The photo to the left shows stormy clouds gathering over Islamabad on December 16, 2008.
Today, which is just six days later from when this photo was taken, I believe there is another storm brewing in Islamabad on its political and foreign relations front. Not withstanding the conspiracy theories still circling around in Pakistan, there is growing consensus in the rest of the world that Pak-based elements were behind Mumbai attacks. Gordon Brown served a notice to Pakistan during his visit and it seems that the U.S. agrees. Moreover the steps Pakistan has taken so far haven’t been very convincing. India has called a meeting of its envoys throughout the world to discuss next steps. The last time such a meeting was called was before the 1971 war. This has led the U.S to send Adm. Mullen back to Pakistan for a second time in as many weeks. Meanwhile Pakistan high commission in India has confirmed that it has received a letter from Ajmal Kasab.
Here is an article from Dawn and the Washington Post Editorial on this very issue:
(i) The daily Dawn
(ii) The Washington Post
The last time Pakistan was so isolated diplomatically against India was during the aftermath of Kargil.
In another development Pakistan Airforce suspended commercial flights in major Pakistani cities today and did a low altitude fly-by as part of their increased vigil.
One can only hope that our leaders especially the security establishment can comprehend the gravity of the situation and take steps in the right direction.
Photo Credits: Title photo is courtesy of Abid Zia at Associated Press of Pakistan.
@Arjun
Thanks for providing a link to an alternative view to Arundhati Roy’s op-ed. You are entitled to your opinion of course as am I. Arundhati Roy’s views are hers aloe and do not require my defence.
Its just a shame that the rejoinder to Roy’s article by Abhinav Kumar is full of gusto alone with choice celebratory words of India’s men in khaki. A perfect example of going off on a tangent.
Wasim
Truth is what the world perceives it to be. Only thing that matters is who Obama’s administration perceives were the perpetrators of Mumbai. Whether the FBI decides that ISI was also involved is of great importance over the long term (FBI has been grilling Kasab for hours recently).
After all, they can easily see Mumbai like attacks coming to New York again if it is not stopped within the sub-continent itself.
India and Pakistani govt. rhetoric apart, it is clear the real price Pakistan will have to pay for their rogue elements will come from the Obama administration. That price will not be imposed with a war rhetoric though, but in a subtle way.
@Gaurav,
your post reminded me of, ‘Denial is not just a river in Egypt.’ You may want to get input from your compatriots in Gujarat, every now and then.
As far as this ‘Zaid Hamid’ character you keep referring to, would you care to enlighten us on who he is? I think I speak for all of Pakistan when I say that the rest of the world should at least let us know who these various groups are before accusing us of collaborating with them!
But Gaurav, you are forgetting the comedy king of them all: Mr. Manmohan Singh a.k.a. Singh is King
or the Puppet master Sonia Gandhi.
What a comedy, Indians can’t bear to have a White woman be the PM of India so she has to use a withered old sikh as a mask.
India – The World’s largest Hypocrisy.
Mr. Wasim Arif, thanks so much for posting Arundhati Roy’s article. She is not justifying any violence, as Abhinav Kumar mistakenly accuses her of doing; she is merely putting it in context and analyzing it in a very clear-headed way. I wish the majority of people on both sides would see things that way. Indeed, I don’t believe that most people see self-destruction as a desirable goal.