Indian hostility

Regrettable

It didn’t take too long for the Modi government, clearly, to express the BJP’s true feelings towards Pakistan. Till a certain time Islamabad could dismiss the odd statement as uncalled for and provocative. But of late it’s become apparent that the belligerence is part of a thought out strategy. The remarks in Bangladesh were particularly telling. The reference to India’s ‘help’ in the ’71 war was a clear sign of the posturing ahead. While it provided some food for thought in Pakistan – addressing grievances of deprived communities, for example, lest they turn to outsiders – it must also have triggered some soul searching in the world’s largest democracy. No doubt the BJP relishes the chest-thumping, as does India’s gung-ho electronic media, but does a surprise shift so far from the equilibrium sit well with many in such a diverse polity?

It cannot be denied, of course, that Pakistan has its plate pretty full with problems at the moment. There are still pockets of terrorists that need to be wiped out. The operation to smoke out religious and sectarian terrorists in urban and rural areas has yet to begin in good earnest with the implementation of NAP. The move to win over Afghanistan, too, is still short of achieving its objective.

However, that does not mean the country is vulnerable in the conventional cross-border sense. And, much to its credit, the Pakistani side held back from the diplomatic exchange till it became clear that New Delhi needed a fitting reply. Hence statements from the interior minister, defence minister and indeed the army chief after the formation commanders meeting. Eventually the Indian government will have to take responsibility for not only dodging Islamabad’s sincere efforts towards peace and commerce, but also taking relations to a low not seen in a while. The only strategy behind the provocation could be taking the two countries back to perpetual confrontation, which seems to have worked out. Islamabad, at least, finds it regrettable.