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The PR offensive that started much before Kargil

Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi

The roots of India's thumping diplomatic success in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict lie in the nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran in May last year.

"One must not see our diplomatic success in Kargil as a stand-alone case," said Joint Secretary Raminder Singh Jassal, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs. "Since May last year, we have been working very hard to convince the world of our position and our perspective. The fact is that much before Kargil happened, the world had begun to see our point of view and share our concerns."

Other officials, who preferred not to be named, agree. "The MEA has worked hard over the entire past year to get the world to see our side of the story and to share our strategic concerns. And it was a bit of luck that Pakistan attacked Kargil when it did, because it was just then that we actually had the world on our side. Our incredibly restrained response in the face of enemy aggression only helped us and painted Islamabad in a bad light," said an official.

Today, Pakistan stands isolated in the international community vis-à-vis the Kargil conflict. Even countries perceived in India as pro-Pakistan, such as the United States and China, have supported the Indian position. "They have said that Pakistani forces and militants must withdraw from our side of Kashmir, the Line of Control must be respected, and that the Lahore process must be continued," said Jassal.

That is exactly what India is saying. The Lahore Declaration, which incidentally played a key role in winning the West, states that India and Pakistan must resolve "all" pending disputes bilaterally including Kashmir.

Officials in the MEA say that the Lahore bus ride was perhaps one of the high points as far as India's image worldwide was concerned. "If our international image suffered last year following the the nuclear tests, the bus ride captured the imagination of the world. India was seen as a country that was seeking to convert over 50 years of enmity into friendship. Our PM was lauded for his courage in taking such a bold step, and even Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief was praised," a senior official said.

In fact, MEA officials are appalled at Pakistan's move to attack India. "It was the worst moment to choose. In fact, it was so bad that instead of India playing into Pakistan's hand, as many claim, I would actually say that Pakistan played into our hands. Their intrusion has done wonders for our diplomacy," the official said.

Former foreign secretary, J N Dixit, agrees that India's diplomatic drive has been fairly successful. "We were alert and quick to act as soon as the Kargil crisis broke out. And we have articulated our position very well," he said.

Of course it helped that what Pakistan did was clearly unacceptable to the international community. "While we have every right to pat ourselves on the backs, let us be very aware that all the countries supporting us are doing so for their own selfish reasons and not because of some altruistic principle," cautions another officer.

No country would like some armed thugs grabbing its land, no matter what the cause or case. Thus, to condone Pakistan was impossible. Even China had its worries. "If today some so-called Mujahideen can claim territory in Kashmir, what is to prevent some Muslim extremists in Xinjiang or Tibetans in Tibet doing the same?" pointed out the officer.

Similarly, most other countries would have such territorial worries too - like Turkey and Iraq have with the Kurds, Spain with the Basques, and so on. Respecting territorial integrity is one of the foundations of the nation-state system, adhered to by all. No one will tolerate one nation seeking to undo this fact.

However, the greater fear was of Islamic fundamentalists and the spectre of global terrorism. On August 20 last year, the United States launched missiles targeting suspected terrorist camps of Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and some factories in Sudan. With the US extremely worried about the spread of Islamic terrorism, there was no way Washington DC could support terrorist organisations under any circumstance.

"Thus, while we may all be happy that Bill Clinton literally stated India's stand when Nawaz Sharief met him, let us remember he did so because it suited US interests," said the officer, adding, "it does not mean that India and US have suddenly come closer."

Jassal dismissed any suggestion that the US would seek to get involved in resolving the Kashmir dispute. "India has the self-confidence, capability and the resolve to deal with Pakistan bilaterally, as was stated in the Lahore Declaration and the Simla Agreement. Hence, there is no scope for any third-party intervention or mediation," he said, and added, "just holding talks with Pakistan does not make it (the US) a mediator."

If the MEA officials deserve kudos for doing a great job, so does the man at the helm, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. The ministry officials are unstinted in their support for Jaswant Singh, who has barely finished half a year in office. "Much like our army officers, Jaswant Singh, who is admired as a fine gentleman, literally led from the front in our entire diplomatic initiative," said an MEA official.

Jaswant Singh was one of the few who had argued passionately for the Lahore bus diplomacy, convincing his prime minister to see it as the dawn of a new era. The Kargil intrusion thus came as a treacherous blow, a personal shock to him. "He was really upset and angry at what Pakistan had done. And it was his desire to get even that pushed him to play a tough game, giving no quarter to Pakistan, sparing no effort to hurt Islamabad and the Pakistani leaders," the official added.

Singh's military background (he had risen to the rank of major before he decided to quit) also helped. Having conducted eight one-to-one meetings with Strobe Talbott following the nuclear tests, he had come to understand the American concerns and perceptions. "He knew exactly which point to force and played on US fears of terrorism and a rogue state without control. His guidance was of immense help," said another official.

Once the United States was on our side, the others were relatively easy. France, Russia and the United Kingdom too backed India all the way right from the very beginning. The worry was Japan which did support India, but after much delay.

There has been some concern that the Non-Aligned Movement and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation did not back India. However, Jassal explains the reasons: "NAM can only pass a resolution if there is a meeting and there was none. And for SAARC, its charter clearly says that bilateral issues are not to be discussed, hence the silence." However, the SAARC nations have individually called for respecting the LoC.

Thus, it was a diplomatic saga that began in May last year and peaked on the Kargil heights in July this year. The challenge for the MEA officers now is to carry forward the legacy of the Kargil victory, showcasing India as a responsible nuclear power and getting the other countries to put pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting militant activities.

The Kargil Crisis

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