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Special Feature
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B&E
75 ARCHITECTS OF THE INDIAN CENTURY
B&E
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 BILAWAL ZARDARI
One without equal, is he?
December 27, 2007, an unfortunate and unexpected event devastated this man assassinating his mother and marking the beginning of his era in politics. Just 19 and he was loaded with responsibilities on his naďve shoulders with every shocked Pakistani eye asking several questions about him – is he ready to take the position of the Chairperson of his family legacy – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)? Will he be able to erase the blunders committed by his parent? Well these and more, even the wisest of men won’t be able to answer right now and the result of this acid test for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari only time can tell.
Bilawal remains not a complete stranger but quite out of touch from the so-called “dirty game of politics” in his country, staying mostly abroad. Under the guidance of his father, Asif Ali Bhutto, co-chairman, PPP, he definitely seems to be learning the tricks of the trade. But with liberal political views and democracy as his ambition, he is definitely a new hope in India-Pakistan relations.
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 PHILIP D. ZELIKOW
Deal-maker
Philip D. Zelikow served as Counsellor of the US Department of State from 2005 to early 2007, serving as a senior policy advisor on a wide range of issues to the Secretary of State. During 2003 to 2005, he also served as an Executive Director of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, otherwise known as the 9/11 Commission. A former trial and appellate attorney in Houston, Dr. Zelikow served as a career foreign service officer overseas and worked closely with Asian groups to start a new phase of relation between Asia and the United States, post USSR disintegration. An ardent supporter of rapprochement, Zelikow was instrumental in formulating the Republican policy towards Asia in general & India in
particular. If Robert Blackwill was managing affairs related to Indo-US nuclear deal in India, Zelikow was meticulously clearing one hurdle after another in Capitol Hill.
Zelikow was most vocal in criticising opposition of the deal when Left Parties and BJP threatened to put the country on standstill. He has famously said, “If they back out, they are looking a gift horse in the mouth.” He also criticised BJP’s stand that by facilitating the deal, US was actually trying to influence India’s foreign policy. “There has never been a hidden agenda to try & control India’s foreign policy. Any problems with this deal are domestic and political posturing for a future election. Maybe this is something that India’s democracy and civil society has to work through,” he had pleaded at that time. This seasoned trouble shooter is now working closely with Indian lobby to finally instrumentalise the deal. In the coming years, he is expected to take over Blackwill’s role as India’s most vocal supporter in the US.
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