Vajpayee earns goodwill from courtesy call

new delhi: "good morning, mr president," prime minister atal behari vajpayee began when he talked to pervez musharraf over the phone on wednesday morning. but musharraf was not quite ``mr president'' when the conversation took place: his swearing-in was hours away. musharraf was then just the chief executive, but the news about the swearing-in later in the day was already out.and just in case, nobody at the external affairs ministry watched television, the indian mission in islamabad had conveyed it to delhi.when vajpayee rang up musharraf at 10.45 a.m. to thank him for his get-well-soon message ahead of the knee-surgery, the conversation went something like this:vajpayee: ``good morning, mr president.''musharraf: ``good morning, i am not yet president.''vajpayee: ``well, i am congratulating you in anticipation.''does this amount to india ``recognising'' musharraf's elevation as president and congratulating him on that?a foreign office spokesperson wouldn't say that categorically.the ``good morning, mr president'' a good five hours before the oath-taking ceremony was in a lighter vein, she suggested. vajpayee's call was not meant to extend congratulations -- india has still not sent a formal note -- but to thank musharraf.and it should also not be read in the context of india ``recognising'' musharraf's elevation, she said answering a query.these were awkward questions for india at this stage. the commonwealth, of which delhi is a member, has reacted strongly to musharraf promoting himself and said it was a step in the wrong direction. when musharraf came to power in a military coup, india condemned the move.but at a time when preparations are on to receive the general in india, delhi does not want to spoil the atmospherics.so the foreign office spokesperson would not directly comment on development in islamabad or the commonwealth reaction. the ministry, however, is standing by its earlier remark: when musharraf come to delhi, he comes as president. and he gets the welcome which protocol dictates for a head of state.india is, however, not dissociating itself from the concern expressed by the commonwealth over musharraf acquiring a new designation. pressed for a reply, the spokesperson said: ``i am not saying that we are not supporting that concern.''with this predicament in mind, vajpayee might have done the smart thing by congratulating musharraf ``in anticipation.'' it saves delhi the awkwardness involved in sending a formal congratulatory message. but it still makes the general feel good.