Pak periscope

Second, she may be expected to tread cautiously as far as the composite dialogue and roadmap with Pakistan is concerned. Let’s not forget some old facts: the Congress is ‘‘responsible’’ for the Kashmir problem in the first place as far as Pakistan is concerned.

Third, without Vajpayee’s moderate leadership, the BJP in Opposition is likely to revert to its pro-Hindu, anti-Pakistan rhetoric again and put the Congress government on the defensive on such issues. Already, the RSS has blamed the BJP leadership of diluting the Hindu agenda for its drubbing in the elections. Of course, the Congress has no shortage of anti-Pakistan hardliners vying for positions in foreign policy-making.

The new Indian government may also be expected to review the whole range of issues already discussed between the BJP leaders of India and Musharraf’s team. This is natural. But this is likely to lead to delays in reviewing and moving ahead with the agenda already agreed upon between Musharraf and Vajpayee. This could become problematic.

— Daily Times

Paying the price for Gujarat riots
One very important reason for the BJP’s defeat was that the masses strongly felt that they had been left out by the country’s economic boom. As the champion of the free market economy, the BJP came to be seen as being responsible for the growing poverty of the rural masses. In fact, the party’s ‘‘India Shining’’ slogan clearly backfired with the common people. Congress was quick to capitalise on the situation and focused its campaign on the 300 million poor and projected itself as the party of the masses.

Another factor working against the BJP was its avowed commitment to Hindutva which translated into a policy of saffronisation of every sector of national life. This alienated the non-Hindu minorities, especially the Muslims, who constitute a substantial votebank in India. As if that was not enough, the shocking massacre of the Muslims in Gujarat and the open connivance of the local administration in this dastardly act robbed the BJP of whatever little support it may have earlier enjoyed. Congress’s secular stance went down more favourably with the Muslim minority.

Will the change at the helm in India mean a change in foreign policy directions as well? In Pakistan the main concern is understandably about the future of the peace dialogue which has just been launched. From what has generally been stated by various party leaders, it appears that the government which takes over in New Delhi will sustain the BJP’s policy vis-a-vis Pakistan and Kashmir.It can only be hoped that the BJP in Opposition will not suddenly turn hawkish on this issue.

— Dawn

Roadblock in peace talks
The election results will be a matter of concern for Pakistan as much was being put in store by a victorious Vajpayee taking the peace and normalisation process to its fruition. The outgoing Prime Minister was seen here as a highly successful chief executive mainly because he had overcome years of tension and bitterness between the two neighbours.

But evidently no one in Pakistan counted for the economy which was one of the weaker aspects of the Vajpayee government and the violence which was rampant during his regime, particularly the bloody anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat. There were other factors too, like the BJP being unable to fulfil its election promises, particularly its less savoury ones of building the Ram Temple on the disputed site of the Babri Masjid or banning cow slaughter. This was specially important to the Hindu communalists who formed the BJP’s votebank.

Given the heavy US input that went into leading India and Pakistan to the negotiating table, it can be expected the process will be maintained by the new Indian management. In any case, it is rare that a dramatic change brought about by elections results in India radically improves or worsens relations between the two countries. India’s policy towards Pakistan is a carefully crafted strategy. It is not like our India policy which mainly depends on the thinking of the presiding leader.

— The News