Just because the journey ahead is risky and uncharted is no excuse for giving up the pursuit of a long-cherised goal – in the present context, lasting Indo-Pak amity
November 18, 2006 (Press Release) --
WILL “MOHABBAT ZINDABAD” TRANSLATE INTO END OF TERRORISM?
M K DHAR
Just because the journey ahead is risky and uncharted is no excuse for giving up the pursuit of a long-cherised goal – in the present context, lasting Indo-Pak amity. The agreement between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Gen. Musharraf reached in Havana to put in place a joint anti-terrorism institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations, is welcome indeed, depending on how sincere Islamabad is in cooperating in this field. Cynicism regarding any commitment by Pakistan derives from past record of unfulfilled promises, including not to allow any territory controlled by the government of Pakistan to be used for terrorist activity against India. It has so far been fulfilled only in the breach.
Living as the two countries are on the razor’s edge, with endemic mistrust of each other, any move towards resolution of outstanding issues between them generates hope among the people of the sub-continent, looking forward to easing of tension and peaceful relations. But, expectations have been belied so often that the people are still reluctant to believe that a real breakthrough is at hand. As the Prime Minister repeatedly asserts, geography dictates that India and Pakistan maintain the best of relations as they cannot be enemies in perpetuity. Therefore, there is no option other than dialogue to settle mutual differences and resolve outstanding issues. The Indian Government does not, therefore, have to offer any excuses for restarting the peace and dialogue process, or provide face saving to its political opponents.
There is no denying that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. But, the essential difference is (which the government spokesman overlooks) that terrorism against India is state-sponsored and patronized, with the specific objective of wresting Kashmir. But, terrorism in Pakistan has no territorial orientation and is the product of the pro-American policies of the Musharraf Government, pursued over the decades, and its continued military cooperation to help the sole Super Power implement its strategic agenda for the region. It is, therefore, wrong on the part of New Delhi, to articulate US President George Bush’s formulation on Pakistan being a terrorism victim and yet a major ally in the fight against this evil.
An important advance is the projected Pakistan visit of Dr Manmohan Singh, which had so far been deferred for the reason that it would yield nothing in the prevailing surcharged atmosphere. But, normalization and confidence building do not go well with any type of Cold War thinking.
Having accepted the formulation that terrorism will not be allowed to derail the Indo-Pakistan peace process, there is no reason why the structured dialogue at the level of officials, temporary suspending for whatever reason, should not be resumed, which is now happening with the foreign se
M K DHAR
Just because the journey ahead is risky and uncharted is no excuse for giving up the pursuit of a long-cherised goal – in the present context, lasting Indo-Pak amity. The agreement between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Gen. Musharraf reached in Havana to put in place a joint anti-terrorism institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations, is welcome indeed, depending on how sincere Islamabad is in cooperating in this field. Cynicism regarding any commitment by Pakistan derives from past record of unfulfilled promises, including not to allow any territory controlled by the government of Pakistan to be used for terrorist activity against India. It has so far been fulfilled only in the breach.
Living as the two countries are on the razor’s edge, with endemic mistrust of each other, any move towards resolution of outstanding issues between them generates hope among the people of the sub-continent, looking forward to easing of tension and peaceful relations. But, expectations have been belied so often that the people are still reluctant to believe that a real breakthrough is at hand. As the Prime Minister repeatedly asserts, geography dictates that India and Pakistan maintain the best of relations as they cannot be enemies in perpetuity. Therefore, there is no option other than dialogue to settle mutual differences and resolve outstanding issues. The Indian Government does not, therefore, have to offer any excuses for restarting the peace and dialogue process, or provide face saving to its political opponents.
There is no denying that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism. But, the essential difference is (which the government spokesman overlooks) that terrorism against India is state-sponsored and patronized, with the specific objective of wresting Kashmir. But, terrorism in Pakistan has no territorial orientation and is the product of the pro-American policies of the Musharraf Government, pursued over the decades, and its continued military cooperation to help the sole Super Power implement its strategic agenda for the region. It is, therefore, wrong on the part of New Delhi, to articulate US President George Bush’s formulation on Pakistan being a terrorism victim and yet a major ally in the fight against this evil.
An important advance is the projected Pakistan visit of Dr Manmohan Singh, which had so far been deferred for the reason that it would yield nothing in the prevailing surcharged atmosphere. But, normalization and confidence building do not go well with any type of Cold War thinking.
Having accepted the formulation that terrorism will not be allowed to derail the Indo-Pakistan peace process, there is no reason why the structured dialogue at the level of officials, temporary suspending for whatever reason, should not be resumed, which is now happening with the foreign se
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