This refers to the article titled: 'India cautious on the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan'. Earlier, while Pakistan was making pretention of being willing to resume composite dialogue in the right earnest, in reality it was not sincere about addressing Indian concerns. This is the one issue that had so far been holding the entire gamut of the confidence building measures hostage.

Pakistan's assurance at the eleventh hour to rein in terrorist behind 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks has finally paved the way for the talks. But how can India trust Pakistan's words. After having consistently been refusing to go against the culprits citing some excuse or other, the 'U' turn the country has taken appears to be just an expedient move to save the talks. By agreeing to talk to India on crucial bilateral issues Pakistan seems to be serving just one purpose i.e. pleasing its western masters. So long as one party is not sincere in its approach to holistic bilateral dialogue the engagement will be nothing but a futile exercise.

If this is not the case why else the country has been initially coy to give an unconditional assurance to India that it will bring the 26/11 accused to book after all the dossiers that India handed over to the government of Pakistan from time to time? Why has it been dealing with the terror master minds like Hafiz Sayeed with kid glows so far.

Moreover, being a failed state, as Pakistan is being projected globally, with multiple power centres and no authority vested in one power centre to run the governance of the country, India is at a loss to understand whether the trust it has reposed in the government is misplaced one. True, after long lost, a democratically elected government has been installed in Pakistan. But how much power and clout the government of Asif Zardai wields over the other two conglomerates of government cannot be said for certain.

Chances are that the deals agreed upon by the elected government may not find favour with the Army or ISI (Inter-State Intelligence). Unless the government takes into confidence other two partners it cannot make any long term commitments. Under the circumstances, all the hopes of resolving the outstanding issues with the neighbouring country seem to be a self-delusion.

Sukhbir Rana
London

Wither national pride

Kuldip Nayar's article 'Time to restore Indian relics to their rightful place' (Asian Affairs June 2010) is a timely reminder for our authorities to do something to redeem the lost heritage. The nation won't forgive them if they do not act now at this late stage.

What is needed is a strong sense of self pride as a nation. But unfortunately this one attribute seems to be in short supply among our political masters, no matter how much patriotic they sound when they are on stage giving sermons on national honour. This sense of pride on display in public meetings does not carry conviction as its only purpose is to divert the attention of the masses from the real issues of bread and butter.

The Bhopal gas tragedy is a case in point. For 26 years our leadership did not spare a thought for those hapless victims of the carnage. The compensation they had been offered was woefully inadequate. That too did not reach its rightful claimants thanks to the weakness of the state machinery. Even at this late stage, if the government has suddenly woken up to the plight of the victims it is not because of the genuine concern for the victims but to save their own skin. If we still expect a sense of national pride to move our politicians, it is wishful thinking on our part.

Sattar Qureshi
New Delhi

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