INDO PAK TALKS & MODI

                                           INDO PAK TALKS & MODI                                    

                                                                                                               28.8.15

The talks were scheduled on the 24th August,2015 and Mr Sartaz Aziz the NSA of Pakistan was to arrive on 23rd. South Block was buzzing with activity and the officials were giving last minute touches to documents to be presented during the meeting. Pakistan was to be presented with irrefutable evidence of its involvement in terrorist activites in India. The dossiers on Naved, Hafeez Sayeed & Dawood  were revised again and again . A Power Point presentation was under preparation projecting the various terrorist training camps inside Pakistan and the routes taken by these Jihadis to enter India with the active support of the ISI and the Pakistani Army.

Along the long corridor of the western wing of the South Block Mr Doval (NSA) was briskly walking towards the lift at the far end. He had been here many times but this time there was a sense of urgency in his gait. He pressed a button and the lift descended before him. The doors were locked and a red light was blinking on the outside. He pressed his palm against the slot and  a blinking green light with the message "Authenticating" appeared. Finger prints of all his five fingers were being matched. After ten seconds there was a whirling noise and the door opened. The lift started descending into the basement. Deep below the South Block a concrete set of offices were located where the PM  held meetings requiring utmost secrecy. It was secured against the most severe nuclear attacks. Doval entered the orange door marked "Prime Minister".  The room was informally furnished with sofa sets and coffee tables. Mr Modi was seated on a sofa with the Foreign secretary Mr Jaishankar opposite him. There was a third person also who was sitting quietly on a chair wearing a plain pyjama kurta. He was from the RSS.

Mr Doval did a namaste to Modi and then sat in a chair opposite him. Modi asked him whether all the preparation for the meeting was complete. Doval nodded . Jaishankar turned to the PM and said " Sir we know that Pakistan will never accept any evidence we place before them. I was thinking to place the recording of the telephonic conversations between COAS Raheel Sharif and Nawaz Shareef which RAW recorded last week. There the Army Chief is clearly threatening Nawaz Sharif not to make any commitment to arrest Hafeez Sayeed or Dawood. He clearly said that the aim of the Army is to separate Kashmir from India and that should be the only purpose of the talks. He also told Nawaz to make sure that Sartaz insists on meeting the Hurriyat leaders. Tell them that we would consult the Hurriyat."

Doval shifted in his seat . Modi turned to him " What do you say"

"Sir this will not be advisable" he said " Our assets in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would be in danger of being exposed. They are deep assets and providing us with valuable information. There position will be compromised and we will be deprived of sensitive information in the future."

Modi thought for a moment and said " Yes I think that is not advisable"

Jai he said " The joint statement which we issued in Ufa did it contain a clause that no other issue other than terrorism will be discussed during the NSA meeting in New Delhi ?"

"Well Sir the opening paragraph stated that India and Pakistan are committed to discuss all outstanding issues" Jaishankar replied " But clause one stated that all issues connected to terrorism will be discussed"

" This is ridiculous" Modi said in a agitated tone" This is a bloody oxymoron. Now they will say we want to discuss Kashmir also. You drafted the joint statement and left a opportunity opened for Pakistan to scuttle the talks.

"But Sir " Jaishankar replied " I showed you the draft"

" What shown me the draft ? Don't you know that I am weak in english. If I have to read every draft then what are you doing as Foreign Secretary. Moreover I am new as PM. In this situation I cannot even blame the UPA if anything goes wrong."

The RSS man slipped one leg over the other and bent forward towards Modi and said

" There is one more thing. Read clause 4 it says mechanism for facilitating religious tourism will also be discussed. Modi Ji as a former RSS Pracharak you know very well that as a Hindu nation we must discourage all Muslim activities here. In fact our cadre  is doing their best to demean the Muslims and other minority communities and hit them where necessary. Contrary to this you are encouraging Muslims from Pakistan to come to India for religious pilgrimage. This is not acceptable"

"Did you do this" Modi asked Jaishankar who was now sitting with a sullen face

"Sir what to do" Jaishankar replied" A joint statement has to take into consideration the demands of the opposite side also. Moreover they also agreed not to mention Kashmir ."

"But why specifically religious tourism? Modi said" Why not general tourism where everyone can visit Pakistan. Why tie up tourism with religion. By the way what is Sushma Swaraj doing ? Why does she not look into all these mattes? It looks that I have to do everything myself"

There was a smile playing on Doval face. He said to Modi " Sir after becoming PM you had clearly instructed that all Ministers should only keep their offices clean and leave all official matters for the PMO office to deal. Nobody reports to Cabinet Ministers and all decisions are taken by your good self"

"Hmmm" Modi said" Yes it is OK. The Gujrat model of governance is the best"

"Sir I want to tell that last time you cancelled the talks because Hurriyat was invited by the Pakistan High Commissioner for discussions. Though I had clearly explained to you that such meetings will hardly effect our position on Kashmir. Hurriyat is also on our payrolls and our agents in the valley hold them by their necks. These meetings were held earlier also.These are only photo sessions. Pakistan has to feed something  to its gullible public back there . So drawing a red line on the Hurriyat issue was not advisable. Moreover we have already jumped one red line drawn earlier regarding no talks till terrorism and cross border attacks are stopped by Pakistan. This time also Hurriyat has been invited for discussions. So do you want the talks to be cancelled this time also.?"

"You have a point there Doval" Modi said in a pensive mood" Sometimes I think I am still the CM of Gujrat. I was much happier there. It will take some time for me to broaden my thinking to fit into this new role. Maybe I should go through some books written by Nehru."

"But Sir by cancelling the Indo Pak talks last time you have drawn a unnecessary red line" Doval repeated

" I had to prove that I am more macho than MMS in dealing with Pakistan. Moreover I received a call from Mohan Bhagwat himself that Hurriyat meeting is not acceptable even at the cost of cancellation of talks.Now how can I refuse him ? After all he made me the PM. "

The RSS man fidgeted in his chair. Coughed and said "But we told not to meet before the talks. After the talks we did not have any objections"

"So before the talks they are a separatist organisation" Jaishankar said" but after the talks they become a social organisation. What nonsense"

The RSS man glared at him.

Jaishankar continued " Modi Ji tell us what we should do now. The Hurriyat is invited on the 23rd at a reception in honor of Sartaz Aziz. The talks are on 24th. According to the RSS on 23rd we cannot allow them to meet the Pakistanis but on 25th they can meet."

" Oof" Modi  took a deep breath" What a mess. You people have put me into a difficult situation. On the other side US is poking me with a stick to go ahead with the talks. Here I am surrounded by morons who cannot find a solution.Now we cannot do anything. We are trapped. Izzat ka sawal hai. A man of my stature with a 56" chest cannot bend now."

"But Sir" Jaishankar pleaded" This is coercive diplomacy. That too on such a insignificant matter. The talks are important for our long range objectives and for the prosperity of our people"

"It is now to late to alter our red lines. It will shatter my image . What will my bhakts think of me" Modi retorted

The telephone on the table buzzed and Doval picked it up and listened intently.

"Sartaz Aziz is giving a press conference" he said " I will switch on the TV.

He walked towards the front wall,pulled a panel and switched on the large screen TV inside.

Sartaz Aziz wizened  face appeared on the TV with a sardonic smile playing on his lips. He was waving some folders and roaring that here is the evidence that RAW is behind all the terrorism in Pakistan. A close camera shot revealed that the folders were empty. He was saying we also have our red lines. No talks if Hurriyat is not allowed to meet me. No talks if Kashmir is not discussed"

So before the hen could hatch it was killed.

Modi turned to Jaishankar and said" Connect me to Sushma Swaraj"

Jaishankar dialed the number, briefed her then handed over the phone to Modi

"Sushma Ji call a press conference" Modi said" Tell them that Sartaz is welcome to come but no Hurriyat. No Kashmir"

" Why should I be always chosen to do the dirty work" Sushma squeaked on the phone" You mess up things and I am the person to announce the fatal outcomes. Moreover I am busy winding up the messy Lalit Modi affair"

"Do as I tell you" Modi shouted and banged the phone.

So gentlemen wait for the next thrilling Indo Pak episode . Till then. Bye

ASHOK KUMAR