Where Is The Real Shashi Tharoor?

Dear Mr. Shashi Tharoor,

I have always been an admirer of your work. It began from reading Riot – an exceptionally well narrated story, followed by a few interactions at the United Nations. I remember telling my son several times, “now, here is a South Asian who should be your role model.”

I was impressed with your professional demeanor, intellectual curiosity and principled negotiating skills. I admired how skillfully you always introduced Gen. Pervez Musharraf whenever he came to address the United Nations Correspondent Association.

And, on a very personal level – I was very impressed when you helped a fellow Pakistani journalist find employment when he was facing hardship in New York.

When you entered the race for the United Nations Secretary Generals office, I was among several other Pakistanis who wanted you to succeed. I was actually optimistic when you took the important position of External Ministry of India. I thought, here is a real cosmopolitan man. He has lived in London and New York, he has worked for the UN for such a long time, and he will be beyond legacy politics. Boy was I wrong!

You lost me, Sir, when you rejected Pakistan’s request for the resumption of dialogue and said no progress can be made until Pakistan brings the alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice and dismantle ‘terror infrastructure’ on its soil.

I am disappointed because I know you can negotiate better. Remember Mr. Tharoor that South Asian issues can only be settled when the goal is a win-win for both India and Pakistan. Statements of most Indian politicians have focused on a single issue position – all mutual interests have been shelved to the back burner.

I feel Pakistan has been anxiously trying to resume dialogue – inventing options for mutual gain but India has not moved an inch. You maybe thinking that you are looking for an objective criterion – and your domestic compulsions push you to demand arrests of alleged Mumbai attackers. I can understand that.

But, from Pakistan’s vantage point you stick your heels deeper in the proverbial ‘sand.’ May I suggest that you engage Pakistan’s democratically elected leadership in principled negotiations; forget for a moment the adversarial history and modify your goal to reach an outcome efficiently and amicably?

May I suggest Sir that you try to put yourself in the shoes of your Pakistani counterpart. May I suggest that instead of negotiating through the media just pick the phone and call someone in Pakistan. Pakistani politicians have more in common with you than it appears. Why don’t you look for the similarities instead of highlighting your difference?

You are a bright man – please think of how you can solve a problem and the people on the other side of border as your partners eager to help you find a solution.

I am sure you would agree that it is in our interest that both India and Pakistan come out feeling they have a fair agreement from which both sides can benefit.

I am sure if there is a will Pakistani and Indian leaders can together find a solution that satisfies our collective interests.

When Prime Minister Gillani ordered the release of 100 Indian fishermen, he was actually inventing options. He was opening up and sending very clear message that Pakistan wants peace. I wish India had jumped all over it and appreciated it wholeheartedly. I would urge you to broaden the options on the table and stop looking for a single answer.

Both, India and Pakistan can be worse off and both sides can gain. It is not about who wins. We either win together or we loose together. What is your alternative to a negotiated settlement? You can’t go to war with Pakistan; and you shouldn’t simply let the terrorists win.

Though there is still much to discover about the perpetrators of the Mumbai massacre, there is no doubt that the purpose of this abominable act was to disrupt the peace process between India and Pakistan, an hence, the IPI Pipeline negotiations. To that end, they have been successful; and India has helped them ensure success.

It is India’s responsibility to pro-actively support Pakistan’s democratic structure. It is your responsibility to wage peace.

Statements that suggest India’s unwillingness to engage with Pakistan’s democratically elected government is counter productive. I was very disappointed when Indian Prime Minister Singh told Fareed Zakaria recently: “I don’t know whether we have a partner right now. I think when General Musharraf was there, I used to ask him. And he said, “Well, I am the army. I represent the armed forces. I represent the people.”

This style of thinking can never yield positive result.

Mr. Shashi Tharoor, here is your chance to win Noble Peace Prize. Roll up your sleeves and prepare your acceptance speech for Oslo.

You have a chance of a lifetime to put the dialogue back on track. I trust you are capable of turning India’s position on resumption of composite dialogue. Sooner the better!

Let me leave you with an advise from Fisher and Ury’s , Getting to YES: “the first thing you are trying to win is a better way to negotiate – a way that avoids your having to choose between the satisfactions of getting what you deserve and of being decent. You can have both.”