After the invitation to Gen Pervez Musharraf, this columnist flayed the government forsomersaulting. He did write, however, that "the PM might have a card up hissleeve".
It's possible that Vajpayee received some private assurance that emboldened him.Zhu Rongji and Li Changchun were not the only foreign leaders visiting India and Pakistansimultaneously. It now transpires that last month, while Richard Armitage visited NewDelhi, cia chief George Tenet was in Islamabad. American assurances, if received, would becomforting. But can the US make its assurances stick? Events show that whenever Vajpayeehas taken a step to stabilise South Asia, a setback occurs to upset plans. AfterVajpayee's Lahore visit, Kargil erupted. After Vajpayee in Teheran committed India tofight international terrorism, the Bangladesh border crisis erupted. After Musharrafaccepted Vajpayee's invitation for unconditional talks, the Nepal palace crisis haserupted.
The Nepal palace shootout is shrouded in mystery. According to the first version,Prince Dipendra, angered by a dispute over marriage, shot family members. He thenattempted suicide. An official version later claimed that the shooting was accidental.Deliberate or accidental, the alleged killer, incapacitated by an alleged suicide attempt,reportedly had a bullet in his back. Coincidentally, the royal survivors in the shootingincluded new King Gyanendra's wife and son.
Foreign dignitaries were kept away. The funeral ceremonies were expedited.Understandably, allegations of a conspiracy spread like wildfire across Nepal. The crisiscould escalate to unimagined heights.
The late King Birendra's relations with Prince Gyanendra were not warm. In the'70s, Gyanendra was housed in the palace servant quarters when in Kathmandu.Gyanendra had close links with the Chinese embassy. Ironically, those days he evenpatronised the Maoists.
The Maoists have been active in Nepal for over half a century. Nepal has no dominantethnic group. There are many disparate groups. Royalty kept them united. Now royalty hasall but disappeared.
Will the Maoists succeed in filling the vacuum? They have already started talking aboutan external hand in the conspiracy. Pakistan's Jang newspaper has pointed an accusingfinger at raw. Indian newspapers have been burnt in Nepal streets. Even baseless rumourscan be utilised to ignite anti-Indian hysteria in Nepal. Hrithik Roshan will confirm that.
Before discussing Kashmir, Vajpayee and Musharraf must deal with the unfolding drama inKathmandu. Will they converge or confront over Nepal?
Let's whistle in the dark,
As we walk down the park—
If only we could see
What's behind each tree!
