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A PR disaster for India

Tara Shankar Sahay in Agra

Needless secrecy by the Vajpayee government over the failure of its talks with Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has brought to the fore its public relations disaster for which it will have to account for.

Even as General Musharraf headed for Islamabad after bidding Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee adieu, as their last-ditch two-hour meeting at 10:00 pm (IST) failed to break the deadlock over the Kashmir issue, ministry of external affairs spokeswoman Nirupama Rao caused further disappointment by reading out a brief and terse message on the government's behalf.

She said, "I am disappointed to inform you, ladies and gentlemen of the press that although the commencement of a process and the beginning of a journey has taken place, the destination of an agreed joint statement (with Pakistan) has not been reached."

Even as visibly-upset reporters bombarded her with questions as why the government had acted so secretively on the talks which had virtually collapsed on the inability of the two leaders to find a way out on the thorny Kashmir issue, Rao said that a press conference 'at a senior level would be held' on Tuesday where 'all your questions would be answered'.

One senior journalist observed, "General Musharraf will upstage Vajpayee when he reaches Islamabad and holds forth on the how his efforts to break the deadlock on Kashmir was sabotaged by the Indian government."

At least, the government could have briefed us, he added.

The general opinion among the reporters was that while the media in Pakistan would concentrate on the perceived Indian rigidity on the Kashmir issue, the Vajpayee government would be left in the lurch, chiefly on account its reluctance to open channels with the Indian media.

Former Pakistani spokesman Mufti Jamaluddin was quick to announce to all reporters including Indian journalists that on reaching Islamabad General Musharraf would immediately hold a press conference.

He indicated that the collapse of the Vajpayee-Musharraf talks had already been conveyed to the journalists in Islamabad, a far cry from the cloak of secrecy which the Indian government sought to throw over its moves during the failed Agra summit.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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