‘It is not unusual to see meddlers claiming innocence when challenged or when they realise they have messed up. There is a difference between mediation and meddling, as illustrated below:
If two quarrelling parties ask for help from a ‘neutral’ third party and that third party agrees to help ‘both’ of them, without any bias or prejudice – with a sole aim to effect reconciliation, settlement, or compromise between the two parties in question – it is a case of mediation.
However, if one party gets a third party involved, without the consent of the second party – with a sole aim of gaining support from that third party – and that third party involves itself in the matter but without first seeking the consent from the second party – it will be termed as a case of meddling.
As an analogy, the following provides a classic example of meddling:
India points its fingers towards Pakistan and accuses it of arming and abetting the militancy in Kashmir. Pakistan claims innocence and says the Kashmir struggle is indigenous. Pakistan agrees it only provides moral support to Kashmiris in their struggle against India.
India claims Pakistan, amongst other thing, provides arms and arms training; cash and other necessary logistical support; and a fire cover to the militants when they cross from the Pakistani territory into the Indian territory.
The world knows Pakistan champions the cause of Kashmiris around the world – at the UN, and with the OPEC and Islamic countries – with a sole aim to put political pressure on India. The world has to independently decide the veracity of the truth and judge who is lying and who is telling the truth, and who is the victim and who is the aggressor.
Just because a party claims to be the victim does not readily make the other party an aggressor. The accusations must be verified independently by the judges before any conclusions are drawn.
As per Merriam Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meddle), the definition of meddling is: ‘to interest oneself in what is not one’s concern: interfere without right or propriety …’
As per Law Dictionary on Merriam Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mediator), the definition of mediation is: ‘one that works to effect reconciliation, settlement, or compromise between parties at variance….’ … Bill K Koul
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