The author's argument sounds cogent and supported by a few facts and some speculation like all such thories are. But on the downside so was senator Macarthy's arguments in the anti communist frenzy.
In this age of economic advancement, control over territory and land dont hold as much meaning as it did in the age of Tun Zsu. But still control of barren mountain lands means a lot for the security of India's borders. As Piloo Mody famously pointed out to Nehru's logic that not even a blade of grass grew on the disputed lands "Not even a single hair grows on your head ! That doesnt make it worthless !"
Not to detract from the fact that India's foreign policy is floundering in the morass of inactivity and complete lack of vision and all previous congress governments have only made it worse. Supporting Arafat against the Israelis, Nasser against the West during the Suez crisis, Tito against Nato, Prabakaran against Premadasa and so on. Our history is littered with the wrong choices time after time. So to expect the current government to suddenly find enlightenment is a tall order.
