Once the euphoria over the train to Pakistan is over, there will be time to consider the significance of Prime Minister Bhutto's recent moves. Political observers here believe that Mr Bhutto, having resolved most of his internal problems, is ready to emerge as a "prima donna" on the world stage. One should not minimize the efforts he made on the advice of the Shah of Iran to mend fences with New Delhi. Indeed, what he has done now he could have done before but for his stonewalling tactics.It is likely that Mr Bhutto may turn out to be a better bet for India than most people suspect. For, it will do nobody any good to assume that the Pakistani Prime Minister still sticks to his "1,000 years war with India" posture. All indications are that this mentality has been abandoned at least for sometime to come.According to an expert on Pakistan "Mr Bhutto is anxious to show to the world that he is a reasonable man. He is keen to prove to his people that after years of suffering, he is determined to bring peace and stability to the poor of his country. And this he could do only by building durable peace with India. It is surprising that he did not do this soon after the Simla agreement was signed. Instead he waited, puffed a little and resorted to his old tactics of accusations and hot talk. But fortunately, even this has been within limits. So the overwhelming feeling is that Mr Bhutto has settled for peace."There are other experts who point to the feverish haste with which Bhutto's men are touring the United States and Europe to buy aircraft and sophisticated weapons. Given the Pakistani situation where the military is a political force to reckon with, it is not surprising that Mr Bhutto is spending a fairly large part of his budget on defence.A more satisfactory situation for both India and Pakistan would be to start talking on arms control. There is a feeling here among academics that if Pakistan shows a realistic assessment of the situation on the subcontinent and goes in for cuts in arms expenditure, this should be reciprocated by policy-makers in Delhi..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}However, the lunatic fringe in Pakistan is hardly likely to permit Mr Bhutto to cut down his arms expenditure even by 100 rupees. If Mr Bhutto wishes to stay in the hot seat of power, he might even increase his arms budget. But this has usually a multiplier effect. India is unlikely to relax its defence vigil if Pakistan is armed to the teeth. And so the game goes on and the poor people in Pakistan probably suffer more.For, India has already achieved a strong defence position. So one is left with the hope that Mr Bhutto will be able to discipline the more adventurous elements in his country.Meanwhile, New Delhi can congratulate itself on its perfect sense of timing for reviving diplomatic relations. For both, the ordinary people in Pakistan and the officials must be tired of waiting to return to the blue-domed diplomatic mansion in the capital. It means something more than an Ambassador presenting his credentials. It means the revival of cultural links between the two countries. It is another matter whether or not Pakistani rulers are really in the proper frame of mind to permit a real exchange of culture with India.A top Pakistani official had remarked during the Simla conference, "If our cultural contacts are too close, our people get too near your people. What is the point then of having a separate country, and an independent Pakistan." This official certainly had a point. Men like him would continue to stress the differences between the two countries, rather than play up friendship and the common cultural heritage. The politicians usually have their way, whatever the common people might feel or say.An interesting point recently made by Mr Bhutto is strong opposition to India joining the Regional Cooperation for Development, a concept devised by the Shah of Iran. The monarch is anxious to have India, Afghanistan and Iraq into this fold to achieve his goal of economic cooperation.Mr Bhutto has sharply objected to this expansion move, and not without reason. For, as a "client state" of Teheran, Pakistan naturally wishes to continue profiting from this close association. But as one senior Iranian official told this reporter discussing RCD some years ago in Teheran, "What is Iran getting out of this? Perhaps some gratitude. We are always at the giving away end of money and resources."Indeed, RCD has not been a dramatic success which it is advertised to be. It can only be successful if it brings in countries which have more to offer-greater technology, more trained men, scientists and the like.Predictably, the Iranian proposal has stung the Pakistani politicians. The President of the Pakistani Muslim League has attacked Mr Bhutto's policy towards India. According to reports, the gist of the Pir Pagaro statement was that while the Kashmir dispute remains unsettled, Mr Bhutto should pursue a policy of confrontation against India, reject Indian moves to use Pakistan as an overland commercial route for trading with Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, and, what is even more important, block India's membership of RCD.Mr Bhutto has described this statement as mischievous and irresponsible. He is hurt by those who want India to join RCD. He has asserted that "India is not a Muslim State" and, therefore, could not qualify to join this regional organization. So it is clear that Teheran will have to work harder to achieve this grand design and in the process persuade Mr Bhutto to be more reasonable.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Apr 11, 2015--- ENDS ---
