Tread carefully through the marshes

The tension on the border bodes well for no one

While Indian Air Force Chief has set aside any probability of war, the continuous cross-border attacks do not bode well for peace. An attack of the sort from the Indian side late on Sunday led to the killing of seven Pakistani soldiers. Soon after the incident the AJK government was given a heads-up for the evacuation of villages along the LoC. The border incidents have adversely impacted the lives of people living in adjacent areas limiting their access to education, health services, transportation, emergency and other basic services. The continuous confrontation on the LoC is widely reported on print and electronic media in both Pakistan and India which helps spread mutual hostility. Any major incident and consequent reprisals can push the two countries into a conflict without either side really desiring it.

There is a dire need to stop the situation on the border from deteriorating further. The DGMOs from the two sides can talk on the hotline any time and intervene to stop the unnecessary bloodshed. What stands in the way is the absence of political will to bring the situation under control .There is a perception in Pakistan that political considerations, particularly BJP’s craving for victory in UP polls which are due within months, stand in the way of normalization of ties with Pakistan. It would be highly cynical to play with human lives for achieving short term political objectives.

While the world categorically rejects support of violence for the achievement of any goal, however sacrosanct, it is incomprehensible on the part of New Delhi to encourage persons like Brahamdagh Bugti to seek asylum knowing well that his network in Balochistan is involved in indiscriminate killing of innocent people besides targeting security forces. The Sikh extremists living outside India have urged Pakistan to raise the issue of Khalistan. The matter also came under discussion at the annual gathering of Sikh pilgrims at Nankana Saheb. Pakistan must discourage the raising of the demand on its soil. Among other things, it is a double-edged sword which could harm Pakistan also.