Pakistan army chief General Kayani suggested the other day that Siachen, the infamous world’s highest warfront of inhabitable terrain, shall be vacated by both India and Pakistan, a step towards establishing peace between these two archrivals. In any established democracy, the army chief would have been by now fired upon making comments on foreign policy matters; however, everyone accepts who in Pakistan really pulls the strings on such issues.
Indian defence ministry (not the Indian army chief as this is not his area to comment upon!) has welcomed General Kayani’s statement. Therefore, Kayani’s views shall be greeted as it’s from a person who previously took pride as being ‘India-centric’. One would presume that such a thinking represents a real shift in army’ stand vis-à-vis different issues with India.
The time has come for both countries to stop taking the hawkish line that war or threat of war is the only way forward to keep the other on its toes.
There is no military solution to any of the land disputes whether it’s Kashmir, Sir Creek or Siachen. Pakistan can never win Kashmir by military means; India can also never win hearts and minds of its Kashmiri population at gun point.
Diplomacy is only way forward to resolve the issues. The sooner this fact is realised by both countries the better. Funds allocated for keeping the world’s 3rd and 7th largest armies in fighting gears shall be diverted towards education, health care and poverty alleviation.
One would only wish no one in Pakistan would be studying how to respond to India’s launching of April 19 inter-continental ballistic missile; we shall not be starting a new arms race in South Asia.
Millions of people who are living below the poverty line have no access to clean water, health care, whose children are working as wage labourers instead of joining schools don’t take pride in continental or inter-continental missiles. One day this wish may come true, perhaps!
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia