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India's de facto ruler, Sonia Gandhi, has warned Pakistan against "taking India's wish for peace as a sign of weakness" (Dec 22). Every country in South Asia knows that India is upto scores of times bigger in size and military strength. They have also learned from experience how the giant neighbour throws its weight around. Thus, even the landlocked Nepal was subjected to an economic blockade and Sri Lanka was so worried in the 80's that it had reportedly asked Britain, China and Pakistan tohelp it in case of an Indian invasion. Pakistan, too, knows this and much more, having lost its eastern wing primarily due to Indian military might/intervention. So, Mrs Gandhi, everybody around here knows India's superficial strength. But, what is real power, do you ever try to understand? True power is what China has been exhibiting in its relations with its South Asian neighbours. When, during the 1962 war with India, it had pushed the Indian army out of the disputed te...