Marriage between Brazil and South Africa facilitated by India!

Indian Ambassador B.S. Prakash explains the origins of IBSA (India Brazil South Africa) setting it into the story of a meeting between a Brazilian and South African representatives which happened due to India and led to their marriage. A nice parable for IBSA indeed.

Was that a snub?

Is this because of the Queen not coming for the Commonwealth Games?

If so, it would be appropriate!

Indo-Pak relations: A paradigm shift?

International diplomacy and relations involve much hair splitting about words and position. So when a nation which has consistently taken a strong position on an issue due to domestic pressure, starts to give out statements which seem to be atypical, it can be an indication of a major policy shift.

Pakistan's spokesperson has said that it has never claimed Kashmir. Technically, she is right but it is inconcievable that a Zia or Bhutto or Sharif would have ever said that. Musharraf is walking a desperate tight-rope and it does seem that this time around he is desperate to improve relations with India even if that means giving up claim on Kashmir.

Ordinary Pakistanis appear to be exhausted with the noose of Kashmir that has been tied around its neck. While in the past, Kashmir was a desperate fight for survival as a separate identity from the indian past, the situation has changed. Indian leaders have acknowledged the legitimacy of Pakistani nation state. Pakistanis would love to have Kashmir but they feel more secure in retaining their identity even if a muslim majority Kashmir stays peacefully in India.

These events though insignificant seem to be rumblings of a major tectonic shifts in Indo-Pak relations and they are heading in the right direction.