South Asia Citizens Web

While no one expected breakthroughs in bilateral talks, either blocked or desultory since 2009, prospects for change were part of the cautious hope in the air ever since Modi and Sharif met in Delhi in a cloud of cold-peace warmth. [and now] the cancellation of secretary level talks [. . .]. But then that’s typical India and Pakistan. One day biryanis and bonhomie, the other two days muscle and war-memes.

We consider the two dharnas by the supporters of Imran Khan of the PTI and Dr. Tahir ul Qadri of PAT in front of the Parliament and other sensitive offices of the country in Islamabad as “illegal” and their demands as “unconstitutional”. We urge them to immediately call off these protests and enter into meaningful negotiations with the government. The sooner a dialogue is held, the better it will be for democracy and the country.

Papers by three of India’s best known historians that were written for a seminar in 1968 on Communalism in India. They have since then been regularly reproduced jointly as a little booklet, for wide diffusion. This booklet has now long been out of print. [This document been digitised by sacw.net in public interest]

The Indian decision to call off the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan scheduled for the coming Monday is simply appalling. The justification being proffered — that Pakistan’s ambassador in Delhi inviting members of the separatist Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat Conference meet up with him — belies logic and lacks credibility. The motives of the Narendra Modi government are highly suspect and patently lame excuses are being touted as justification.