According to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), two countries with a GDP (PPP) per capita of only $2800 – 3700 are the world top arms importers? India ranks first while Pakistan is on the third position. India purchased 10 percent of the world’ arms sale while Pakistan’s purchases stand at 5 percent.
Is there anything to be proud of – when 50 percent of Indian homes are without toilet facilities, when millions of children are just discounted as child labour, where millions of children are without basic education and healthcare, millions are without safe water to drink. But both countries are proud of showing off their nuclear arsenals and their delivery gadgets. Both are proud to be at war for the last six decades for this reason or that reason; they feel proud about fighting a proxy war on the world’s highest front, the Siachen glacier. But both governments and their respective militaries don’t see beyond their nose.
When will be the day when these both countries will spend their resources and income not to arm themselves for destroying each other but to provide health care and education to millions of people in their backyard, eradicate poverty, provide access to clean water and at least a shelter for the homeless. But who cares – we need Kashmir, we will interfere in Balochistan, in turn we will send terrorists, we will help your separatists – life goes on. Provided government, military and terrorists in both counties are happy with the arrangement, then who cares.
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia