If the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India claim to have ushered in the new era by meeting in New Delhi later last month, the analysts in Pakistan saw it as New Delhi’s “political offensive” because nothing concrete could come out except for the rhetoric. On Jammu and Kashmir the two of them “agreed to the need for continued discussions in a purposeful and forward-looking manner, with a view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing divergences and building convergences”.
Of the ten issues that according to the joint statement came under discussion in their talks, Kashmir is the ninth, with counterterrorism at the top, followed by narcotics control and myriad of other issues, which more or less tend to uphold the status quo. The so-called CBMs, with a view to increasing cross-border travel and trade are not much when juxtaposed with the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination. India’s inflexibility was amply reflected from its reaction to Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s meeting with the Hurriyat leaders ‘ahead of her meeting with Foreign Minister Krishna’.
Was India really interested in productive talks with Pakistan’s new foreign minister, it could have taken some steps – like reducing its military presence in the occupied territory, repeal of draconian laws, release of political prisoners, and punishing forces involved in kidnappings, murders and rapes. But none of it, not even as a symbolic token happened. What is possible in the present is not being done. For instance, there could be an announcement on the Siachen issue, but the Indian military is said to be standing in the way, forcing a stalemate on the problem. The joint statement amply suggests that India is interested only in projecting itself as a peace-loving neighbour of Pakistan.
A recent statement by Indian Prime Minister in which he said that his biggest desire was to bring normalcy in Pakistan-India relations seemed to be a political jab. On ground India has opened up five fronts against Pakistan – military, economic, social and political, and media. Huge modernization program of its armed forces, the nuclear build-up under the patronage of world powers, involvement in Afghanistan and in stoking the Baloch insurgency, a slow and calibrated move in the field of agriculture, and above all the water theft from Pakistani rivers is going on unabated.
The movie magic of India is transforming Pakistani society into a dumb audience and takers of raw concept without any cultural gatekeepers. On the political front India is completely in control of everything political, taking full advantage of USA’s war on terror and tightening the noose around Pakistan. Indian media’s Pakistan-bashing is probably the best sports after cricket.
India must be mindful that the delay in solving the issues is removing the element of flexibility and reconciliation from any future negotiating efforts. The ever increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan has further complicated the issue. It seems that the region will remain in the Arc of Instability for decades to come. It is only mutual realization of the concept of sharing and caring which can bring a positive change, otherwise the region will remain a museum of history for the rest of the world to see and prejudge different ages of human evolution from Stone Age to Space Age.
F Z KHAN
Islamabad
India is only commited to promoting itself as a peace loving nedighbour this is true for Pakistan who one one hands talks of peace and the next is the only country in the world to support terrorism. These are the facts of India and Pakistan 4 wars India has never attacked first 1948 Kashmir king has not signed an accession treaty and then Pak army attacks he signs the accession treaty to India so whose fault was it. 1965 the Pak army thought India is nothing and advances on the western Kashmir front India repels that attack and advances on Rajashtan front reaching close to Lahore then the Tashkent treaty where will give back the land we had gained 1971 we hold 45000 Pak Pows whom we transport safely considering the Mukhti Bahni were vying for their blood to Calcutta and then to Pakistan…. 1999 Kargil some posts are taken by the Pak army the attack is repled and Pak army withdraws. The fact remains if Pak had fought 4 wars with any other country then no one like India would have shown a desire for peace still artists and other people do come to India from Pak even after these years… so we are commited to peace you are not. the whole now has different views on INdia a rising democratic economic power and they see you as a third world willing to cause trouble….. thats it folks
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