And lastly, our constitutional and national setup has made us incapable of facing the Islamic country of Pakistan and even Bangladesh. It is indeed shameful for a big country like India to ask for help from other nations to face problems created by a tiny country like Pakistan. Gandhi and Nehru, Father and Uncle of the nation, are the root cause of these problems.

ANAND PRAKASH, Panchkula

The story of a summit: Once upon a time there was a military dictator. His country had suffered a humiliating defeat and he wanted revenge, being a great nationalist. But now slowly, painfully, military strength had been built up and he possessed formidable powers of destruction. He made no bones about the fact that he could use them too. His neighbours naturally became alarmed. “Peace”, they cried. “I am a man of peace too,” said the military dictator, “But look at the minorities you are oppressing.”

So they called a summit. The dictator was affable. Confronting him was a motley group of democratic leaders, each with his own particular set of worries. They wanted to discuss prospects of peace. Sure peace, but an honourable peace, was what the dictator wanted. How could be ignored his oppressed brethren fighting for their rights? He kept hammering at his pet theme and refused to be distracted by any other issue.

The dictator smiled a lot but the threat of force was all too real. “Solve this issue first, if you want peace”. The democratic leaders commanded huge forces, but in actual fact they were in poor shape. Their equipment was, by and large, at least 20 years out of date. Sure, the developments in the neighbourhood had caused them to start re-arming lately. But you can’t make up for decades of neglect in so short time. The air force, for example, had still not got the efficient new aircraft. They desperately needed to buy time. The dictator had to be humoured till then.

And so the summit at Munich ended with the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia. The German-speaking parts of Czechoslovakia were separated and quickly taken over by a bunch of quislings waiting in the wings.

S. K. SHARMA, Kulu

Meek Indians: Right since 1947 Pakistan has been bleeding India. The partition, the 1965, 1971 wars, Kargil, Kanadhar and daily massacre of Indians by Pakistani terrorists would have been enough to wake up a Kumbhakaran. But Pakistan has nothing to fear from docile, meek Indians.

India is no sleeping giant. It is a stupid person who is pretending to be asleep, thinking that the aggressor will go away if it continues to feign sleep.

Wg Cdr SUNIL SAWANT (retd), Pune

Four factors: There are mainly four factors responsible for the present untoward situation in Kashmir. One, proximity of a hostile Pakistan, its easy access and support to terrorists. Two, political bungling in Kashmir, ignoring the local aspirations and sensitivities by the central governments, mostly Congress, over the years.

Three, demographic profile, including family links and movement of the PoK inhabitants across the LoC. Four, inability or unwillingness on the part of our politicians to associate the people of J&K with the mainstream of national life.