Retaliating to Indian gestures
While some of his remarks in Dhaka might have helped Narendra Modi cement relations with the present Bangladesh government, these were bound to cause resentment in Pakistan. If one keeps in view the recent acerbic pronouncements by Indian Defence Minister and Junior Minister for Information, it becomes clear that the Indian side is not going to respond any time soon to friendly gestures made by Nawaz Sharif. While this is unfortunate, desire for peace and amity cannot be one-sided. Pakistan needs to stick to its principled position and wait for proper time to renew the effort.
The response from Pakistan’s civil and military leadership to the Indian rhetoric has been clear and firm without being loud. There is a need to retain the composure. What needs to be done is to put our own house in order while strictly avoiding any distraction. Besides taking the operation against the terrorists to urban centres, Pakistan has also to focus on the launching of the CPEC under the supervision of the parliamentary committee which needs to be put in place at the earliest. The best way to ensure the security of over 2,400 kilometres long route from Gilgit to Gwadar is to take out the TTP terrorists while using both political and military means to win over as many of the gun-wielding Baloch as possible.
Jingoistic talk might suit India but it doesn’t suit Pakistan. The country has already held LG polls in KP and elections for the legislature in Gilgit-Baltistan. In September, LG polls will be held in Punjab and Sindh, the two most populous provinces of the country. It is understandable why the extremist streak is dissatisfied with the reasonable stand taken by the government, the opposition and the armed forces. What the extremists want is to push the government into a situation where it may not remain possible for it to take the Operation Zarb-e-Azb to its logical conclusion. The government has to avoid falling into the trap.
