Pakistan’s Interior Minister exceeds his brief
Given the hostility and ill-will that has vitiated the current electoral environment, it is refreshing to see both the country's major national parties come together to condemn foreign meddling in India's democratic process. The Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Congress denounced Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan's provocative comments on Mr Narendra Modi, the front-running candidate for Prime Minister in this lok Sabha election. India has always distanced itself from the internal affairs of Pakistan and it must demand the same courtesies in return. During the general election in Pakistan last year, the Indian political establishment was neutral in its prime ministerial preferences and welcomed Mr Nawaz Sharif with open arms after he won the poll, for he was the choice of his people. This was despite Mr Sharif's controversial links with terror groups known for their anti-India activities. In fact, India has always been open to doing business with whoever is the representative of the Pakistani people, even when that person may not have come to power through democratic or desirable means.
Earlier in the week, Mr Modi had said that if elected to power, he will make all efforts to bring back fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Simultaneously, he also criticised India's Minister for Home Affairs Sushil Kumar Shinde for his callous approach to the case, particularly his public comments that the outgoing Government is trying to nab the criminal. This, Mr Modi said, was immature as it had alerted the target. To elucidate his argument, he referred to the Abbottabad incident and wondered if the Americans had issued a Press note before the raid. Note that nowhere in his comments does Mr Modi say that Dawood Ibrahim is living or was living in Pakistan — even though that is an open secret — let alone suggest a military operation. Yet, Mr Khan assumes fingers are being pointed at Pakistan and comes out with all guns blazing. He rants about upholding Pakistan's territorial integrity and goes ballistic on Mr Modi, who, he concludes, is a threat to regional stability. Yet, there is nothing that Mr Modi said that hasn't been said before. Accused of masterminding the 1993 Bombay blasts and suspected of having a role in the 26/11 attacks, Dawood Ibrahim is India's most wanted man and successive Governments have sought to bring him back to the country to face trial. And the new Government, if it is led by Mr Modi, is expected to do the same.
Some Pakistan-watchers say that India should ignore Mr Khan's comments as he is a political lightweight playing to the gallery at home. While one may be able to write off an occasional remark as a jarring note, repeated provocations snowball into major irritants. For instance, on Wednesday, the Pakistani Army chief General Raheel Sharif described Kashmir as Pakistan's “jugular vein”. While this is a common reference in the Pakistani lexicon, it is the first time that Gen Sharif has brought up the matter so aggressively. Similarly, it is hard to overlook that like Mr Khan, his predecessor Rehman Malik had the reputation of being a motormouth. Such people are put to good use by Islamabad to routinely make provocative anti-India sentiments.