This refers to the article, “Soft touch and hard results” (May 22) by Sanju Verma. Truly, various foreign trips by our Prime Minister have registered India's presence in the comity of nations. But tangible results are still wanting. In international diplomacy, Pakistan is far ahead of us. So far we have not been able to take back one-third of the Kashmir that Pakistan usurped. Of course, even in 1965 and 1971, we returned to Pakistan the territories we had gained control over.
Pakistan is availing maximum benefits from arch-rivals the US and China. Our foreign policy, which ought to have been defence-oriented, is in a shambles. Our foreign policy is being steered by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, who considers rescuing estranged Indians as the only functionality. Foreign Affairs portfolio ought to have been with an expert.
likewise, defence is a full-time job and it ought and would have been assigned to an expert like Brahma Chellaney. Pakistan’s treacherous character of apparently siding with the Western forces in Afghanistan, but clandestinely aiding and abetting with the Taliban, the Al Qaeda and the Islamic State would not have been tolerated then. On the other hand, tapping into the discontent of Southeast Asian countries towards China, would facilitate the process of forging an agreement and isolating Beijing.