There were pretty sound reasons why Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose a top-line career diplomat like S Jaishankar to be foreign minister. Now we know for sure. India’s diplomatic offensive to put across its view into perspective, post scrapping of Article 370, is fetching dividends. Global reactions have been, by and large favourable, except for the usual suspects. While Pakistani ally the United Arab Emirates and friendly Sri Lanka have reacted positively to India revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, superpower US has been cautious in its initial comments, while expressing ‘concern’ over detentions. UAE envoy to India has termed it as India’s internal matter. The Modi years have seen India and UAE forging close ties. For Colombo, the creation of a separate Buddhist majority state for the first time in India is an experience in itself.
The US, where noise over President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate in Kashmir had barely died down when New Delhi surprised everyone with its moves, has been a bit circumspect. It has urged India and Pakistan “to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control”. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) continued briefing of envoys both in New Delhi and abroad. India has issued a strongly-worded statement in response to China’s reaction to the abrogation of Article 370, asking Islamabad-ally Beijing not to comment on its internal affair. It is important that India keep up its diplomatic push, both in the capital here and in important Indian missions abroad to make India’s standpoint loud and clear. In the days ahead, Pakistan, stunned at the turn of events, is going on an information overdrive to highlight Indian ‘perfidy’. New Delhi has to be entirely prepared to take Islamabad’s propaganda head-on and with a determined leadership at the Centre, that is entirely achievable.
