Monday, February 22, 1999
The symbol of Pakistan
[SIZE=-1] Pamela Philipose[/SIZE]
Shaken by the disturbances created by the Jamaat-e-Islami in Lahore on Saturday, the Pakistani authorities decided not to take any chances and preferred to transport Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee by helicopter on Sunday morning to the monument that most symbolises post-Partition Pakistan -- Minar-e-Pakistan. He is staying at the Governor's House, barely three kilometres away by road!
As the green-and-white flags, bearing the crescent and star, that ring the monument, fluttered in the late-winter breeze, Vajpayee, accompanied by his adopted daughter and granddaughter, went around the monument and read the legend on it bearing the Lahore Resolution, that decreed the Muslim League's commitment to the state of Pakistan.
The minar marks the place where the All India Muslim League took the historic resolution for the creation of a country for Muslims in the subcontinent on March 23, 1940. Among other things it states: ``This session of the Muslim League emphatically reiterates that the scheme of federationembodied in the Government of India Act, 1935, is totally unsuitable, and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to Muslim India.''
Writing in the visitor's book at the monument, Vajpayee reiterated the ``deep desire for lasting peace and friendship'' that the people of India bear. ``A stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan is in India's interest. Let no one in Pakistan be in doubt. India sincerely wishes Pakistan well.''
The visit to this monument has proved somewhat controversial as Vajpayee himself revealed in the evening while addressing a civic reception thrown in his honour by the mayor of Lahore, Khwaja Ihsan Ahmed. Some advised him against going to the minar because it would amount to putting a seal of approval on Pakistan's existence. "As if Pakistan exists because of my seal of approval," said Vajapayee.
The Minar-e-Pakistan, set like a needle wrought out of white marble in the heart of Lahore, stands 196 ft tall, and is very close to some ofLahore's most ancient heritage sites, like the Lahore Fort, the Dera Sahib Gurudwara and the Shahi Masjid. It was built by Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Begun in 1960, it took eight years to build.
Later in a brief chat with journalists, Vajpayee termed the first ever bus service between the two countries that he inaugurated as ``a good beginning, Lahore bus yatra jari rahegi (the bus service will continue)''. When asked about his reaction to the demonstration against his visit by the hardline Jamat-e-Islami, Vajpayee quipped in his inimitable style ``kuch to hona tha, kuch hua'' (something was bound to happen, it happened).
Dinner diplomacy
Diplomacy through the dining table is today an important and intrinsic part of any negotiations. The banquet that Pakistan Prime Minister hosted for the visiting Indian premier had flavours from both traditional Punjab and Kashmir.
Besides the mandatory soup, there was siri pai, makai ki roti, saag, karhi chawal, chicken karahi. No proper banquet in theseparts can be complete without various kababs, including the succulent seekh kabab. Among the deserts, were gajjar halwa -- which is a constant on the menu on the Indian side of the border as well -- and petha ka halwa.
It was duly noted in the Pakistani press, that the Indian delegation seemed to prefer vegetarian dishes.
Copyright 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.