The editorial (“ >Factoring Pakistan ”, Oct. 26) has rightly concluded that contrary to growing concerns in India that the recent visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the U.S. would witness a grand civilian nuclear deal akin to the Indo-U.S. 123 agreement, there has been no significant diplomatic breakthrough. At the most, Pakistan only succeeded in putting back on tracks the post-Abottabad derailment of U.S.-Pakistan relations. The over-riding reality is that notwithstanding Pakistan’s rather redoubtable track-record in combating terrorism, the U.S.’ long-term perspectives cannot envision continued strained relations with Pakistan because of its strategic geo-political importance, which Pakistan misuses to the fullest. The fact that China has bolstered ties with Pakistan vis-à-vis the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor could also have prompted it to reach out to Pakistan to counter Beijing’s growing presence in Pakistan.
Nalini Vijayaraghavan,
Thiruvananthapuram
