Desiring peace, but ready to drive back aggression
The participation of air force and army units from a number of friendly countries in Pakistan Day parade conveyed the message that Pakistan’s allies would stand by it in case of any threat to its territorial integrity. Pakistan’s armed forces also put up a show of the country’s capacity to defend itself and inflict tremendous losses on any aggressor. President Arif Alvi made it clear that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness.
The military show should not however create any unrealistic expectations or give birth to jingoistic thinking. While Pakistan has a right to defend itself, anyone with hawkish tendencies must realize that war will have devastating impact on both it and India. This explains why our friends and allies showed keenness to stop it.
With two nuclear armed states in confrontation, the post Pulwama military deployment and the state of alertness on both sides sent alarm bells ringing all over the world. China, Russia, the USA, the EU and the Gulf states rushed to persuade the two to keep away from the precipice. China and the USA finally succeeded in getting assurances that neither side would initiate hostilities.
International pressures forced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break the ice by tweeting a goodwill message to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Pakistan Day. Mr Modi said it was time that the people of the Subcontinent worked together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive and prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. Mr Khan welcomed Mr Modi’s message, underscoring the need to begin a comprehensive dialogue on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, and forging a new relationship based on peace and prosperity for all our people.
There is little hope of any meaningful Pakistan-India talks before the end of the elections and the induction of the new administration in India. There is a need however meanwhile to initiate confidence building measures by the two sides. New Delhi has to end state terrorism in occupied Kashmir, release political prisoners and remove restrictions on the components and the leadership of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference. Pakistan should be seen to have taken effective measures to dismantle whatever terrorist networks still remain in the country.
