By Nirendra Dev
New Delhi/Tonk, Feb 23 (UNI) Having mustered global support post-Pulwama and a strongly worded statement against Pakistan from the powerful organ of the United Nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended an olive branch to Imran Khan to stick to his own words as a 'Pathan' and take steps to fight poverty and illiteracy in the two countries.
'Aaj Pakistan ke pradhan mantri ke shabdoan ko kasauti pe kasne ki jarurat hai...(Time has come for him to prove his own words) Let me see whether he can prove to be truthful to his own words,' the Prime Minister said addressing a rally at Tonk in western state of Rajasthan.
Recalling his first telephone talk with Mr Khan after his poll victory in 2018, Mr Modi said - 'I had told him you are from the world of sports... Come let India and Pakistan get their act together and fight poverty and illiteracy.
'In response, he had told me that he (Imran) is a son of a Pathan and he will always speak the truth and also do things in the right manner.... Thus time has come for him to prove his own words,' the Prime Minister said amid escalated tension between two neighbours in the wake of Pulwama attack.
However, in his speech, the Prime Minister asserted that everything will be done to 'crush terrorism'.
A sort of moderate climbdown and mixed message in Prime Minister's speech comes amid immense support from the international community in favour of India even as the US President Donald Trump described the current situation between India and Pakistan as “very, very bad”.
"A very dangerous situation. We would like to see it hostilities stop. A lot of people were just killed. We want to see it just stop. We are very much involved in that process," President Trump had said interacting with media at the Oval Office on Friday hinting that Washington will not like any major military fight in the South Asian theatre.
In yet another testimony to India's growing influence diplomatically, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has been invited at the 46th session of council of foreign ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on March 1 and 2.
"First time as Guest of Honour," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted and also confirming about India's acceptance of the unprecedented invite.
Hailing India's emergence in the comity of nations in the contemporary setting, a UAE statement also said: "The friendly country of India has been named as the guest of honour (at the 46th OIC session) in view of its great global political stature as well as its time-honoured and deeply rooted cultural and historical legacy, and its important Islamic component".
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in a resolution on Thursday, condemned the terror act at Pulwama and also named Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) for the first time.
In fact, welcoming the UNSC statement, India’s permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on the UNSC resolution calling it - “A statement with many firsts takes more time than expected. In complex diplomatic situations, however, it is better to be late than never".
France and the United States have backed India's stance solidly for about a week aftermath the Pulwama attack and despite initial skirmishes raised by China, all the 15 permanent and non-permanent members finally adopted the resolution 'unanimously' that condemned in the “strongest terms” the “heinous and cowardly” attack.
Indian government sources also said it contains specific 'language' that India had proposed via partner countries including on the naming of JeM.
India's stand that perpetrators should be brought to justice was also accepted even as India's formidable competitors and rivals in the region, China and Pakistan tried to do everything to either 'dilute' the content or even total avoidance of a statement altogether.
However, observers of political and strategic affairs have said there is a surcharged and hawkish atmosphere in the country with a section of BJP leaders and workers also expecting a kind of do or die stance against Pakistan.
For its part, the Modi government has taken a number of diplomatic steps and also tightened the noose on Islamabad, commercially withdrawing MFN status and also enhanced the import duties on Pakistani goods to 200 per cent.
Taking these further, Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that even water flowing into Pakistan will be 'diverted'
"Expectations are made from a leader like PM Modi - who can deliver," BJP MP Maheish Giri said.
A virtual panic driven Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has in the meantime written a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) president, Francisco Antonio Cortorreal and drew attention to the 'deteriorating security situation' in the region.
"The situation poses a threat to international peace and security.....," he wrote urging the world body to "defuse the current tensions".
On the home front, the Modi government, has, however pursued hot pursuits policy in Jammu and Kashmir and could escalate these actions further against separatist leaders.
While security and other government facilities given to them have been withdrawn, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was on Friday late night detained.
According to observers, the growing international support to the government is actually paradoxical in a manner.
"The UNSC resolution and anti-money laundering body FATF also taking Pak-based groups by name is a clear recognition of India's grievance and anguish against Pakistan. Thus the onus seems to be coming on the Indian side now and it will not be advisable to give away the high moral ground New Delhi's diplomacy has achieved," a source said.
UNI DEVN AR 1658