Journalist Mr. Ambassador, Indian Army is conducting massive military exercises in Punjab. The exercises are reportedly close to the Pakistani borders and can be clearly seen through binaculors from across the borders.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Pakistan’s Foreign office spokesman has accused India of violating the bilateral agreement by not informing Pakistan about these exercises.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean India considers itself above all international agreements and seldom honours its accords? Does it consider Punjab Accord also an agreement with a “foreign state”, the way it has been thrown in the wastepaper basket?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the latest reshuffle in the cabinet shows that Rajiv Gandhi is as suspicious of his ‘colleagues as was his mother who never allowed any intelligent and Popular politician to take roots in her party.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The reshuffle also shows that persons with long political background and with solid Popular bases are being replaced with business executives drawn from the world of industry and trade.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think the experiment to run a country as a business corporation is fraught with serious dangers? Can you name any advanced country that thrived by sacrificing its political leaders?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian government has strongly reacted to American decision to provide Airborne Warning and Control Systems Aircraft (AWACS) to Pakistan for combating the challenge of Soviet designs against Pakistan.
Ambassador: That’s right,
Journalist: India feels that Pakistan has managed through a clever Ploy to get this sophisticated system which, she says against India.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think India is crying wolf in order to procure similar system from the Soviet Union? What are the chances of Gorbachov signing an agreement to this effect during his forthcoming visit to Delhi?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 21, 1986
