Mr Arif Nizami in his latest article has highlighted the role of players involved in unofficial dialogues with India. Track II is basically a technique that intellectuals, retired officers, media people use to discuss bilateral issues confronting the two countries, India and Pakistan. The writer has in a way accepted that nothing concrete has happened towards solving the core issues. But let us not undermine their achievements, when the governments were not at good terms, Track II was in operation and they were having frank discussions on the burning issues in non-official capacity in their respective countries.
I disagree with the writer when he says that back channel diplomacy and official talks should be pursued vigorously. We have been doing this for the last 64 years without moving an inch forward. Gen Musharraf wanted to become hero to have resolved the Kashmir issue but his dreams were shattered when he came back empty handed.
India will never show any flexibility on the issues that are under dispute .We are again being trapped in the name of free visa, trade and transit facility to India to transport goods to Afghanistan. India will continue blame game that has been their cardinal principle when dealing with Pakistan. Simla Agreement clearly states that “in Jammu and Kashmir the line of control, resulting from ceasefire line of 17 Dec 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to be the recognised position of either side.” Has India accepted the recognised position? Is recognised position the position that India or Pakistan takes on the issue?
It is true that Pakistan is infested with terrorist groups and Pakistan army is all out to wipe them out. But as a nation we have some responsibility to share, not the way PML (N) is displaying. Any one who advised them the present rally against a democratic government was an enemy of the party and the country. We should not please businessman to make more money with India on enhanced trade or grant MFN status as it is detrimental to our national interest.
It is incorrect to suggest that India shall dump their goods in Pakistan. No, sir. They have only one agenda: to further destabilise Pakistan and have free access in Pakistan to infiltrate RAW agents suiting to their convenience. The US is flooded with Chinese goods and so is the case with Pakistan.
This has destroyed our domestic industry because Pakistan cannot compete with the prices. Believably true Pakistani businessmen are making a lot of money through Chinese goods.
The addition of Indian goods will have no effect prices as the Chinese are already offering the lowest prices possible.
There is no harm in continuing Track II. After all, the government is also doing the same thing. War is no solution to the problems. The negotiations, however, must be meaningful and purposeful, enabling both the nations to find out solutions of contentions issues. In the next round of talks on Track II, we must point out to India to stop atrocities in Indian Held Kashmir and widespread human rights violations at the hands of the Indian army, and highlight the issue of water as India is using it as a weapon to coerce her neighbours, especially Pakistan.
This must be emphasised to India that until and unless the core issue is resolved, peace in the region will be a distant dream.
MUKHTAR AHMED
Karachi