Indian Prime Minister DR Manmohan Singh will be attending the World Cup semi-final match between Pakistan and India to be held in Mohali on Wednesday March 30 and he has sent an invitation to both Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, probably to make sure that his offer is not refused and there is a top Pakistani official representation.
Keeping in view, India's past behaviour towards Pakistan its volatile and unpredictable attitude of not leaving any opportunity to malign Pakistan for every incident that occurs on India's soil, without any evidence of Pakistani government involvement, the Pakistani Government should respond to the invitation according to merit.
As a Pakistani, the impression that I get is that the world has taken Pakistan for granted knowing well how desperate we are as a nation and that every offer that is given to Pakistan will be accepted and entertained, no matter what the nature may be.
I think this is a foreign policy blunder by the Indians as besides the critical issue of Kashmir, there are loads of already pending issues that require immediate attention such as Sir Creek, which is pending since independence. Some more important ones are water and the Indus Water Treaty, which are pending for the last five decades. Terrorism is not only an Indian issue, as Pakistan faces the same problem on its soil and has evidence of Indian involvement in our land and lastly of course is trade.
It is India's known habit of making adjustments according to its mood based on its requirements. For example, in trade, India acts quickly to raise duty on Pakistani cement to save its industry though the quality of Pakistani cement is much superior to theirs. In the past, when there was a shortage of sugar production in Pakistan, India raised the duty and banned its sugar export, but, recently when it had a shortage of onion, it allowed import from Pakistan. This is what you call Chit Bhee Apni Putt Bhee Apni. India is required to show consistency in its policy as well.
India is very fond of making such news headlines to show to the world it is a democratic country and is always the first in taking the initiative. In 1987, Zia's visit to Jaipur helped tone down the rising temperatures on our eastern borders. In 2005, Musharraf watched the one-day cricket tie that was considered a friendship series. In July 2009, Manmohan Singh tried to take the Sharm el-Sheikh initiative in vain. It is thought that the Indian PM is a great believer in talks and negotiations and this seems to be another string of his policy.
Now coming back to cricket, since the President of Pakistan is also the Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it is expected that the Patron-in-Chief of Pakistani Cricket Board would not visit India under protest and instead would demand that India policymakers should announce the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL, as Pakistani cricketers have proved that despite all difficulties, they are also the best in the short version of the game.
This is the most appropriate time that Pakistan should demand from their Indian counterpart why the BCCI refused to accept Pakistani cricketers for the Indian IPL. They should be asked to tender an apology for their bias and non-professional cricketing behaviour. Furthermore, if India is really sincere in extending its hand of friendship, then Pakistan should send Shaikh Rashid as a Pakistani representative. Otherwise this is nothing more than Aman Kay Naam Pay Aik Aur Jhatka.