The occasion, about 30 years ago, was a book release by a foreign secretary who had retired around the same time as this Punjabi defence secretary. Responding to this argument, the former foreign secretary, a Malayali, quoted Urdu poet Ghalib from the book being released: "Nuktacheen hai gham-e-dil usko sunaey na baney / Kya baney baat jahan baat banaye na baney." (The cogitations of my heart are so complex and convoluted; how can I explain them to my protagonist? How can I create a harmonious relationship when the impulses and motivations for it are not there?)
P V Narasimha Rao, then the prime minister, appeared to give the defence secretary's rationale an honest try. He picked R L Bhatia, minister of state for external affairs and an Amritsari, to break the ice with Pakistan and sent him on a visit to Islamabad. It came after a long hiatus in bilateral talks following the demolition of Babri Masjid. In the end, Bhatia's Islamabad visit amounted to nothing.
Bhatia told the Rajya Sabha subsequently that Pakistan was given another chance to engage India. That was when the foreign secretary went to Islamabad to take part in a meeting of the Commonwealth's senior officials in November 1994. "We had conveyed in advance to Pakistan through diplomatic channels that the foreign secretary would be available for any discussions, formally or informally, on bilateral issues. Pakistan, however, did not avail itself of the opportunity to resume the bilateral dialogue," Bhatia said.
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Through the darkest rooms
Sunitha Krishnan's recently-launched book IAm What IAm is a fierce narrative capturing the horrid sex crimes against women and children
Jaiswal - the cherry on top
Yashasvi's rise is contrary to Indian cricket's history, especially in the longest format
Anxiety in NSFs as Min calls for meeting
A day before a meeting between recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the sports ministry to discuss the nuances of the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024, there is anxiety among the federations. The letter addressed to president/secretary of recognised NSFs, dated October 15, called for a \"stakeholders consultation\" at the National Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
Spain enter quarters
ALVARO Morata scored about 10 minutes after missing a penalty kick as Spain comfortably defeated Serbia 3-0 to secure a spot in the quarterfinals after their third consecutive victory in the Nations League.
Steph's West Indies that dared to ask 'why not?'
THERE is a nice little cafe at the entrance of the ICC Academy in Dubai, which is a walking distance from the global cricketing body's headquarters. It was the most usual place to spot international cricketers going in and out of the designated training facility for the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Chloe and South Africa in pursuit of a date with destiny
CHLOE Tryon was over the moon. After all, she had taken a stunner to dismiss Australian captain Meg Lanning at the packed Newlands Stadium in the 2023 T20 World Cup final. With a shortish ball from Marizanne Kapp on offer, Lanning had almost nailed a pull shot before Tryon sprinted from deep backward square leg to complete the catch. Such was the occasion that she roared her heart out facing the crowd who had turned the stadium into a South African party.
ISSF WC Final: Akhil clinches bronze
AKHIL Sheoran came to the fore to help India win a second medal in the ongoing ISSF World Cup Final here on Wednesday.
FPIs to get trade proceeds on settlement day; to save ₹2K cr yearly
IN a major move towards ease of doing business and treating overseas investors on par with their domestic peers, capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has mandated clearing corporations to ensure that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) get the proceeds from equity or debt sale on settlement day itself.
TRAI refuses to issue consultation paper for spectrum allocation
THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday refused to issue a new consultation paper for spectrum allocation to satellite communication players.
No decision at GoM meet on compensation cess
THE Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST compensation cess, led by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, on Wednesday held discussions regarding potential merger of compensation cess into the goods and services tax (GST). There was no decision yet, as confirmed by Chaudhary. Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said GoM would meet again in the second week of November.
