India Nervously Watches Crisis Unfold in Pakistan
Despite worries about Pakistan's instability, neighbor's response is muted.
NEW DELHI, Nov. 13, 2007 — -- Despite the house arrest of a chief opposition leader and virtual martial law throughout Pakistan, India, the world's largest democracy, has reacted to emergency rule in neighboring Pakistan with one thought: Don't rock the boat.
For decades India was at the center of Pakistani politics. The two countries have fought three wars since they were violently divided 60 years ago, and they continue to fight a mostly low-intensity battle over the disputed Kashmir territories.
But today, as Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf keeps a tight lid on his country and prevents former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from leading a protest march, India is more than happy to stay virtually silent.
"It makes sense for India to take a low-key response," said C. Raja Mohan, a professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and a columnist for the Indian Express. "Nobody's accusing India of fomenting trouble."
Right now India has perhaps its best relationship with Pakistan in decades. It has dedicated itself to working with Musharraf on creating a lasting peace. And there is a fear of the unknown — a post-Musharraf government could be even more unstable.
"There is nothing else that India can do" other than what it's doing, Mohan said.
For eight days after Musharraf imposed emergency rule, the Indian government said almost nothing.
"We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through," read a foreign ministry statement released Nov. 3. "We trust that conditions of normalcy will soon return permitting Pakistan's transition to stability and democracy to continue."
A week later, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon finally spoke to reporters on board a plane carrying the prime minister on a trip to Moscow.
"Pakistan is in a state of transition and we would like to see a Pakistan at peace with itself," he said. But he wouldn't actually judge Musharraf, saying, "It's for the Pakistani people to decide who should rule them."
But some critics say the Indian government's hands-off policy is "fundamentally flawed."
"We have painted ourselves into a corner. There isn't much we can do because we've put our eggs into a single basket. We've been saying Musharraf is the only person who can create peace. We've created no alternative in Pakistan," said Ajai Sahni, the executive director of Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi.
