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Direction (96-100): Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
AtalBihari Vajpayee's Pakistan policy was an open book.
He wanted improved relations with Pakistan without sacrificing India's interest. He wanted the people of the two countries to live in amity and friendship as good neighbours. Vajpayee had been pragmatic in respect of his Pakistan policy. He visited Pakistan as foreign minister in February 1978. He said amidst laughter, "I am trying to forget my past and I urge you to do the same.” Earlier, immediately after taking over as foreign minister in March 1977, he assured the Pakistan Ambassador that there was not going to be any change in policy towards Pakistan as the existing foreign policy "was based on more or less national consensus”. This reflected both pragmatism and statesmanship.
It can be considered as a master stroke for both the then Prime Minister, P.V. NarasimhaRao, and the then Leader of the Opposition, Vajpayee, when in the 1990s the former persuaded the latter to lead the Indian delegation to the UN Human Right Commission meeting in Geneva, which was then discussing issues related to India and Pakistan.
By this single act alone, they both showed to Pakistan and the rest of the international community that India spoke in one voice on its relations with Pakistan. It resulted in a profound victory for India. It was satisfying as the High Commissioner to Pakistan to watch this development.
AtalBihari Vajpayee's Pakistan policy was an open book.
He wanted improved relations with Pakistan without sacrificing India's interest. He wanted the people of the two countries to live in amity and friendship as good neighbours. Vajpayee had been pragmatic in respect of his Pakistan policy. He visited Pakistan as foreign minister in February 1978. He said amidst laughter, "I am trying to forget my past and I urge you to do the same.” Earlier, immediately after taking over as foreign minister in March 1977, he assured the Pakistan Ambassador that there was not going to be any change in policy towards Pakistan as the existing foreign policy "was based on more or less national consensus”. This reflected both pragmatism and statesmanship.
It can be considered as a master stroke for both the then Prime Minister, P.V. NarasimhaRao, and the then Leader of the Opposition, Vajpayee, when in the 1990s the former persuaded the latter to lead the Indian delegation to the UN Human Right Commission meeting in Geneva, which was then discussing issues related to India and Pakistan.
By this single act alone, they both showed to Pakistan and the rest of the international community that India spoke in one voice on its relations with Pakistan. It resulted in a profound victory for India. It was satisfying as the High Commissioner to Pakistan to watch this development.
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