A Bagful of Congratulations To You, Mr. Zardari

Dear Mr Asif Ali Zardari, you are not perceived as an ideal occupant of the Pakistan President’s position. There have been negative remarks about the way you carry yourself in public, sometimes showing very clear signs of lack of dignity and poise, something unbecoming of the Head of the State/Government of a country. In fact, very honestly speaking, some people have already started comparing you with the outgoing US President, for reasons not very pleasant for a national leader.

However, I am deeply touched by a recent remark made by you. You have said if some so called “non state actors” are carrying out any destructive activity against any other country from the soil of Pakistan, then Pakistan cannot wash its hands off merely by saying that those elements are non-state actors. Rather you have appreciated this fact that any destructive activity conducted against any country from the Pakistani soil should come under the purview of Pakistan government’s responsibility, no matter whether those activities have been conducted by “non state actors” or elements patronized by the Pakistan government (or a section of it).

Mr. President, it is really nice of you. Though I have never been a great fan of yours, I cannot help being highly impressed with your candor. You may have made this remark under some pressure, but that does not mean that we Indians should refrain from appreciating it.

It was, after all, a welcome change after constantly watching your foreign minister desperately denying even this basic fact that the actors of Mumbai carnage were from Pakistan, an unpleasant fact that has been established by the media of your own country (Dawn and Geo TV).

You know, for all your draw backs, you seemingly have at least one quality that is very rare among the politicians. You are not that shrewd and cunning.