The attack on an army garrison in Sind clinches one issue. The people in that province of Pakistan are no longer afraid of the army. Or to put it differently, the army has been so thoroughly discredited in their eyes that they are prepared for direct clashes with it. Otherwise … Read More
The people of Pakistan have made history. It is difficult to think of another third world country which has in recent years witnessed such a determined and sustained struggle for democracy on the part of unarmed people. Certainly nothing that has happened anywhere in south Asia since the army crackdown … Read More
President Jayewardene continues to baffle. Once again he has repeated the charge that Tamil Tigers seek and receive assistance, including arms and training, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The charge is, of course, false in substance. But right now that is not the central issue. The issue is: … Read More
General Zia-ul-Haq has paid this country a compliment it does not deserve. For, we cannot in all conscience claim the slightest credit for the present movement for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. In fact, but for a statement by the prime minister, Mrs. Gandhi, extending support to the cause … Read More
Mr. Charan Singh has sprung a surprise. He has emerged as a champion of the Zia regime, which he only recently charged with sending Pakistanis into our Punjab to foment Hindu-Sikh trouble, and of the concept of non-alignment which his chief bete noire (Mr. Nehru) had sired. In this rather … Read More
The government of India must possess an extraordinary capacity for being surprised if it is indeed surprised over the Pakistan government’s protest over Mr. PV Narasimha Rao’s and Mrs. Gandhi’s statements over current developments in the neighbouring country. Normally it should have anticipated the reaction. It is, in fact, unlikely … Read More
It is obviously too early to try to predict the outcome of the current agitation in Pakistan. Indeed, it is too early to assess its true nature. Even so, an attempt at assessment must be made, however tentatively. To begin with, two points may be made as if to clear … Read More
It is obvious that Congress (I) MPs want a discussion in Parliament on the Reddy-Desai correspondence because they believe that they can thereby embarrass not only the former prime minister but possibly also opposition parties which then constituted the Janata. In the process, however, they may embarrass their own leadership … Read More
The selective publication of letters exchanged between the former President, Mr. Sanjiva Reddy, and the former Prime Minister, Mr. Morarji Desai, raises important issues. The publication perhaps constitutes a violation of the Official Secrets Act. But this is the least of the issues it raises. For all we know, the … Read More
Even before President Jayewardene’s meeting with Indian journalists on Thursday, it should have been obvious that the process of finding a solution to the Sinhalese-Tamil problem is going to be a prolonged and painful affair. His statement confirms this assessment. Indeed, if he has his way, it will be a … Read More
