JLF 2013: What would it take for a new order with Pakistan?

In a panel titled Inside the Game, Outside the Game as part of Day 1 at the Jaipur Literature Festival today, Shashi Tharoor was in conversation with Tarun Tejpal.

Here are some highlights from their conversation on Pakistan:

Tharoor says: Pakistan the army has a state. Lot of policies have been about justifying the army’s monopoly of state resources. So when civilian govt says something we can never be sure they can deliver or mean what they say.

The broader strategic aim of our policy with Pakistan is this - How do we use our foreign policy to meet domestic aims: so aim is to maximise foreign investment

Strategic objective has to be peace. We don’t want albatross of ever-looming war when we are trying to pull our economy up.Trade investment growth ought to be our priorities.

Tejpal: we have a romantic notion about civil engagement with Pakistan. Is is worthwhile?

Tharoor: it’s important and not irrelevant. But not the most important. They can hold candlelight vigils at Wagah but they can’t move armies or parliaments. They can contemplate peace but they can’t deliver it.

Tharoor asks: Was Vajpayee an adroit statesman as BJP would like to portray? Tejpal answers that he was often naive, and forced to change his mind – a reference to Kargil.

Tejpal asks the ultimate leading question: What would it take to break the old order with Pakistan: a very rightwing leader or a fresh, young person?

Tharoor laughs as does the audience, says, “well if you’re going to phrase it like that, you know what the answer will be.”

“It’s unfair to put the onus on the kind of Indian leader. It has to be 60-40 equation,” where the greater burden lies on the other side.