'The Secret Alliance'-->
Hi Satish,
Interesting article from The Week on the recent developments in the sub-continent.
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Mar 14, 1999
COVER STORY
SECRET ALLIANCE
Home and defence ministries oppose govt plan to join hands with America to fight the spread of Islamic terrorism.
By R. Prasannan
One is known by the company one keeps; so it is with nations. When Salman Rushdie's visa is stamped, when the CTBT is signed, India will signal to the world that the ayatollahs, Saddam Husseins and Gaddafis are no longer its friends. India's new friends will be chosen by Washington, London and perhaps even Canberra.
Already they have chosen one, Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan. Though the US state department has denied having put Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Lahore bus, its officials admitted having "nudged both sides towards such a dialogue".
Vajpayee's India is emerging as Washington's frontline fighter against 'Islamic terror', just as Pakistan was in the US fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Pakistan-bashing is passe in India; Islamic terror is the new bogey. Unfortunately for Jaswant Singh's foreign office, which is shaping the new pro-US policy, the 'Hindu lobby' does not agree. Neither the hardline Home Minister L.K. Advani nor the fire-breathing Defence Minister George Fernandes seems to think that India should be a tool of the west to fight Islam.....
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the-week.com |
