Isolating Pak won’t be easy: IFS officers

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 25

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dwelled on Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attacks in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address today and from Kozhikode yesterday, not many in the diplomatic service are optimistic about his grand strategy to “isolate Pakistan globally.” They say it is a task easier said than done.

But the good news is that the PM’s plain speaking, which will be continued tomorrow when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the United Nations General Assembly in  New York, has got everybody on board that Pakistan’s terrorist activities need to be talked about and the global community must be forced to address this problem that has ceased to be just an India-Pakistan issue. Says Veena Sikri, who has served as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh:  “I fully support the PM on his Pakistan view. He has made all gestures of friendship towards Pakistan, but there has been absolutely no let up in the terror attacks”.

She says the people stand united against terrorism and the realisation the world over of Pakistan being a source of terror is an achievable task.

Ashok Sajjanhar, who has served as India’s Ambassador to Sweden, says the PM has upped the ante and has rightfully raised the issue of terrorism at various multi-lateral fora, such as the G-20 summit in China, the East Asia summit and ASEAN summits.  But he has a word of caution when it comes to “isolating Pakistan”.