Kashmir Violence Tests Modi's Promise of 'Muscular' Foreign Policy

by confuzzled dude Sat Oct 11, 2014 6:49 pm

Recent fighting across the Line of Control dividing disputed Kashmir is once more escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, with each side accusing the other of starting the violence. The artillery exchanges - the most serious since a 2003 cease-fire - are threatening newfound hopes for improved relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

http://www.voanews.com/content/kashmir-line-of-control-violence-tests-modi-foreign-policy/2480050.html

This episode clearly exposes Modiji and his government's lack of experience in international arena. First, he went overboard with saree diplomacy and now with shelling. They are a bunch of emotional lot lacking any diplomatic skills or vision, look all confused and scared.

by confuzzled dude Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:04 pm

Nine out of 10 times, it is the autonomous Pak military that initiates the firing, though there is no way to ascertain this in the absence of the UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group for India-Pakistan), sensibly derecognised by India after the Shimla agreement.

The simple fact is that India has not developed a decisive, conventional military superiority to give Pakistan army a befitting reply. So what you get instead is 'Act Tough' rhetoric amounting to disproportionate response — no flag meetings, no DGMO talks and not even political talks unless Pak stops firing.

This is not remotely akin to the frequently touted muscular and robust foreign and security policy of the Modi government. On Air Force Day, on Wednesday, when asked by reporters on border firing, PM Modi responded with five words, "Jaldi sab theek ho jayega." Because this cycle of small arms and mortar fire has caused deaths of mainly civilians on both sides, as soldiers are inside bunkers, and is leading to the law of diminishing results, Mr Modi's words are prophetic.

Pak army has achieved its immediate objective of internationalising Kashmir, pushing in infiltrators and testing Modi.

Firing will peter out soon setting the stage for next month's Saarc summit in Kathmandu. Mr Modi, the acclaimed new messiah of Saarc spirit, will just have one option — to initiate the revival of needlessly stalled dialogue.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-10/news/54868220_1_pakistan-army-pm-modi-mortar-shell

Kashmir Violence Tests Modi's Promise of 'Muscular' Foreign Policy

Kashmir Violence Tests Modi's Promise of 'Muscular' Foreign Policy

Re: Kashmir Violence Tests Modi's Promise of 'Muscular' Foreign Policy