The diplomats New Delhi sends out do not try to understand the local situation, and often is seen by the locals as bulls in a china shop. In the Philippines about 25 years ago, the press ate out of the Indian ambassador's hand. News reports of anything Indian that he or his embassy send out got into the local newspapers. The Philippines government consulted him frequently. All because he studied the Philippines situation before he took his post, made his diplomatic calls according to protocal, when almost every ambassador in the country did not. I had hardly checked into a hotel in Manila when a visitor whom I did not know called me for a cup of coffee. It puzzled me a bit as I had told few outside my contacts in Manila. It turned out the Philippines foreign ministry had told him. This is not what happens today, where an Indian of whatever citizenship visiting the Indian embassy puts him in a bad light.

The same refrain was seen in India in the mid-1960s when the Congress Party underwent a similar transformation. Ten years later, a non-Congress government was formed in New Delhi. On hindsight, Anwar in Umno was its best bet. Umno the political party had two widwives: Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar. When Anwar was expelled, Umno lost its verve and confidence; Mahathir and his merry band since rushing hither and thither to keep Umno from tipping over. Now that he is back in politics, it is the worse.

Let us look at the state of play in South Asia at the turn of the millennium. Washington shifted its support from Islamabad to New Delhi, forcing Pakistan leaders to justify what it was once taken for granted. Afghanistan was firmly in Western hands, the last victory of the Cold War, the Taliban, supported no doubt at Washington's request but which it continued after the war. The rise of the Muslim parties threw Washington's goodwill in Islamabad at risk. The destruction of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001 changed the confrontational world view from the Soviet Union and communism to Islam and Osama bin Laden. But on the basis of what is known, or rather published, it does appear that Dr Khan's activities could not have gone the way it did if it was not approved. The Pakistan armed forces is in control of its nuclear weapons programme. It would not allow a rogue scientist of even national acclaim to do what Dr Khan did. It did not. He was forced to take the blame, but for one who, if the charges against him are true, is guilty of treason is let off with a light slap on his wrist. There is more to it than meets the eye. Dr Khan could not have sold his wares to North Korea without official authority, even if it is for the money it would bring in.

MALAYSIA IS AMIDST AN arrogant self-inflicted trade war with India and China. In a public tit-for-tat, New Delhi has cancelled road building contracts to two Malaysian companies -- a dozen more could follow -- banned Malaysian companies from tendering for Indian projects, and put on hold Malaysian Airline System's request for additional flights and destinations in India. The Indian High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mrs Veena Sikri, recalled to New Delhi for consultations, has returned, with no settlement in sight. India has made it clear, in public statements, that it does not need Malaysian contracts to survive. As a result, Malaysia stands to lose billions of Ringgit. China reacted differently but which puts Kuala Lumpur in a vulnerable tight corner: it quietly refused to accept five shiploads of palm oil that landed in Chinese ports amidst this row on the grounds that it was contaminated.

The ultramodern no-expense-barred National Convention Centre, built to host the 10th OIC, is built as a fortress and a future wasteland. The desire for a Malay capital, compared to the multiracial but largely Chinese Kuala Lumpur, drove the creation of Putrajaya with its wasteful tens of billions of ringgit of buildings. It is built to impress - and delegates on cue were suitabley impressed - but are conferences held so delegates can praise wasteful projects like the NCC and government complex? Putrajaya is a desert surrounded by oases, and could well face the fate of Tuglaqabad, the mid-13th century Islamic capital to rival pre-Moghul Delhi. It is built with no thought to what is would cost to maintain. Petronas, which technically owns Putrajaya, is hard put to find the RM2 billion annually to maintain it. It looks an awesome figure but when the landscaping costs RM150 million - or six new schools - a year, and RM50,000 a day in electricity bills when it is lit up for the occasion, this is not excessive. What rent does the Malaysian government pay? A minimum of about RM10 billion. How much did Malaysia spend on the OIC? In the billions. The NCC was rushed through so the OIC summit could be held there. But I digress.

He interferes in its contruction. He wanted the main boulevard, which is said to be modelled after Champs Elysee but it reminds me more of the Raj Path in New Delhi, ready for this year's Merdeka Parade. Petronas did not flinch from its duty. It did all the man wanted, but did not give it time to settle. The result: the elaborate granite and marble work in the centre of the boulevard, on which tanks and other heavy military equipment thundered through in the marchpast to break up the hastily done handiwork. I was there on the night of 01 September, and was shocked at the waste and damage all along the 4km boulevard. It cannot be repaired, it must be relaid. Whatever the celebrations cost, one must add perhaps RM50 million more so the boulevard is restored to it was before the tanks and heavy weapons was driven through it. Clearly the practical use of the boulevard as a marchpast ground was not considered when it was built and rushed through. If it is going to be here every year, the cost to keep it in shape would multiply.

THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER, DATO SERI Abdullah Ahmad Badawi now admits the Royal Malaysian Police is a law unto its own hands. He had no choice. When the police in Kuala Lumpur's Brickfields district, with immigration officials, went on a rampage and detained, ill-treated and harassed 160 Indian IT professionals, it had repercussions beyond Malaysia's borders. All had valid work permits, most worked for Malaysian companies or companies linked to Malaysia's Silicon Valley, the Multimedia Super Corridor. But they were treated like common criminals, and raised Cain in New Delhi.

The Malaysian Police, as a rule, act highhandedly, and what happens does not surprise Malaysians. What happened in the Palm Court condominium is how they would raid against illegal immigrants. It is a law unto themselves, and few dare question them when they come highhandedly. It is only the home ministry who insists that the police do their work according to the law. But this is cold comfort to those caught for no rhyme or reason. New Delhi, rightly, did not look at it the same way. The Malaysian high commssioner was summoned to the Indian foreign ministry for an explanation. The Malaysian acting prime minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home minister, wants to know what happened. The foreign minister, Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar, said: "The police acted on complaints of people without documents and they were picked up because of that. The police were performing their duties. We will investigate it." But the Indian high commissioner in Malaysia, Mrs Veena Sikri is livid. "This issue has not been handled well. Why were'nt their documents checked at the Palm Court condominium itself?"

One example: President Pervez Musharraf raised the Kashmir issue to demand that it can only be resolved if it is internationalised, as the Palestinian issue, and not bilaterally as India wants. The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, responded in heat, would have none of it. What they spoke or did does not matter or even if, as I believe, New Delhi is right about it, so long as it is an unresolved issue from the partition of British India in 1947 into India and Pakistan. It is not the first time international conferences and bodies had been ambushed by the Kashmir affair, nor the last. And more than ample space in the newspapers of each to bash the other over it. If you read the press of both countries, this was more important than the weightier issues NAM had on its plate.

Bernama news agency announced, in all seriousness and without a hint of irony, the Indian prime minister, Mr Atul Bihari Vajpayee, has awarded the Malaysian works minister, Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu, "one of India's highest awards", the "Bharatiya Samman". Nine other "eminent persons from around the world" received the award at the inaugural annual "Pravasi Bharatiya Divas" (Indian Diaspora Conference) in New Delhi last week. What is the Bharatiya Samman? Bernama explains: "The Bharatiya Samman, or the Indian Award of Honour" is given to people who have contributed immensely to the development of their countries". Other recipients include the Mauritius prime minister, Sir Aneerood Jugnath, former Commonwealth secretary-general, Sir Shridath Ramphal, South African freedom fighter, Prof. Fatima Mir, former Prime Minister of British Columbia, Mr Ujjal Dosanjh. What is the Indian Diaspora Conference? Bernama does not say, only that Dato' Seri Samy Vellu leads a 44-member delegation of senior MIC leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals to it.

Why were Master Card and Visa, and others like American Express and Diners' Club, not asked to provide it so all card issuers could avail of it. If I can buy a book from New Delhi with a Master Card or Visa issued by a local bank, why cannot I use that same card to top up my Touch 'n Go card? Petrol stations can, why not Touch 'n Go? Why should one need several Master Cards and Visa credit cards, so one is never embarrassed or shortchanged over minor purchases? If supermarkets and restaurants had Ms Swinder Grewal as their chief operating officer, it would make bankruptcy lawyers very happy indeed. I called the Touch 'n Go Careline for further information: As with many a consumer infoline, the girl at the counter could not answer more than the basic question on how I could use my Affin, Hong Leong or Bumiputra Commerce credit card and how I could not use any other. As I expected. When I am told how easy it is to use, and pay, for, I wait to see how long it would take to fail. Look at Indah Water Konsortium. Twelve years on, it still has not found way to make me pay for a service I did not sign up for. Touch 'n Go will soon be a synonym for Touch 'n No Go.

The Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed, said in New Delhi on 18 October 2002, Malaysia could be the next target following bombings in Bali and the Philippines. He has reason to worry. And he cannot rein in journalists overseas as he can in Malaysia, and he has to answer questiolns lobbed at him. Malaysia supports the United States in the latter's global war against terror, and Al Qaeda. She targets Malaysian groups whom she accuses of having trained in Afghanistan when it was ruled by the Taliban. He does not mention his government once encouraged to do so. He told a news conference during a lightning visit to the Indian capital that "terrorists respect no borders. They can operate in any country. Even the countries least involved might find themselves targets of terrorist attacks."

New Delhi’s and Islamabad’s view on each, and more, are as far apart as possible. There is no common meeting except that each insists Kashmir is its territory, though both saw the gathering war clouds as a morale booster and diverted attention from more pressing issues each would rather not face.

We know what suicide bombers do. The suicide bombers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, inflicted so horrendous a damage upon the Sri Lankan and Indian body politic that if there is a common enemy in Colombo and New Delhi, it is its leader, V. Pirabakaran. The Indian prime minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, the Sri Lankan security minister, Mr Lalith Athulathmudali, amongst others fell victim. He forced the 20-year civil war into a stalemate that it was Colombo which blinked and wanted peace. The Palestinian suicide bombers cause as much havoc on the Israeli body politic that its prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, reacts, like the Sri Lankan government at the time, with overwhelming military force. Like in Sri Lanka, Israel is forced to reflect upon its policies that however strong its prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, might be in Israel, he is, internationally, an eagle with its wings broken. Its staunchest supporter, the United States, is forced to consider downgrading its backing for it.

The Indian Express, on 09 March 2002, in a report from New Delhi of allegations of corrupt practices against the government-owned Indian Railways Costruction Company (IRCON) also mentioned the Malaysian transport minister, Dato' Seri Ling Liong Sik, misusing his authority by writing to his Indian counterpart, Mr Nitish Kumar, to ask that the IRCON general manager, Mr Arun Prasad, be allowed to stay on in his job after his retirement.

An Indian parliamentary team was in town this week to "explain" to Brunei, Malaysia and Indian, in the wake of the US global on terror, why what happens in Kashmir is no less bloody. The Indian High Commission hosted the session, with the High Commissioner, Mrs Veena Sikri moderating. It was, as always, to point not to the terrorists responsible for the mayhem in Kashmir but to Pakistan, which by implication is now a terrorist state. But the issue of Kashmir is not new. India and Pakistan fought three wars over it, prepare for a fourth, but New Delhi now changes tack, amidst the US global war of terror, to shame Pakistan as a terrorist state because it supports these groups.

What helps it along is the uncomfortable feeling that if the meek empower themselves with Islam in a deliberate alliance around the world, it globalises a conflict that can have devastating consequences. The logic of this is not challenged, but the shock of 11 September also frightened the rulers of what could happen in their bailliwick. This irrationality has its own logic framed in shock and fright. In Kuala Lumpur, in Singapore, in New Delhi, in Ougadougou, as in Washington. The way out, in fear and self-preservation, is to make Islam the enemy. The worst is yet to come.

The US bombing of Afghanistan continues amidst the UN-brokered conference in Bonn on its future; the dawn, we are told, she dared not hope. But it is a false dawn. The west's interest in her began with the Great Game in the 19th century between the British Raj and Czarist Russia which made Afghanistan a buffer. Russia wanted access to a warm water port, which London was at pains to deny; as the US now an oil pipeline through AFghanistan to an Arabian Sea port, which Russia and Iran move heaven and earth to deny. The playground of the Big Powers of the day made Afghanistan what it is, her distaste for foreigners honed, with her reactive rebellions making it more so; her future dictated from distant capitals. Once that was London or New Delhi or Moscow or Athens. Today, it is anywhere but Kabul.

Outlook magazine, New Delhi

The Delhi High Court, in a landmark decision, insisted that the detainee in whose name a habeas corpus petition is invoked must be brought to court for it to be satisfied he is treated as he should be.

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