Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may be perceived weak at home, but he held his ground abroad as he talked tough with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the issue of terrorism after securing the full backing of the US.
At the much anticipated talks with Sharif on Sunday, both were meeting for the first time, he stuck to his guns on the issue of terrorism and securing peace on the line of control before moving on to other things.
Domestic compulsions may have indeed played some part in Singh not seeking what has been described as a ‘grand bargain’ but the thinking in the Indian camp was that the desired forward movement without peace on the LoC was not possible, analysts said. And Sharif had to agree.
The meeting, though decided long ago through track two diplomacy, was not announced beforehand lest another incident of beheading or firing on the LoC may inflame passions and lead to demands for cancellation of the meeting, as it happened after a terror attack just three days before the talks. Sharif, who came dressed in a blue suit, greeted Singh, dressed in a dark blue bandhgala suit and light blue turban, in Punjabi with a handshake. But there was no embrace or small talk before the two sat down for a ‘frank discussion’, diplomatese for serious differences.
Earlier, during Manmohan Singh’s summit with President Barack Obama too, the controversy created by Congress vice president Rahul Gandi’s remarks about the ‘non-sense’ ordinance to protect convicted politicians, did not affect the talks.
He won Obama’s full backing’ eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, and disrupting terrorist networks’including Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a call to bring perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks to book.
In addition, the two nations managed to seal the first commercial deal for setting up nuclear plants in Gujarat under the landmark civil nuclear deal, considered Manmohan Singh’s crowning achievement, in the face of yet another controversy over dilution of India’s tough nuclear liability law.
But as he headed home after his six-day sojourn abroad, things may not be that rosy on the horizon, what with challenges ranging from a troubled economy, a strident opposition and a change from the party’s young guard putting question marks over his continuance.
Talks a ‘miracle’, says Pak media
The media in Pakistan on Monday termed the first meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif as a ‘minor miracle’ and noted the dialogue held amidst a tense atmosphere yielded ‘words’ but ‘no action’.
The News International in its editorial said the prelude to the meeting could not have been more disastrous, and that the meeting itself took place is a ‘minor miracle’ as both sides called it useful and constructive.
The Dawn said the meeting with the ‘lowest expectations’ was perhaps a small victory for both the nations. The Daily Times said the intent shown by both the neighbours to continue the process of dialogue and peace negotiations was encouraging.