|
IT was a small albeit a significant gesture by those who
took out a procession at the historic Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to
express their solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of
challenge from terrorists.
It is a coincidence that
thousands of people demonstrated on the same day at the Mall in Lahore
to warn terrorists, some of whom had attacked a police academy.
In
both countries the message was that the people would not allow bombs
and bullets to defeat freedom and fraternity. Without any arms or
security the participants of the demonstrations have made it clear that
determined people are a far bigger force than all the gun-toting
fundamentalists put together.
Civil society in both countries knows that the battle between
terrorism and peace may last long. The loss may be enormous. But there
is no doubting the victory of those who leave the comfort of their home
to come on the streets to defend their right to live – and to live
without fear. They want to build an environment where children can play
without their parents worrying about them, where elders can go about
their business with confidence and where every man can command respect
regardless of his faith.
Unfortunately, neither New Delhi nor
Islamabad comes up to a standard that prepares them for a firm response
to terrorism. They are not even on speaking terms, much less anywhere
near planning joint steps to fight the scourge. Who gets the better of
the other in diplomacy or tactics has little significance when the
people they represent have begun to feel as if they are on their own.
Both societies are an exasperated lot and have little faith in their
governments.
What happened in Mumbai or elsewhere a few months
ago and what is happening in Pakistan in some shape or the other every
day shows that the battle with the enemy – the terrorists – is yet to
become a joint one. People do not see any short – or long-term strategy
which the government on either side has charted to exterminate
terrorism.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has a point when he
says that when the Pakistani government is not doing enough to bring
the perpetrators of the recent Mumbai attacks to justice, there is no
use resuming dialogue with Islamabad. The Pakistani reply that it will
not agree to ‘any precondition’ too makes sense. But asking for a quick
trial is not equal to putting conditions. The simple fact is that
neither appreciates the enormity of the danger posed by the terrorists
to the two countries.
True, Islamabad created the Taliban for
reasons of ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan. But now it finds that
Frankenstein is killing the master. Pakistanis are dying by the dozen.
Would putting blame on Islamabad help New Delhi?
By reaching
within six kilometres of the Wagah border, the Taliban are giving a
warning to India that they are not too distant. Kashmir has already
reported the entry of the Taliban through Gurez in the north of the
state. The Indian army has verified that some infiltration has already
taken place.
The Taliban seem to have a well-worked-out plan to
undo both India and Pakistan. As regards India, the threat is to the
country’s secular structure. In Pakistan, they want society to go back
to a mediaeval way of living. Armed with fatal weapons of firearms and
fanaticism, the Taliban are killing those who differ with them or come
in their way.
David Kilcullen, former adviser to top US
military commander Gen David Petraeus has warned that Pakistan could
collapse within months in the face of the snowballing insurgency. Is
this prospect good for New Delhi? Imagine a buffer state between the
Taliban and India disappearing. What is India doing except feeling
smug? There may be Indians who are chuckling over the maelstrom of
terrorism and thoughtlessness in which Pakistan is caught.
Both
New Delhi and Islamabad should realise that hostility towards each
other is only helping the Taliban and weakening the forces which
believe in democracy and the rule of law. The more the two countries
grow apart, the more viability they give to fundamentalists who have
built a make-believe world on hatred and extremism. All problems pale
into insignificance when the fight is for the survival of the basics
for which people live.
India should be able to appreciate this
much more than Pakistan because the former has been a stable democratic
country for more than six decades. Unfortunately, when it comes to
Pakistan, India does not act as a visionary. Note how New Delhi has
stopped officials in the Pakistan High Commission from going to nearby
Gurgaon or Noida to play golf indicating the former does not want
people-to-people contact.
It is too much to ask the two nations
to cleanse the slate of bias and bitterness. But can the two nations
cobble together a plan to confront the Taliban? New Delhi should give a
unilateral undertaking to keep the eastern border, along with Kashmir,
quiet so as to enable Pakistani forces to fight on the western front,
adjoining Afghanistan and Fata.
The gaping wounds of Mumbai
will take time to heal. The Pakistani government should be seen doing
all it can to punish the perpetrators. Let that process continue. Yet
the two countries should be seen openly joining hands for exterminating
terrorism. Islamabad must take steps to stop the alleged activities of
the ISI in helping Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Only the other day some US
generals accused the intelligence agency of doing so.
The
matter was also raised during the Pakistani army chief’s recent visit
to Washington where it was indicated that it would be in Pakistan’s
interest to be clear on the issue. The Pakistani intelligence considers
India a bigger enemy than the Taliban. The mere transfer of troops from
the border with India to the NWFP from where the Taliban operate will
not do. The attitude has to undergo a sea change. The plea that only
rogue elements in the intelligence are mixed up does not wash.
On
the other hand, New Delhi has to learn how to adjust and live with its
neighbour. It has been the same story of deadlocks and dialogue for the
last six decades. Pakistan genuinely feels that India, a far bigger and
more powerful country, will one day gobble it up. This is not true.
Both sides have to bury the hatchet to enable people to exercise their
right to live.
Courtesy : DAWN NEWS
 Add as favourites (0) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 284
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved |
