Riding The Tide
The US endorsement of Pakistan's position on Kashmir bolsters Musharraf's fortunes even as anti-American outrage gathers steam.

Powell And Patience
President Bush's invitation to Vajpayee for a one-on-one in Washington next month makes up for the disappointment in New Delhi in the wake of Colin Powell's visit.

Autumn Of Turmoil
The Northern Alliance waits and watches the US moves in anticipation of a post-US-attack power struggle with the Taliban.
A look at the mood and the ground realities in Kabul.

COVER STORY: DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE

A Defining Phase

This Powell surprise was a necessary American initiative. For, the first part of the subcontinental mission was not happy news for Delhi. In Islamabad, it was a meeting between two military minds. There was agreement on the post-war architecture of Afghanistan and there was a great deal of mutual admiration. This from Musharraf at the joint press conference: "We agreed that durable peace in Afghanistan would only be possible through the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic government representing the democratic contours of Afghanistan freely chosen by the Afghans without outside interference." That broad base would include moderate elements from the Taliban too! Moderate and Taliban? Were the generals joking? After four marathon meetings with Musharraf, the cabinet and the intelligence chief, Powell was full of Pak panegyrics: "Enduring commitment to a great Muslim nation"; "The beginning of a strengthened relationship that will grow and thrive"; "Bold and courageous (Musharraf)" ... And then the K rider: "Kashmir is a central point between India and Pakistan." Powell also promised more economic aid to the desperate friend-$ 550 million, which is in addition to the $50 million it has received after the September 11 attack. The benevolent patron was eager to keep the Pakistani General intact amidst raging domestic flames of Islamic dissent. The invitation to the Indian leader was a smart balancing act.

But the Indian Government was getting restless. For September 11 has changed the subcontinental equation. After all, post Kargil, the Indian diplomatic offensive was resulting in positive international results. Kargil, for the international community, was a moment of Indian restraint and Pakistani belligerence, especially so since the aggression in the snow was an Islamabad response to the grand Lahore gesture by Vajpayee. Then there was Agra, another example of Indian boldness, only to be wrecked by the General's rigid Kashmir agenda. On all these occasions, the Indian Government's projection was that of an evolved, confident democracy pitted against a military dictatorship with an Islamic fundamentalist heart. The high-profile diplomatic missions in the US and Europe were carried out by Principal Secretary to Vajpayee and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Union External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

	GENERALLY SPEAKING: Powell and Musharraf during the joint press conference in Islamabad where the US General described Kashmir as central to Indo-Pak ties

September 11 was an Indian opportunity to bring Kashmir back to the vital centre of global concern over terrorism. The Indian Government wanted to convince the world that it is not some remote indigenous freedom movement, but pure terror. What happened instead was a neutralisation of India's post-Kargil diplomatic gains.

Pakistan emerged as the frontline state in America's war against terrorism. The irony was overwhelming: the patron saint of terrorism as the most important partner in war against the malaise. India conveyed this to the US: you may use Pakistan but that cannot be at the cost of India, and also remember, terrorism in Kashmir is not culturally different from terrorism in New York or Washington.

And Kashmir is a cause worthy of a national response as exemplified by America vis-a-vis Afghanistan. True, doing an America on Pakistan will have its diplomatic fallout which may not be to India's advantage. After all, Kashmir is the only unifying force in Pakistan at the moment. For Musharraf may be a friend of America but Pakistan as a nation is not. Today it is a country divided between the General and the people. Only Kashmir can unify it. Also, can the world cope with another war, a parallel one? Really, a case of global image versus home truth.

On November 9 in the Rose Garden, Washington's favoured venue for history-making handshakes, the world will have an opportunity to see a defining face. It is for Vajpayee to choose the mask of his choice.

MetroScape

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