From: "Rahul Mittal" To: Subject: Importance of solving Pak issue Date: Monday, October 22, 2001 11:33 PM I wanted to add one more point to my previous post. In the last paragraph of that post I was talking about how I do not wish to make China the ideal for us to strive towards. I just wanted to add that economically one of the biggest reasons we are "lagging behind" the rest of South East Asia is simply because of our refusal (yes, I said refusal) to resolve the Kashmir issue. Or at least to move beyond it. Btw, I do believe Pakistan is just as equal to blame, but India could have done better. Ask yourselves the following simple questions. Q: Who is the USA's biggest trading partner? A: Canada. Q: Who is China's biggest trading partner? A: Japan. Q: Who is Germany's biggest trading partner? A: France. Q: What do the above pairs of countries have in common? A: They are geographical neighbours. Now, ask yourself: Q: Who is India's closest and largest neighbour? The answer is obvious. It begins with the letter P. I do not consider China a neighbour, rather a nearby country, given the geographical terrain across which we share a tiny portion of our border with China, and due to which all trade with China must occur either via air or sea, not land. Economic growth is easiest when you can sell goods in your own neighborhood, and when you can transport the goods via land. Not when you have to ship goods or parcel them via air. It is obvious that to experience real solid economic growth, we absolutely need to get the Kashmir issue resolved, so that both Pakistan and India can benefit from the fruitful trade that will undoubtedly result afterwards. Do not blame "hegemonic powers" for India's position in the world. India and Pakistan together are the ones to blame for their own downfall in the world economy. Make friends with your closest neighbour and just watch how prosperity magically spreads in the sub-continent. Sincerely, Rahul Mittal.