M A I L B A G

Musharraf’s intentions are hollow

This has reference to Pakistan President General Musharraf’s new Kashmir formula (Oct 27). Interestingly, by calling it “food for thought”, he is hoping to sell it at home and abroad. He has, however, spilled the beans regarding the hollowness of Pakistani intentions with regard to the cause of the Kashmiri people, as seen from the response of most Opposition parties in Pakistan.

We need to renew our efforts at updating the international community with the ground reality in Kashmir. It is necessary to emphatically remind them regarding the final and legal merger of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union in October 1948 together with the continued and illegal occupation by Pakistan of one-third of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir in Pak-Occupied Kashmir since then.

Frequent acts of “cross-border terrorism” are common place. We must vociferously build a strong world opinion based on these facts and supported by relevant UN resolutions. Only then can we hope to solve the Kashmir problem.

Brig GOVIND SINGH KHIMTA (retd), Shimla

II

Apopos of K. Subrahmanyam’s article (Oct 28), General Musharraf has asked his media, academia, politicians and even the masses to opine on Kashmir issue. How would he discuss such a delicate subject in public when both countries are presently engaged in the dialogue process? People at the grassroot level have been shaken up by his musings.

The General has created irritants amongst people at the Line of Control who want peace. The seven regions given by the General may be incorrect as the Srinagar Valley and Tangdhar Valley have been amalgamated into one region. The demography, history, economics and the very thinking of the local populace are not similar. Even today the Tangdhar Valley is peaceful.

SHIKHA PATHANIA, Jalandhar

III

K. Subrahmanyam presents a good analysis of General Musharraf’s fresh proposals on Kashmir. He has rightly pointed out that though the General may have thought that he has gone a step forward towards resolution of the dispute, he should view the Kashmir issue beyond the one-dimensional obsession. The writer is critical of what Pakistan has been thinking for the last half a century.

Prof P.K. GUPTA, Bathinda

US voters not well informed Most American voters are not well informed. In the Presidential election this time, both Republican and Democrat campaigns have poured millions in negative advertising and have demonised the other side. Facts were diluted to fit the intended agendas by shrewd spin doctors. Nebraska is a Republican state with less than five electoral votes. The result is predictable so both campaigns have nearly ignored the voters. Over 80 per cent of Nebraskans cannot even name the challenger for the seat in the Congress! The voters’ disinterest is due to apathy, busq work schedule or weekend entertainment. When an average American is stiffened with fear from Islamic terrorism and numbed with the war in Iraq, some of my colleagues are concerned over abortion and gay marriage. Most don’t read about the history, geography, culture, and politics of Middle East. Bravado and shallow patriotism snuff any approach to comprehend the challenges facing the nation. I used to get better political perceptions from the din of a roadside dhaba in India than sitting in the expensive cafeterias in the US. Clearly, the common Indian is well informed and better acquainted with the regional and global political environment than common Americans. TARNJIT SAINI, Associate Professor, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (USA)

Welcome conclave

Apropos of the report on the first conclave of former Army Chiefs (Oct 24), it was a very positive step to get together all the former Army Chiefs for a brain storming session at the Army Head Quarters. It not only provided an opportunity to them to keep themselves abreast of the latest thinking and progress made by the Army but also enlisted their valuable views, drawing leaves from their rich experience.

More to the point, the conclave sent out an excellent message — that the Army does not forget its retired soldiers. Brotherhood continues even after we hang our uniforms. It was also most heartening to see Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, at 90, in his usual gusto and high spirits. He remains the epitome of leadership and finest traditions of Army. Undoubtedly, he is a source of inspiration to the youth to join this noble profession.

Colonel R.D. SINGH, Ambala Cantonment

Why blame the West?

This has reference to D.R. Sharda’s letter “ A disgrace to womanhood”. I fully agree with her view that the movies mentioned by her are a disgrace to womanhood, but we cannot blame it on the western culture alone. The Western culture is not what we think and is not full of sexual abuse, crime, drinking and drugs. We, Indians, take shelter under the name of the Western culture and do what we please. Don’t forget that Kama Sutra was written in India, not in the West.

B.S. GHUMAN, Brampton, Toronto (Canada)

Nobel for Physics

In the article “A step closer to Grand Unified Theory” (Science & Technology Page, Oct 22), the writer has wrongly said that the 2003 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded for the experimental verification of “cosmic neutrino”. Actually, this prize was awarded for explaining superconductivity and superfluidity.

NAVNEET ARORA, Chandigarh