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President Musharraf's Visit to India

S K Modi - 4/19/2005

It is almost amazing how well President Pervez Musharraf was received in India. In fact, if Bill Clinton sees video-recordings of the way the Pakistani President is being treated, he is quite likely to go green with envy. In spite of being the then incumbent President of the United States, the reception he got in India during his official visit can, when compared to the reception received by Musharraf, at best be described as lacklustre. In a manner of speaking, Musharraf is being treated the way the British traditionally treat their royalty.

The hoopla is to be seen to be believed. At least 10,000 security personnel have been deployed for ensuring Musharraf's security. The cricket stadium where Musharraf watched a cricket match today was converted into a virtual fortress, with three layers of security. All spectators were asked to bring some sort of identification with them. President Musharraf was ferried from his hotel, about 3 kms away from the stadium, in a helicopter for security reasons!

A festive atmosphere has been created in New Delhi, giving rise to global expectations of permanent peace on India-Pakistan borders. India is expected to offer several concessions to Pakistan during Musharraf's visit, mostly by way of allowing greater movement of people between the two countries and facilitating expansion of trade ties.

In three days preceding President Musharraf's visit to India, the Indian security forces killed at least ten militants in Kashmir. The people, as well as the Government of India, are generally of the opinion that all militants are being actively aided by the Pakistani government.