NEW DELHI : The intense diplomatic face-off between India and Pakistan over NSA level talks may have ended in a deadlock, leaving both sides disappointed, but it certainly proved to be a moral booster for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who, till recently was battling with a raging controversy surrounding travel document saga of former IPL boss Lalit Modi.
The deft handling of the NSA talks row by Ms Swaraj has earned admiration for her from not only within the party but also from the strategic community as well, who gave her full marks for making Islamabad blink first and forcing Pakistan to take discredit of calling of the talks.
It was Ms Swaraj’s press conference later in the evening yesterday, barely 18 hours before the scheduled talks that made all the difference and turned the table on Pakistan’s face.
The tug of war between the two sides ended in Islamabad’s diplomatic surrender, which was hell bent to make the spectacle of the talks between Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Surtaj Aziz by calling Kashmiri separatists for a meeting and inviting them for dinner also, which was to be hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Abul Basit for Mr Aziz.
As the South Block was formulating its strategy to counter moves being played by Pakistanis, Ms Swaraj was calling the shots, with Mr Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishanker providing her the valuable inputs, sources in the ruling NDA said. (AGENCIES)
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