The moment our Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs publicly ruled out attacking militant bases in Pakistan as an option, Pakistan changed its stance from defensive and apologetic to that of belligerence and complaining. Its President on one day denies intrusion into air-space but after this statement protests intrusion. Diplomacy has never been the forte of our External Affairs Ministers, except probably Vajpayee.
Jaswant Singh, another ex-FM, shoots off his mouth saying that he will again do what he did in handing over the militant leader. No doubt these are hard decisions taken collectively, but there is no need to again and again exhibit our trembling knees at the slightest smell of trouble.
Contrast this with Condoleezza Rice and Gordon Brown. Whatever they might have said for public consumption, their visits were essentially and successfully to ward off any adventure by India which the did quietly.
What Antulay said was not in this league but a calibrated testing of waters and probably with the blessings of Congress higher-ups to flock together its lost muslim votes. See the kid glove treatment given to him by the party and the government even though his resignation may be finally and reluctantly accepted.
Lalu Prasad's laboured analysis of Antulay's theory is also meant to offset his support to anti-terror bill. Votes are more important than Mumbai or India
The clamour for fugitives from Pakistan should also not exceed certain decibels as we will not know what to do with them if they are indeed handed over by Pakistan. See the case of the one convicted in Parliament attack case. Pakistan is really doing us a favour.
The cake for maintaining golden silence goes to the BJP which kept mum on what it would have done if it were to be in power. No precise roadmap nor suggestion of alternate action plan in mumbai carnage aftermath.
Making tougher laws is easy. But action in field conditions is difficult.
...ponder
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