Pakistan

Rice offers diplomatic advice to India and Pakistan

Recent evidence has shown that the attackers who struck Mumbai, India---leaving more than 170 dead---were Pakistani terrorists. This evidence has complicated US diplomatic efforts. A day after meeting with Indian leaders, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Pakistani leaders to urge the two countries to work together to find the attackers and bring them to justice. Rice pointed out that Indian and Pakistani governments already have a significant capacity to combat the problem, and further emphasized the importance of preventing such problems. Her attempt to smooth the waters between these two neighboring rivals has not gone unnoticed.

The United States is many times viewed as the world’s police force. Some countries want and expect the United States to get involved in other countries’ business, and other countries despise these efforts. Regardless of how one feels about American diplomatic efforts, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent attempt at promoting diplomacy between India and Pakistan is noteworthy. Because Pakistan is not very fond of America, it was especially important for Rice to choose her words carefully. By referring to Pakistanis as “sophisticated” and “capable,” she is hopefully only helping the situation. Many will question why the United States is trying to facilitate dialogue between India and Pakistan, but Rice’s diplomatic advice is important in an overall sense because it suggests that communication and negotiation are more effective and will yield more positive results than retaliation.

Liberal

http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/pakistan-committed-to-mumbai-probe-rice-yn

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/04/asia/05mumbai.php

December 4, 2008 at 5:45 pm