Do you think India's diplomatic efforts aimed at getting the international community to put pressure on Islamabad will work?
'Work' has to be seen in terms of years and decades, not days and weeks. India has some tremendous assets vis a vis Pakistan, notably the possibility of economic cooperation, movement on outstanding issues, and even its enormous cultural power. But Indians seem paralyzed as to Pakistan, and most either demonize it or pretend it does not exist.
In what way, if at all, can the US help resolve the crisis? If Pakistan is a US ally in the war against terror, it has to be a partner on both on its western and eastern sides, right?
My answer is "yes, but" and the "but" is very important. Pakistan has tremendous leverage over the US and the West, and even China, because while it has either tolerated or encouraged extremist groups, it has also cooperated with other states in managing them. It also controls much of the access to Afghanistan, and while there is talk now of other routes for resupplying US and NATO forces there, this will take some time to develop, and Iran is the easiest route into that country, as India has discovered.
Image: Commandos outside the Taj Mahal hotel. Photograph: Sanjay Sawant
Also see: 'Terrorism has always been a low priority'
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