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NEW DELHI: Former Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh has distanced himself from his governments decision to deploy troops along Pakistans border, which had triggered fears of a nuclear conflict during 2002.
Well, I would certainly not defend Operation Parakram. I was not in India when the decision was taken, but do not wish to say anything more, he was quoted as telling the Outlook magazine made available on Sunday. The build-up followed a daring attack on the parliament house in the Indian capital, but the opposition at that time had criticized the war hysteria it generated.
He regretted that India-Pakistan relations were given to frequent fractures. They are possibly the most complex relations between any two countries on earth. They are hostage to high emotions and history as no other. In India-Pakistan relations, the past is also the present, he said.
Singh thought the Indian government had come to a standstill when Mumbai was attacked by terrorists in November last year, and he blamed the situation on Indias alleged habit of leaning on the United States for help in a crisis.
The international community took interest post-Mumbai only because their citizens were also affected. That is the harsh reality, Singh cautioned. Let us not forget that the Americans are caught in a bind. They have destabilised the region and are trying to retrieve something for themselves. They will leave eventually because their county is 8,000 miles away, but till then, they are destabilisers in the region from Pakistan to Iraq. But that part of the world is just eight and a half minutes from us. If, under these circumstances, we begin to crow victory simply because Pakistan has made an admission under US pressure, we are making a terrible mistake.
Asked to comment on his own controversial role in swapping Muslim extremists in Indian jails for passengers hijacked aboard an Indian Airlines plane on his watch, he defended the tactics.
He said governments faced with a choice between two great wrongs had to take quick decisions. Such things do happen. The decision to accompany the five released terrorists was a practical decision. The Kandahar airfield was Taliban-controlled, and the ATC was speaking only in Pushtu or Dari. There were already three Indian airlines aircraft waiting there - the hijacked plane, one relief aircraft, and a third with technicians. The clock was ticking away and there was need for a political leader to take decisions.
Singh has finished writing a book on (Father of the Nation) Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which will be released after the Indian elections to avoid controversy. The book is about Jinnahs journey from being an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity to the Qaid-e-Azam of Pakistan, he said.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Jaswant Singh disowns 2002 military build-up
Well, I would certainly not defend Operation Parakram. I was not in India when the decision was taken, but do not wish to say anything more, he was quoted as telling the Outlook magazine made available on Sunday. The build-up followed a daring attack on the parliament house in the Indian capital, but the opposition at that time had criticized the war hysteria it generated.
He regretted that India-Pakistan relations were given to frequent fractures. They are possibly the most complex relations between any two countries on earth. They are hostage to high emotions and history as no other. In India-Pakistan relations, the past is also the present, he said.
Singh thought the Indian government had come to a standstill when Mumbai was attacked by terrorists in November last year, and he blamed the situation on Indias alleged habit of leaning on the United States for help in a crisis.
The international community took interest post-Mumbai only because their citizens were also affected. That is the harsh reality, Singh cautioned. Let us not forget that the Americans are caught in a bind. They have destabilised the region and are trying to retrieve something for themselves. They will leave eventually because their county is 8,000 miles away, but till then, they are destabilisers in the region from Pakistan to Iraq. But that part of the world is just eight and a half minutes from us. If, under these circumstances, we begin to crow victory simply because Pakistan has made an admission under US pressure, we are making a terrible mistake.
Asked to comment on his own controversial role in swapping Muslim extremists in Indian jails for passengers hijacked aboard an Indian Airlines plane on his watch, he defended the tactics.
He said governments faced with a choice between two great wrongs had to take quick decisions. Such things do happen. The decision to accompany the five released terrorists was a practical decision. The Kandahar airfield was Taliban-controlled, and the ATC was speaking only in Pushtu or Dari. There were already three Indian airlines aircraft waiting there - the hijacked plane, one relief aircraft, and a third with technicians. The clock was ticking away and there was need for a political leader to take decisions.
Singh has finished writing a book on (Father of the Nation) Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which will be released after the Indian elections to avoid controversy. The book is about Jinnahs journey from being an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity to the Qaid-e-Azam of Pakistan, he said.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Jaswant Singh disowns 2002 military build-up
