Public Diplomacy

Public diplomacy has indeed emerged as a potent tool of foreign
policy, especially with the advent of 24x7 media and web 2.0. And
indeed it promises opportunities that probably were hitherto
impossible. Cultivating a positive impression about itself is the only
chance India has to salvage its relations with its estranged western
neighbor. It is well known that the extremists, the military in
Pakistan thrive on the public support they receive by false
anti-India propaganda, eg: the water issue. The south bloc definitely
needs to pull up its socks to clear the air. And once the public is in
India's favor the civilian government will follow suit. The
anti-blasphemy presentations, the failure of the cotton crops
presented ample wasted opportunities that could have been used to
present the people of Pakistan with a friendly neighbor, had openly
vocal support been given by the Indian politicians to the awam of
Pakistan.
Hope that such opportunities are utilized to the maximum in future.