert attention from Kashmir to how many phone calls the Indian foreign minister made or not made to New Delhi. Similarly, the Indian delegation failed its people as well. And I say this because there is no doubt that the people of both countries wish to resolve their outstanding issues and live peacefully. Having said that, talks minus a composite dialogue framework are not going to produce any real forward movement.

India claims, Pakistan denies that drill at Wagah toned down

While the Indian media said that the daily display of choreographed aggression by Pakistani and Indian soldiers at the Wagah border has been toned down because of knee injuries to the participants, the Pakistan Rangers denies the report.

The Hindustan Times quoted a senior Indian Border Security Force officer, Himmat Singh, as saying “We had proposed a lowering of the aggression in the gestures during the daily parade, and subsequently took a unilateral decision to implement that.

“Now, the Pakistan Rangers have also agreed to the proposal, and toned down their drill.”

However, spokesperson for Pakistan Rangers, Punjab chapter, DSP Nadeem Raza said that while it was agreed that Pakistani soldiers would refrain from aggressive staring and fist gesture, they would continue with the familiar boot stomping and “professionalism”.

The exaggerated boot-stomping that was a major feature of the ceremony had, Singh said, resulted in guards on both sides suffering “mild-to-severe” damage to joints, particularly the knees.