Najm us Saqib<\/p>\n
In all probabilities, India overestimated its stature in the comity of nations. A picture-taking sojourn to the Moon or hosting a routine rotatory meeting of G-20 might not have been construed as a testament to its overall \u2018bigger\u2019 position on the globe. Attracting the voter\u2019s attention for next year\u2019s general elections may not be put on the altar of certain foreign policy objectives. The idea of becoming China\u2019s serious competitor representing the Global South as its leader initiating the idea of a new trade corridor or playing its role in the China containment pursuit on behalf of the powerful could be construed as noteworthy steps. However, it seems too early to start calling the shots as Big Brother.
\nEvidence shows that India aka Bharat has assumed the role of a big power including the arduous responsibility of eliminating \u2018terrorism\u2019 from the face of the planet and that too, entirely on its own.
\nSo much so that it went ahead and \u2018violated\u2019 the sovereignty of Canada. Considering that the joke had gone too far, the Five Eyes intelligence network, led by the US, decided to call a spade a spade while helping Canada in collecting \u2018credible\u2019 proofs of India\u2019s direct involvement in the assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. It is too soon to conclude if the West has decided to cut India to its real geopolitical size. However, indications are there that the Western powers have taken serious note of India\u2019s intransigence and audacious actions.
\nIf Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a threat to India, the RAW should have realised that at least Five Eyes was watching its moves somewhere. If not anyone else, India might have taken a friendly Canada on board before lifting the cat up by its tail. Imagine, if it was a joint operation undertaken jointly by the birds of the same feather, say a NATO operation in Afghanistan, would Trudeau be accusing Modi on the floor of Parliament, in such unequivocal terms, of killing one of his citizens? Would the suave PM of Canada be accusing Modi in no uncertain terms of Nijjar\u2019s killing? Would he be openly referring to the RAW\u2019s Pawan Kumar\u2019s \u2018diplomatic\u2019 activities in Ottawa?
\nTrudeau mentioned Nijjar as a Canadian national and not as a leader of the Khalistan movement. What does this distinction signify? Canada is neither interested in the Khalistan movement nor does it officially support the separatist outfit. One important point needs clarification here. Like several other separatist movements currently taking shape in India, the Khalistan movement is India\u2019s internal matter. The international community is concerned about India\u2019s human rights record and brute suppression of minorities in the largest democracy in the world.
\nThe repeated requests from the US for India\u2019s cooperation with Canada signify three important sides of the West\u2019s possible response. One: Washington knows the details of Ottawa\u2019s \u2018credible\u2019 allegations. Two: as it is always difficult to choose between two friendly countries and formulate a combined \u2018appropriate\u2019 response, some time is required to see which way the wind blows. God forbid, had it been Iran or Pakistan instead of India, by now, several economic sanctions would have been imposed on Tehran and Islamabad already.
\nThe third aspect involves \u2018high stakes\u2019 and perhaps is the most important side of the rigmarole. Given India\u2019s importance in the Indo-Pacific geostrategic game plan and its presumed role to contribute to China\u2019s containment endeavours, the West could ill afford to annoy India. Therefore, eventually, at the most, a simple snub to India might be the result. However, behind closed doors, the \u2018state-sponsored-terrorism\u2019 card might continue to be used against India, just to keep it under pressure while reminding it of its \u2018role\u2019. The possibility of discussing the case at FATF in the context of India\u2019s terror financing could not be ruled out either. The mantra of \u2018do more\u2019 might also resonate in the air.
\nRight now, Ottawa needs to preserve its reputation, credibility, and dignity. It desires to come out of the mess clean, particularly in view of the presence of 800,000 Sikhs presently residing in Canada. A collective snub to India by the West might also provide Trudeau a handle to pacify his voters. However, the diplomatic row that started with the expulsion of Pawan Kumar from Canada might take some time to fizzle out. Trade-related matters will also take some time to unwind the commercial tussle caused by this bolt from the blue.
\nTo the chagrin of Doval and Jaishankar, India stands exposed. With a general election around the corner and in view of a few recent diplomatic embarrassments, India could not possibly afford an in-house rift between its Intelligence Agency and the Foreign Office. On the other hand, those who would not believe the authenticity of the dossiers presented by Islamabad or the EU-DisinfoLab or the activities of its several Consulates in Afghanistan or an Indian Naval Commander\u2019s capture on Pakistan\u2019s soil might now start believing that after all, everything was not right with the \u2018Shining India\u2019. The question is: how far could the West go in pursuing its China containment policy with India as one of the main actors while the naughty boy is breaking glass windows in the neighbourhood?
\nFor Pakistan, it is a God-given opportunity to bring India under pressure diplomatically. However, thinking that India could be pressurised to revisit its plans on the status of the occupied J&K or come to the negotiating table to normalise bilateral relations is too far-fetched an idea. Embarrassing the enemy does enable you to score a point or two. But in real terms, such momentary satisfying moments do not help you in putting your own house in order.
\nThe writer is a former Ambassador of Pakistan and author of eight books in three languages. He can be reached at najmussaqib1960@msn.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Najm us Saqib In all probabilities, India overestimated its stature in the comity of nations. A picture-taking sojourn to the Moon or hosting a routine rotatory meeting of G-20 might not have been construed as a testament to its overall \u2018bigger\u2019 position on the globe. Attracting the voter\u2019s attention for next year\u2019s general elections may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[12978],"class_list":{"0":"post-358276","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-najm-us-saqib"},"yoast_head":"\n