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It’s just another cricket match. Whoever wins or loses nothing is going change overnight between these two countries. Any relationship with India can only be improved if the cross border terrorism stops. If one can’t stop cross border terrorism then nothing will change.

A book I have been reading, Diagonal Lengths: Rethinking our world, makes the case for a south asian union consisting of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which would run along the lines of the European Union with free movement of people and goods etc. Perhaps next time they go to the match these leaders can take a copy of this book and read it between overs!

Well at times you wonder whether it is to discuss affairs of the country or proceeds from betting.

mr singh is only trying to deviate public & media attention from the corruption scandals his government is currently facing.
well tried mr singh, but you could have something to improve corruption situation rather than merely deviating public attention from it.

Well cricket may act as a trigger., but it can't change your agenda, it can't change your policy.. (Just pressing the trigger of a gun doesn't mean it will surely fire., what to do if there is no bullet in the gun??.)
same thing applies here also., just holding a bilateral talk with your counterpart on the occasion of cricket match won't work, if you don't have any intention to change your stand..
So change your stand,, you will not need any special occasion to meet..
According to me., both the prime ministers are just putting huge extra pressure on the respective teams., let's see who suffers this pressure more..
I wish it's not indian team...


One more astonishing question which is arising in my mind (which although bit off topic but yet i'm posting it here.)
why the BCCI who have earned more than 2.5 billion $ , only from domestic cricket tournament (IPL), has organised a big occasional match like semi final in a so small cricket stadium (28000 capacity)???

I have no doubt the high profile meeting between the two PMs will end up as farce. I hope the cricket match will also not end up a farce. Playing cricket each other every three years or so or for that matter or the politicians talking to each other is becoming if anything a huge Tamaza/joke. I say let the cricketers on both sides of Wagha check post fend for themselves. Can't say the same thing about the politicians though!

If it (so-called "Cricket diplomacy") succeed then we (both India and Pakistan) should kick out our (professional) diplomats and political leaders and give that job to our cricketers or Bollywood stars.
Such invitation to heavy weight politicians, national heads (PM, presidents etc) should not be encouraged, as it put too much pressure on organizers and common spectators while it achieve practically NOTHING, so far political and diplomatic "goals" are concerned.

Probably the next venue for India-Pakistan bilateral talks will be held at PVR Anupam (a movie theater at New Delhi). Indian and Pakistani PMs/president/Army chief will watch "munni badman hui" type item songs and dance while "discuss" one of the most problematic issues in world politics and diplomacy.
Such attempts are nothing but shows gross immaturity and/or dishonesty of our political and diplomatic (so-called) "leaders". Indian politicians like Dr Singh or his boss, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, should have the wisdom, courage and conviction to proceed with proper bilateral talks and/or take appropriate measures to prevent Pakistan to promote Islamic terrorism across J&K (and other states) and interfere in our internal affairs. Our (Indian political leaders') immaturity, inability and probably unwillingness can not be wrapped under the carpet using such naive attempts of "cricket diplomacy".
We ourselves do not know whether to talk to Pakistan "till the perpetrators of 26/11 are brought to justice" or to wait till next 26/11 (before we start such rhetorics all over again). Our PM and super PM, Sonia Gandhi also does not know whether to term such invitations of talks to "bilateral talks" or just an "invitation to discuss mutual affairs"! I do not know whom they are fooling!

Mr Biswas,

You seem to have problems acknowledging that the gunmen in Mumbai attacks were Pakistani nationals . And this, even after Kasab's Pakistani kin have already done so.

This clearly puts neutrality of your reporting and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in doubt. Moreover, it is crystal clear that all India's peace overtures were rejected by Pakistani hostility,
and each time Pakistan was the aggressor, India not even once. Indians never
crossed the line of control into Pakistan , but Pakistan clearly did in Kargil conflict.

Moreover, you make use of the word 'alleged' in every instance where Pakistan's
inflicted violence in India. Makes me wonder if you are ISI payroll... nothing else can explain your biased reporting !!

Appolloman,

Your great novel idea of a proposed 'south-asian union' already exists. It is called SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation) and meets regularly regarding issues such as free trade, security etc across the region.

It is shame that Indian leaders don’t want to understand --- Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! Fool me 3, 4,100 times they still keep playing the peace game with Pakistan. Nothing changed in last 65 years, only outcome is millions of Indian Kashmirs got killed by terrorists and the Hindus in the valley got killed or fled their homes, thousands got killed in the wars waged by Pakistan on India. It is about time for India to break all relations with failed, un- secular, terrorist state of Pakistan, and move on as a modern secular progressive county. India need to aim high, and ignore Pakistan, stop cat and mouse games with small players like them. Cricket is just a game nothing more, who wins or loose doesn’t really matter.

Negotiation and peace making prevails very little in the hands of the politicians and more in the public. A benevolent relationship between the leaders of two different states might calm down political catastrophes to sum extent but it might not implant the same friendliness in the minds of the citizens of the two states. The kind of political scenario prevailing between the states, explicitly puts forward one question-"IS THEIR AN END TO THIS COLD WAR?". The answer to this has got very little to do with the leaders than the people. Cricket being a religion in India, can tranquilize this war of hearts, at the disposal of the cricketers' amiability and on the contrary, can also contribute to the never fading 'STAIN OF BLOOD'.

Even if we separate the Pakistani population from the terrorists who murdered innocent in Mumbai, I certainly don't welcome Pakistani establishment to come to India and watch the game as if NOTHING happened in the history between the two countries. I cannot forget and cannot forgive the Pakistanis who hope for destroying the idea of India. They don't deserve to play in a secular country. And if India doesn't thrash them ( as it has in all other fields), they will go on to play in Mumbai which will be a shame. I don't know how Mumbai will take it.

'ITS A GAME AND NOT A WAR'

As the 2st ICC Cricket World Cup semi final is approaching (30.3.2011) the sentiments of the citizens of both countries are getting higher. Previously we have even seen the cases of suicides and heart-attacks among the spectators.

Apparently cricket is a sports activity and we should not loose the essence of this beautiful game by involving unnecessary emotion to this event. Of course, we have to show support to our favorite team in a decent manner without creating any unpleasant atmosphere.

Now looking at the ground reality, Indian team has an upper edge over Pakistani cricket team for a number of reasons.

a) Indian team has been seasoned though IPL process.

b) Better batting force and ground fielding ability.

c) The advantage of home ground and home crowd.

d) Enjoying 100% support from the aggressive Indian spectators.

On the other hand, Pakistan has been suffering without cricket stars like, Amer, Asif and Salman Butt, due to which they have inconsistent batting line up and a limited choice in the bowling area. Also Pakistani team has a psychological pressure due to life treats that they receive time to time from the Hindu extremists in India .

In conclusion, I feel that India is in a better winning position because it has all the benefits/advantages that a team requires for the victory. Now we need to exercise sportsmanship and watch this important match with the game spirit. I wish good luck to the players of both the teams.

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#14 - sure it's a game, but if thinking of it as a battle makes it more exciting, so why not! It's all entertainment in the end and lets treat it like that! I for one hope it's a royal massacre on the pitch and we proudly march to Mumbai for the final push BOYAH! -- err Indian speaking ))

#2, did the book mention anything about what happened or is happening to these "unions"? And did it mention anything at all on NAFTA (asked since you didn't mention anything about it)?

To recap: the EU is near-ready now to collapse (it was billed once as a revival of the Roman Empire) due to its own unwieldiness. And, btw, the suggested South Asian "union" has long been present--it's known as SAARC--but is as dismal a failure as the UN.

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INDIA beat PAK this is a win OF GOOD against EVIL........
As an INDIAN I do not want WAR with PAK but we have right to DEFEND ourself.
I am waiting when USA pull out of AFGHANISTAN , then TALIBAN and ISI will work together and FIRST target will be INDIA.
I do not understand STRATEGY of USA why LIBIYA? Siple answer OIL. Mugambe ZIMBABWE, CONGO, AFRICA onflict lot of PEOPLE BEEN KILLED but no one BOTHER.
WHAT YOU GIVE TO OTHER IT GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU NATURE RULE.
NEXT 15 Years WILL CHANGE POWER..................FROM WESTERN to ARAB ,
POWER CORRUPTS PEOPLE......
WE ARE GOING ON THE BRINK OF 3 WAR..............

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Today the Indians have won the cricket semi-final. Congratulations!They also have the chance to win hearts of the Pakistani's by making good the promise their late Prime Minister Panditji made for the plebiscite in Kashmir.Mr. ManMohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, is the right person who can do the right thing at a right time.All other problems will be automatically resolved if this burning issue is resolved with a sense of mutual trust, respect and understanding by the two Prime Ministers in Mohalli today.This is my ardent wish and the wish of millions on both sides of the isle.Cricket can bring them together, but negotiations have to be made with generosity-give and take.
The common men/women in both the countries are suffering because of the unfair war mongering and billions spent on armaments. Just think about the dangers posed to the quality of life, education, food, shelters and things of these innocent citizens of both the countries.I hope them to win this game with given spirit of 'sportsmanship'.

Sounds good, looks OK,

But can we not move further.

Can we not expect India neck to neck with US, Russia, China & other European countries in Olympicg medal list.

Can we not expect India in other field of sports like athletics, baseball, rugby, football, swimming, badminton etc.

CRICKET the only sports in India and we feel proud!!!!! (what a fun...) in a field of sports where only eight countries play this (not even their primary sports events at all).

CRICKET! India beat Pakistan..... wao......is nothing but a very usefull instrument to divert the interest of common people of both countries.

The easiest way to avoid the answers of the following questions to our most destitute common people of India by our leaders:

1. 70% of of our people earns less than Rs. 100 in a day, Why????

2. More than 70% of our children suffers mal-nutrition. Why????

3. Why a common man cant get justice even after his/her death.

4. Why people are exploited every day in the name of religion, cast, money & power.

5. Why India's rank in Human Index Value by UN is 183???? (even worser than sub Saharan countries)

6. Why common people have to work more than 11 hours a day? What's the rule for over time? What's the employment law about this?

7. Why a common people to be harrasses by police while reporting any incidence in a police station??

8. Why common people's shoes become tainted in order to get any certificates or letters from the so called government babus??

9. Why a nation treat us like a animals instead of human being.

10. How the allocated money spends for the benifit of common people?? Where the moneys gone??

11. Why social leader become a gurdian to decide the fate of young self choced couples (honour killing).

12. Why thousands of girls are killed before or soon after their birth?

13. In an independent country, why people feel not free at night??

14. Can we ask or sue our beurocrats, ministers, MPs, MLAs about their expenses????

15. Can we ask the Govt. about the names of black money holders (even our Supreme court failed)

16. whats the outcome or status of investigatios or recommmendations of committees (a plenty of such committees are set up since independence) regarding any financial or parliamenterian scam or scandals

A numer of such many questions there are my friend.

We need to grow up, need to broaden our views/mentalities.

Otherwise we will remain a small fish in a stagnant pond not in a deep ocean.