https://t.me/TheHindu_Zone_official THE TRIBUNE 08 OPINION CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 8 AUGUST 2019 Playing the last hand THETRIBUNE Trump prepares to end American misadventure in Afghanistan established in 1881 as omnipotent. It is an exclusively Pashtun organisation. Pashtuns con- stitute about 40% of Afghanistan’s population. The Taliban is tenacious, A woman of substance but survives with Pakistan’s patron- age. Moreover, large sections of Pak- Sushma Swaraj embodied grace & determination istani Pashtuns, especially in the trib- al areas bordering Afghanistan, are G PARTHASARATHY ITH that immaculately worn sari, the bindi never out of affiliated to groups like Tehrik-e-Tal- place and the cheerful countenance that masked a silver- FORMER DIPLOMAT iban and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, Wtongued orator, Sushma Swaraj was an embodiment of the comprising Pashtuns with nationalis- quintessential Indian woman who made it big in politics, rising T now is evident that President tic inclinations, with scant regard for through the ranks and leaving an imprint in public life, meeting its Trump is determined to sign a vir- the Durand Line. These Pashtuns, on rigours with grace and determination. Her passing away on Tuesday tual surrender document with the both sides of the disputed Line, will night, barely a year after the death of BJP patriarch Vajpayee, marks Taliban. This would permit him to not take kindly to coercive Pakistani a cusp in the transitional stage the BJP leadership finds itself in. Iensure that there is no US combat mil- military actions against their She cut her teeth in politics, as most leaders of her generation, oppos- itary presence in Afghanistan when brethren. With the exit of US troops, ing . As a lawyer, she defended , lodged America goes for presidential elec- many Afghan Pashtuns are not likely in jail in the Baroda dynamite case, and even campaigned for him in tions, scheduled for November 3, 2020. to be responsive to Pakistan army’s , an election that Fernandes won from behind bars in 1977. Trump’s electoral support, drawn pre- demands to end their backing of Pak- dominantly from a White Caucasian istani Pashtun brethren living across Long before Haryana came up with the slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Pad- base, would like all their ‘boys’ back the disputed border. hao’, Swaraj blazed a trail, becoming a minister at the age of 25 in the home to celebrate Christmas next year. ALL FOR NOTHING: If Trump does decide to fully pull out before the 2020 Over the past two decades, has Devi Lal Cabinet before joining the BJP in 1980. Ideologically, she Figures show that US casualties from presidential elections, the Americans could well be forced to leave ignominiously. won substantial goodwill across the eth- remained committed to the BJP’s core principles, congratulating the 2003 to 2018 were 2,372 killed and nic divide in Afghanistan by adopting a Modi government for abrogating Article 370 hours before her death, 20,320 wounded while an estimated non-interfering approach to develop- something she had advocated strongly. Contesting the Bellary Lok Sab- 1.10 lakh Afghan soldiers and civilians In a rush to get the ‘boys’ home in time for Xmas, Trump ments within Afghanistan. The Taliban ha election against Sonia Gandhi, she had vowed not to let an ‘Italian paid with their lives. Is this example of has bent backwards to please the Taliban and snub has never had a comfortable relation- woman’ become the PM. Despite her political leanings, she continued the US entering conflicts and leaving ship with minority communities like to be seen as a liberal at heart. She shone as a parliamentarian, pepping the conflict zone without a decisive out- the elected government of President Ashraf Ghani. Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen and Shia up her oratory with analogies to mythology, forcing the then come something new? The Vietnam Hazaras. Pashtun leaders like former Speaker PA Sangma to tell her not to make her speech so interesting. Conflict ended with an ignominious President Hamid Karzai and Tajik lead- The highs and lows of public life were in evidence, but as the US withdrawal from South Vietnam. 1990-1991. While the Iraqis reportedly FTA, WTO guidelines, climate change ers like Governor of Balkh province External Affairs Minister, she made a difference by reaching out to The then US ambassador, Graham lost about 1 lakh soldiers, US casualties and international agreement on Iran’s Atta Mohammad Noor and former Indians in distress overseas. Her departure comes at a time when Martin, was evacuated by helicopter were 383 killed. The Second Gulf War in nuclear programme. The only ‘leader’ Afghan intelligence chief Amrollah from Saigon after North Vietnamese 2003, based on false US allegations that that Trump appears to admire is North Saleh, regard India as a trusted friend. her party is sensing change. The old guards have been replaced. forces entered the South Vietnamese Saddam was producing nuclear Korea’s Kim Jong-un, who is not exact- India’s economic and educational Already distanced from political life, the party will find new leaders capital. An estimated 1.8 million Viet- weapons, resulted in around 1.1 lakh ly a champion of democratic values! assistance to Afghanistan has won to fill the void but being a woman of substance is one credit that will namese were dead. US casualties were Iraqi deaths. While Saddam, a Sunni, It is too early to conclude how realis- widespread regard. It would, however, be difficult to take away from her. 31,952 killed and 2 lakh wounded. was anti-Iranian, the present Shia-dom- tic Trump’s belief is that he can per- also be prudent to keep channels of Vietnam was united under Commu- inated Iraq government avoids involve- suade Imran Khan, and more impor- communication with the Taliban open. nist Party rule, which continues. But ment in Arab-Iranian sectarian rival- tantly, General Bajwa to facilitate a Much is now dependent on how Vietnam did not become, as the US ries. US participation in conflicts has smooth withdrawal of US forces. Trump plays out his withdrawal feared, a Communist Party ruled, seldom produced the desired results. Trump has bent backwards to please schedule. There are pressures from Same old cesspool Soviet/Chinese satellite. Vietnam has a Much has been written about the Taliban and snub the elected gov- the State Department and the military close strategic relationship with the Trump’s assertion during Imran ernment of President Ashraf Ghani, to avoid a precipitous withdrawal and Punjab’s taxation to fund urban transport projects US today, aimed at containing Chinese Khan’s visit that Modi asked him to with presidential elections in retain a residual presence. If Trump expansionism in the South China Sea. mediate on Kashmir. The Washington Afghanistan scheduled for Septem- decides to fully pull out before the HE Punjab Government has adopted the all-too-familiar cess This, after the Vietnamese gave the Post revealed last month that Trump ber this year. The Afghan army is, elections, the Americans could well be route to generate funds for the development of the urban trans- Chinese a bloody nose in 1979, when had made 10,796 misleading state- meanwhile, suffering huge casual- forced to leave Afghanistan ignomin- Tport system. The Assembly on Tuesday passed the Punjab Deng Xiaoping promised to teach Viet- ments since he assumed office in 2017! ties. Pakistan has moved deftly to per- iously. If they phase out withdrawal Urban Transport Fund Bill, whereby an additional tax of 10 paise per nam a ‘lesson’ and invaded Vietnam. New has, therefore, been suade China, Russia, Turkey, Iran and and give time to the Afghan National litre will be levied on petrol and high-speed diesel in urban areas. The One looks back at the Iraq conflict restrained in responding to his false- Qatar to follow the US example of Army and ethnic militias to be armed move comes less than six months after the state finally decided to with similar sentiments. President Sad- hoods, recognising that Trump has placing the Taliban and the Ghani and trained, they would have created rationalise VAT rates on petroleum products. At the receiving end are dam Hussein was backed by the US similarly offended countries like Cana- government on the same pedestal. a credible force to face the Taliban. the motorists, who are already reeling from the Centre’s decision, during the Iran-Iraq war. The US, there- da and Mexico and European allies like But Ghani has little prospect now of Finally, if southern Afghanistan is announced in last month’s Union Budget, to hike special additional after, forced Iraq to withdraw after it France, Germany and Japan. He has seriously influencing US policies. destabilised, Pakistan’s own stability excise duty and road and infrastructure cess on petrol and diesel. invaded Kuwait in the first Gulf War in no respect for international treaties like The Taliban should not be regarded will face challenges. The go-ahead to the taxation has coincided with the passage of the amendment Bill exempting Punjab ministers and Leader of the Opposition from the payment of income tax on entitled perks. The irony is not lost on anyone. The common man is often a soft target for the powers that be on the fiscal front, especially when inadequate Well-advised in ‘city of advisers’ efforts are made to mobilise resources and reduce expenditure. The cess is aimed at funding the Local Bodies Department’s Manoj Parida shouted, “Are you not the new some assault them and some even an ashram. Some even insisted on City Bus Project in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Adviser?” I timidly nodded. “Then try to poison them. Please do some- getting photographed while hand- Patiala. It’s a pity that urban transport leaves much to be desired was part amused and part sur- why don’t you do something about thing, put some policemen to pro- ing over written advice, so that doc- in the major cities of Punjab. Amritsar, which attracts Indian as prised on reading my posting these dangerous, ferocious, rabid tect them and the municipality to umentary evidence of the advice well as foreign tourists in droves, has been struggling to revive its I order as Adviser, UT. Surprised, dogs on this walk path? They scare feed them and the vets to care for tendered remained till eternity. local bus service. Even the money-guzzling Bus Rapid Transport because in the civil service, you grab the kids, the women, the joggers, them. I feel so good in their compa- Having spent a few months in City System (BRTS), relaunched with fanfare early this year, is running the job of ‘Adviser’only after retire- morning walkers. Remove them,” ny when I come here. They are my Beautiful, I realised that it is a ‘city of out of steam. The industrial city of Ludhiana, which has traffic bot- ment and amused since I wondered she commanded. I gave an unsure family, you see.” From a smile, I had advisers’. Part of my salary is tlenecks galore, badly needs a robust public transport system. The as to who listens to advice these nod and escaped further ‘advice’. a serious look on my face. reserved for listening to wonderful days, not even our own kids. A few days later, I ran into another The eternal flow of advice was not ideas, wandering towards me from all congestion on the roads and the commuter-unfriendly milieu are Dutifully, I joined the new assign- lady on the same walking track. confined to the cooling ambience of corners. I remembered my Sanskrit major irritants for the industry and its workforce. It’s alarming ment and soon discovered that the “You must be the new Adviser. I saw Sukhna. Back in office, I met hordes teacher’s advice: “Yuktiyukta bach- that as many as 112 industrial units shut shop in Ludhiana in two job in Chandigarh was different. It your photo in the newspaper and of associations, retired bureaucrats, ho grahyam bala dapi, sukadapi” years (2016-17). The imposition of cess is no magic bullet for was not as soporific as it sounded. instantly knew that you must be a Army men, academics, business (reasonable words coming from even the financial problems plaguing overall development. Optimum Being a fitness freak, I started my kind-hearted man.” I felt elated and barons, NGOs, trade unions, jour- a kid or a parrot must be accepted). utilisation of funds and ensuring strict tax compliance can go a evening walk at Sukhna Lake and manufactured a smile. “But Mr nalists, all with a heavy burden of I have applied to the Govern- long way in stemming the rot. enjoyed my activity in anonymity. Adviser, don’t you see how these ‘advice’ troubling their public-spir- ment of India to change my desig- But alas, my fun did not last long. A people treat these poor, helpless, ited conscience. I heard all patiently nation from ‘The Adviser’ to lady confronted me head-on and abandoned dogs? Some kick them, and innocently like a new disciple in ‘The Advised’.

thought for the day letters to the editor You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by ❞ Best leader ever! audacious step of abolishing Article enjoyed by the Chief Minister, minis- which the party is based. Use dis- ❝ evading it today. — Abraham Lincoln Sushma Swaraj epitomised the true 370. Allowing any Indian to purchase ters and Leader of the Opposition cretion, logic and raise the matters strength of womanhood and stood land in these union territories will from the government exchequer is that lead to the path of develop- steadfast during testing times. Her surely give a boost to new factories, illogical, discriminatory in nature ment of the country. smiling face, iron will and ease of industries and other avenues of devel- and misuse of public money. When ARPANA CHAUDHARY, AMRITSAR on this day...100 years ago handling grave matters is worth opment which will generate employ- income tax on pay and perks is paid imbibing by the entire political ment and youth can utilise their skills by the employees themselves, why class. She was a woman of vision, in a positive direction. the same set of rules should not be At the crossroads guts and grit. ‘Standing up for even AASTHA KAPUR, SOLAN applicable to politicians? The Punjab Refer to ‘Clueless Congress’ (Aug the last Indian in distress’ she Government always refers to finan- 7), the party at this juncture is not extended a helping hand to all who cial crunch when it comes to the pay- only clueless, but also rudderless. It lahore,friday,august 8,1919 needed her assistance in any nook What about land in HP? ment of retiral dues, DA instalments speaks very poor of Rahul Gandhi or corner in the world. Salute to the Too much is being read into Kashmir and other arrears to employees and who till recently was the prime- HEROICS AND HISTRIONICS. best leader ever. She will remain having become a UT. Granted that pensioners, but has no dearth of ministerial candidate of the party. IT is perhaps inevitable that the extremist section of the Anglo-Indian press, forever in the hearts of Indians. India will have a firmer grip over finances when it comes to these Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is a which is never as happy as when it gets an opportunity to swear by the maxim of DIMPLE DATTA, BY MAIL Kashmir, but it does not change its netas. It has been observed that rul- novice. It will be better for the par- “Martial Law” should be up in arms against the Lieutenant-Governor for the geographical location, which is the ing and opposition parties join hands ty leaders to come out unitedly considerate step he has taken in the remission of sentences in the conspiracy main cause of contention. Rather than when it comes to mutual benefit. whether to support or oppose the cases. The local Anglo-Indian paper is furious and misquotes our article, in which Do it for ‘Haryana ki beti’ winning over the Kashmiris, we have This decision needs reconsideration. government over various issues we offered our thanks to His Honour for inaugurating a sympathetic policy. It was Sushma Swaraj was a people’s politi- made them more bitter. No non- NK GOSAIN, BY MAIL that are discussed in Parliament. natural that after the period of stress we should welcome a new policy that is cian and bereft of dirty politics. She Himachali can buy property in RAVINDER KUMAR JAIN, LUDHIANA calculated to partially ease the situation, but we did so only as an earnest and a was proactive, strong and sensitive Himachal, but the government has beginning of the policy of conciliation that His Honour, who knows the province and was admired and respected not corrected this anomaly. Amit Shah Focus on own ideology and its people well, is expected to continue and develop. It is misleading to across the political spectrum. The best expressed great happiness in his Apropos the editorial ‘Clueless Cong must reinvent itself characterise our article as “one long paean of joy, interluded with fulsome praise tribute to her would be to emulate her speech in Parliament that all can now Congress (Aug 7), can’t imagine The Congress appears to be in of the Lieutenant-Governor for his ‘sudden and complete departure from the unique qualities of head and heart. buy land in Kashmir, but no one that the Congress which has ruled state of utter confusion and deep policy that has been recently pursued by the Punjab Government’.” The Haryana Government should would want to buy property in a tan- India for 60 years, is now being despair. It is not only headless, institute an inter-university annual gled state which is now a UT. associated with words like ‘clue- but ‘thoughtless’ too. As the Bernard Shaw’s Latest. prize in memory of the oratory excel- PRITAM BHULLAR, CHANDIGARH less’, ‘oblivious’, ‘unobservant’. biggest party with a pan-India MR. George Bernard Shaw in his latest publication “Peace Conference lence of this ‘Haryana ki beti’. The party needs to come out strong. presence, it must play a construc- Hints” says:-“The earth is full of amiable people who believe that moral LALIT BHARADWAJ, PANCHKULA It needs to discuss robust matters tive role and exert its presence as steam, unlike physical steams, is independent of engines and organisations. Tax their perks instead of criticising government a credible opposition. Its stand It is, of course, nothing of the sort. The reason that lust for money and power Reference to ‘Perks to state minis- policies. Its leaders should stop imi- must be unequivocal and logical prevail as they do against the nobler sentiments is simply that the people Will boost development ters no more taxable’ (Aug 7); the tating the ruling party by visiting otherwise it will be lost in the who want more money and more power have organised armaments to coerce A historic day for India and kudos to decision of the Punjab Cabinet to pay temples and holy places. Just work annals of history. those who desire to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, and have also the Modi government for taking this income tax on the perks being on the agenda and the ideology on DEEPAK MEHRA, BY MAIL organised the press and public schools to persuade the masses that the pursuit of more money and more power is virtuous, heroic and patriotic.” Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]

https://t.me/SSC4Exams https://t.me/Banking4Exams https://t.me/UPSC4Exams https://t.me/TheHindu_Zone_official THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 8 AUGUST 2019 OPED 09 Haryana’s daughter, whom India embraced

I was tracking LK Advani’s Swarna with the Congress, and with Sonia felt it was a ploy to sideline her. Though Jayanti Yatra in 1997, and Sushma had Gandhi. This, when five years earlier, she lost the election to Sheila Dikshit, joined it in Madhya Pradesh and Oris- she had threatened to tonsure her who too passed away last month, she sa (now Odisha). The yatra arrived at head and take political "sanyas" if left her mark. Her famous one-liner at 2 am at a meeting in Odisha, but thou- Sonia Gandhi became PM. At the the time was: “Maain jaagungi taaki sands of people were waiting. When same time, it was under her steward- Dilli chain ki neend so sake.” Sushma came on the stage, a thunder- ship of the Opposition — and of Arun She was sent to take on Sonia ous applause greeted her. People had Jaitely who was leader of the opposi- Gandhi in Bellary (Karnataka) which NEERJA CHOWDHURY heard her blistering speeches in Par- tion in the Rajya Sabha — that the was the Congress’ fiefdom for SENIOR JOURNALIST liament in 1996, televised live, when UPA became a ‘dirty word’. The decades, and given only three weeks the government opposition hammered the Congress to mount her campaign. She learnt a HERE are only a handful of was made and unmade in 13 days and over scam after scam, be it the 2G or smattering of Kannada, lost by only women who have made it to top HD Deve Gowda finally took over as the Commonwealth Games, or the 60,000 votes and kept in touch with political positions in India PM. The speeches had made her an mining scandal, denting its credibil- Karnataka thereafter. without belonging to a political icon for the young and helped catapult ity, and laying the ground for the But it was the way she steered the Tfamily. Sushma Swaraj was one of them. her as a mass leader. BJP — and — to take External Affairs Ministry in the last Not having contested the 2019 Lok Her ability to connect with all man- over in 2014. five years, for which she is being Sabha election and out of the Modi ner of people was phenomenal, and In fact, in 2012, Sushma Swaraj’s remembered the most today. Han- government, in which she was Exter- she knew what idiom to use. In 1977, name was doing the rounds as a pos- dling External Affairs in 2014 was no nal Affairs Minister in its first term, soon after the Emergency was lifted sible prime-ministerial candidate of easy task, when Modi was his own she could be viewed as a ‘has-been’. and she had joined the then formed the BJP in 2014, till Modi outstripped foreign minister and the PMO con- Politics is, after all, a ruthless game , she was campaigning all her. The RSS was considering her as a trolled decisions. about who’s ‘in’ and who’s ‘not in’ over Haryana. At meetings of ghung- possibility, just as it had given its go- Despite all odds, Sushma managed to the charmed circles. But the way peo- hat-sporting women in villages, she ahead to her taking over as LOP in carve a niche for herself, giving the ple thronged to pay tributes to her would ask them, “Have any of you the Lok Sabha. Advani had sent a ministry, and indeed the administra- after her sudden death by a cardiac named your daughter Kaushalya three-member team to the RSS brass tive machinery, a human face that it arrest on Tuesday showed that she (Lord Rama’s mother in the recommending her name, once he had lacked. Many hope that with her had touched the lives of so many in Ramayana)?” Many hands would go lost the 2009 election. going, this will not be lost. For, whenev- some way or the other. up. “Have any of you named your But Sushma urged Advani not to er there was an SOS for help from Indi- Three qualities characterised the daughter Sumitra?” (Laxman’s moth- resign till an alternative arrangement ans stuck abroad and in distress, she public persona of Sushma Swaraj, er). Again, hands would go up. “Have OUTREACH: Sushma Swaraj gave the External Affairs Ministry a human face. had been made for him. He was made moved in with despatch, sometimes making her a success story, and whose any of you named your daughters the chairman of the Parliamentary even at midnight, telling the Indians loss is being felt all over. Kaikeyi?” No hand would go up. “Do Sushma Swaraj is being remembered the most Party. Sushma was Advani’s protégé, that the Indian Embassy was their One, she was a master orator and you know why? Because she banished and she was among the four who home away from home, and conveying she learnt this skill early on. She Rama to benefit her own son.” This is today for the way she steered the External Affairs accompanied him on his famous 1990 a ‘maain hoon naa’ message. And she used to tell the story of her father — what had done, she Rath Yatra to build a Ram mandir in did this, using the new-age media — they lived in Ambala — encouraging would explain. Suddenly, the penny Ministry. Handling the portfolio was no easy task in Ayodhya. Along with Advani and some putting to use Twitter with great effect her to learn poems, and most of these would drop, and the women would nod 2014, when Modi was his own foreign minister and others like Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin — though she was an old-school politi- used to be about heroes and bravery. in agreement. Gadkari, she had opposed the projec- cian. Sadly, she lost her old touch with Once at an antakshri competition, (‘JP’) noticed her talent and she was the PMO controlled decisions. tion of Modi as the party’s prime-min- journalists during this period. the competing team of which her given a ticket to fight the election in isterial candidate. A daughter of Haryana who made father was a part ran out of ideas to Haryana, which she won, to become a human being. When she was the at the big press conferences, she The third quality of Sushma, which lent good, she embraced India and, in recite, and young Sushma volun- minister at the age of 25. spokesperson of the BJP — the first could call by name the journalist her that never-say-die spirit, was to turn, India embraced her. But she teered to recite a poem. From then on, The second attribute for which Sush- woman spokesperson, just as she had asking the question. turn adversity into opportunity and went too soon, and suddenly, when there was no looking back. In some ma Swaraj would be remembered are many other firsts to her credit in her After she became the Leader of then to give it her all. She was sent as her talent and mission were needed to ways, it was her oratorical skills her public dealings. So many today 42-year-long political career — and Opposition in the Lok Sabha in 2009, CM of Delhi only 40 days before the grapple with the many challenges the which led her into public life. are referring to her ‘warmth’ as a there were hundreds of presspersons she forged a working relationship elections were due in 1998. Many had country faces today. Brace for trouble after lockdown ends RIME Minister Narendra addition, Pakistan had siphoned off tion of 1994 to recover every inch of Modi’s third surgical strike 5,197sq km of the Shaksgam valley in land lost to Pakistan, it will remain using Article 370 to eliminate PoK to China in 1963, which Beijing wishful. There is a similar resolution Article 370 is the boldest of all, says it will renounce control of, once for the recovery of territory from Chi- Psevering the compact with the people the J&K dispute is resolved. na. Both Pakistan and China have of J&K on insaniyat, jamhooriyat and The lessons of Kargil were refreshed reacted angrily to India’s constitu- Kashmiriyat. Article 370 was never last month after its 20th year of com- tional changes. Islamabad has said intended to be permanent, but it memoration. The Kargil-Leh road is the changing status of J&K is illegal and MAJ GEN ASHOK K MEHTA (RETD) should not have been scrapped with- critical lifeline to Siachen and Ladakh. violative of the UNSC Resolution on MILITARY COMMENTATOR out consultation with local leaders and Both Kargil and Leh will now become J&K. Willy-nilly, J&K will now get people of the state, as 370A had stipu- part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, internationalised as never before. lated. J&K has suffered a double jeop- not J&K. Further, the disputed 1,800-km Once Kashmiris come out of the ardy: it has been deprived of special border in Ladakh with China will fall in lockdown — political leaders under The strategic ramifications status and demoted from a state to Ladakh. It is in this sector that Indian arrest, curfew, internet, mobiles and of bifurcation — hiving off union territory, both unprecedented troops are sandwiched between Pak- landlines snapped and soldiers in actions in Centre-state relations. “J&K istani forces in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chi- every nook and corner — India should from J&K, Ladakh and has probably been punished,” said a nese PLA in Aksai Chin. Shah clarified brace itself for a spike in violence and shell-shocked Kashmiri. This is in Parliament that both Ladakh and protests. It is likely that a new wave of Kargil as union territory — bound to exacerbate alienation and ARTICLE 370 SCRAPPED: India will now manage internal and external challenges Aksai Chin will be a Union Territory and fidayeen and suicide bombers will will be positive. India is radicalisation in the state. to the newly created UTs, Ladakh and J&K, directly from New Delhi. PoK and Aksai Chin included in the ter- emerge, along with a more effective For Home Minister Amit Shah, it ritorial boundaries of J&K, resurrecting use of IEDs. Writing the new narrative taking a leaf out of was a royal command performance in necessary following J&K’s full inte- will the ‘bad Taliban’ go? Certainly India's claim over Aksai Chin. for J&K and reaching out to the peo- both Houses, correcting a historic gration with the union of India. not on Haj! They will be diverted east- Has revising the constitutional sta- ple will not be easy, even with Shah’s Pakistan’s copybook. blunder. He waxed eloquent, saying While most analysts are linking the wards, towards India and J&K. This tus of J&K made it a purely domestic sop that when the situation improves, In 1970, Islamabad that the revocation of 370 will root out timing of the constitutional coup to the threat contingency is not new; it has issue? This is questionable, given the J&K will revert to statehood. terrorism. It was reminiscent of the expected ‘reset’ in US-Pakistan rela- been considered for many years. historical record: Nehru’s letter to the India will now manage internal and separated the strategic time demonetisation was billed to tions after the Trump- Khan meeting in The strategic ramifications of bifur- UNSC on plebiscite in 1948 and its external challenges to Ladakh and achieve the same elusive end. Shah Washington, and fear of India-Pakistan cation — hiving off from J&K, Ladakh classification as a ‘dispute’ on UN J&K directly from New Delhi. This Northern Areas from has painted a very rosy picture of a re- re-hyphenation following Trump’s uni- and Kargil as union territory — will be Statute books. The Simla and Lahore will change the security dynamics, PoK and put them under structured J&K that will soon become lateral offer of mediation in J&K in positive. India is taking a leaf out of Agreements, the 2004-07 backchannel raising tensions with Pakistan and a land of milk and honey. return for Khan helping US troops’ Pakistan’s copybook. In 1970, Islam- talks and several rounds of composite China. What will not change is what direct central rule. In 2007, The question to ask, legal issues extrication from Afghanistan, the gov- abad separated the strategic Northern dialogue on the resolution of Kashmir the Kargil Review Committee report apart, is: have the tactical and strate- ernment’s action is patently political Areas from PoK and put them under make talks with Pakistan necessary. had noted 20 years ago: “The last few Northern Areas reverted gic consequences of these monumen- with an eye on the Assembly elections in direct central rule. In 2007, Northern About India’s claim to PoK and decades have seen J&K placing an to the original name of tal changes been fully thought Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana and, Areas reverted to its original name of Gilgit and Baltistan, the J&K state increasing burden on the armed through, both in J&K’s external and possibly, J&K. Still, Khan will demand Gilgit-Baltistan, the areas through legislature had reserved 24 of the 113 forces without requisite clarity about Gilgit-Baltistan. internal domains? The optimists from Trump his cut on Kashmir. which pass various arteries of the $60- seats in the House for PoK and left political and strategic objectives.” believe that while bringing J&K to The bigger worry is long term. In the billion China-Pakistan Economic Cor- them vacant. That legal claim has ‘Mission haziness’ is palpable. You normalcy will happen sooner than lat- unlikely event of a power-sharing deal ridor which has become a bone of con- been jettisoned after scrapping 370A. can change the constitutional status er, dealing with Pakistan will not be between Kabul and Taliban, where tention between China and India. In As regards the parliamentary resolu- of a state, but not its geography.

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ACROSS AUGUST 8, 2019, THURSDAY SUNSET: THURSDAY 19:12 HRS 1 Forceful persuasion (8) SUNRISE: FRIDAY 05:44 HRS 5 Change ownership (4) 6 1 7 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2076 9 Become different (5) ■ Shaka Samvat 1941 10 Cancel (4,3) ■ Shravan Shaka 17 Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Rainy Foggy 11 Social hierarchy (7,5) 2 ■ Shravan Parvishte 24 CITY MAX MIN 13 Item (6) Chandigarh 34 26 ■ Hijari 1440 14 Furious (6) New Delhi 35 27 17 Idea occurring later (12) 9 2 6 ■ Shukla Paksh Tithi 8, up to 10.31 am PUNJAB 20 Amusing (7) ■ Shukla Yoga up to 12:59 pm 21 Mournful piece of Amritsar 35 27 music (5) 9 5 4 ■ Vishakha Nakshatra up to 9.28 pm Bathinda 34 25 22 A moral obligation (4) ■ Moon enters Scorpio sign 3.26 pm Jalandhar 35 27 Ludhiana 34 26 23 Brought together ■ Shridurgashtmi again (8) 2 8 HARYANA 1 3 4 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION Bhiwani 34 27 DOWN Hisar 34 26 1 Fruit grown on tree (4) 7 6 2 5 8 3 1 9 4 Sirsa 34 28 2 Implore (7) 1 9 5 1 9 5 4 2 6 7 8 3 HIMACHAL PRADESH 3 Gain wealth Dharamsala 28 19 suddenly (6,2,4) 4 3 8 1 9 7 5 2 6 Manali 26 16 4 Publicly renounce (6) 8 3 1 6 Shun (5) 3 8 4 7 6 2 9 1 5 Shimla 23 20 7 Right of voting (8) JAMMU & KASHMIR 9 5 1 8 3 4 2 6 7 Jammu 32 23 8 Quite unexpectedly 2 (3,2,1,6) 6 2 7 9 5 1 3 4 8 Leh 28 18 YESTERDAY S SOLUTION Srinagar 31 20 ’ 12 Ahead of its time (8) 2 7 3 6 1 8 4 5 9 Across: 1 Off chance, 8 Quest, 9 Tuition, 10 Pigeon, 11 Bereft, 12 Inferior, 15 Nearness, 18 15 Receive as legacy (7) UTTARAKHAND Tirade, 20 Stingy, 21 Prairie, 22 Leave, 23 To a degree. 16 To slope (6) 5 8 4 8 4 9 2 7 5 6 3 1 Dehradun 30 24 Down: 2 Fluke, 3 Cutler, 4 Abortive, 5 Equine, 6 Bedevil, 7 At any rate, 11 By oneself, 13 18 Entice (5) 5 1 6 3 4 9 8 7 2 Mussoorie 22 15 Fostered, 14 Habitat, 16 Nugget, 17 Trying, 19 Drive. 19 Be at front of (4) HARD TEMPERATURE IN OC

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