THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 24 September 2018 (Bungling diplomacy)

Bungling diplomacy

Mains Paper: 2 | International Relation
Prelims level: Not so important
Mains level: India and its neighborhood relations

Context :

In 48 hours, what was a promising start ended in abject failure.
In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Khan had suggested the bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York as a first step to build on the “mutual desire for peace between our two countries”.
Pakistan had issued postage stamps honouring Hizbul Mujahideen’s Burhan Wani and Kashmir pellet victims in July this year; the mutilated body of the Border Security Force jawan was found on September 19.
The abduction and killing of three policemen in Jammu & Kashmir on September 21 was of a pattern with similar incidents earlier.
Presenting this as a new disclosure, and a reason for not engaging with him, is pointless and self-defeating.
When Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister, it was fashionable to ask what the point was of talking.
Still, adults on both sides know that talk the two sides must, and they will need to, if not now, at some point, irrespective of who is in office on this side or that.
Given this, it is best that both India and Pakistan now take a step back, and desist from statement-mongering that makes it more and more difficult.

UPSC Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding the Financial Intelligence Unit of India:
1. It is an attached office set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. It was set to provide quality financial intelligence to protect against abuses of money laundering, terrorism financing and other economic offences.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B