Sharif and Gujral: tenuous tiesOn top of any list of the Government's New Year resolutions would be the need for better relations with Pakistan. And not necessarily on the basis of the so-called Gujral doctrine of 1997, which saw no contradiction in resuming talks with Pakistan despite its continued covert war on India and dangerous brinkmanship along the Line of Control.Through their various political and economic preoccupations, the essence of the problem remains what it has been - Pakistan wants India to negotiate away Kashmir, which India, understandably enough, is not keen to. Do-gooders, busy-bodies and friends have all tried but failed to move the two countries from their long-held positions and now most have told the two to find their own way to a solution. The only viable policy for the Government is to bat on steadily, defeat all the terrorists and agents provocateur Pakistan throws at India, till it comes to the negotiating table to discuss a somewhat more modest agenda. South Block is hoping that 1998 will be the year when Pakistan realises what the US, and of late Sri Lanka, have been saying - that you cannot wish away India's size and centrality in South Asia. And neither, one may add, can you break it..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Published By: AtMigration Published On: Jan 12, 1998--- ENDS ---
