Sushma at UN

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s UN address was the perfect antidote for the ones who had felt let down by the Prime Minister’s measured belligerence against Pakistan at a public meet in Kerala last Sunday. Although the imposing UN assembly hall was only half full at that hour, Ms Swaraj turned in a skillful performance. She drew global attention to her speech by linking the Uri attack to a string of massacres in metropolises the world over and deflected Nawaz Sharif’s broadside on Kashmir by bringing in Balochistan. Her charges drew more attention from Afghanistan’s backing of India’s concerns over state patronage to militant organisations. Though neither named the country, the inference was obvious.

Short of freezing diplomatic ties, Swaraj’s is one of the arrows in a full Indian quiver being aimed at Pakistan after the Uri attack.  But much water has flown under the Jhelum and the Chenab since the killing of Burhan Wani for Pakistan to appear conciliatory. Constantly in the throes of a civil-military struggle, both its quarrelling wings gain by diverting public attention to the unrest in Kashmir. India, as an aspirant to the global high table, has a much broader agenda than squabbling with Pakistan on Kashmir. This was reflected in Ms Swaraj’s speech when she batted for the developing world by asking the West to fulfill its part of the bargain in the Paris Accord. 

But when the diplomats later took over at the UN, the thrust of the arguments and counter-arguments was all on Kashmir. Usually, third parties find it handy to get involved at this stage of squaring off. Hillary Clinton as President would be keen to mediate a closure of this dispute. China will also be an interested party as Pakistan has gifted it a part of PoK. It also has strategic and financial stakes in the economic corridor passing through Kashmir. Swaraj brought her experience to bear by reducing the odds on this messy possibility. India, she declared, is ready for talks without preconditions. Pakistan should take up the offer. Once, Pakistan was known for exporting doctors. It should get that reputation back instead of being accused of exporting terror.