New Delhi, September 8 (IANS). Dates can be ordinary as well as extraordinary. One of these dates is September 8, 2000, when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while giving a speech in English from the platform of the United Nations, lashed out at Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.
Actually, Netflix’s web series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ was accused of misrepresenting facts. When the controversy over the names of terrorists in the series increased, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reprimanded it. After this, the real names of the terrorists were added to the series along with a disclaimer.
This series is mentioned because, after the ‘Kandahar hijack’, India changed its approach towards Pakistan and started highlighting Pak sponsored terrorism on all international platforms. Vajpayee ji also moved ahead with the same.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India at the time of the Kandahar hijacking on 24 December 1999. After this incident, Atal Bihari Vajpayee reprimanded Pakistan from various platforms. The truth about Pakistan and ISI was put before the world and later it was also reflected in India’s foreign policy.
Vajpayee ji had said, “You can change friends, but not neighbors.” Along with this, he also took a tough stand on Pak sponsored terrorism. The Indian public was also very angry with Pakistan due to the Kargil war of 1999. This was the reason that when Vajpayee ji roared from the stage, the world kept listening peacefully.
In the year 2000, Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the ‘United Nations Millennium Summit’. While addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Vajpayee ji gave many special advices to Pakistan and the whole world. He gave information about terrorism, the danger of nuclear war and India’s nuclear program.
Vajpayee ji had said, “Our efforts to establish normal relations with Pakistan are not a symbol of our weakness, rather all these efforts are an indication of our commitment to peace.”
He had said, “India’s policy is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. But, for India, nothing is more important than national interest. India is a peace-loving nation. But, it is also alert to the safety of itself and its citizens. It is necessary to end terrorism because, not only India, you (other nations) can also be a victim.”
Apart from exposing the truth about Pakistan, Vajpayee ji also continued his peace efforts with it. He also undertook the ‘Lahore Bus Yatra’. Vajpayee ji once again addressed the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2001.
During this session too, he had talked about the policy of some countries to sponsor terrorism. This session was held after the 9/11 terrorist attack on America. At the same time, Vajpayee ji’s view on terrorism was proved right in front of the whole world.
–IANS
ABM/
