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.