Dear Senthil
The external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is taking a rather bellicose
stand with regard to Pakistan. This has been a very common approach by most
Indian statesman with regard to this neighbour. The Islamic Republic of
Pakistan a nation created (14th August 1947) and having imbibed within
themselves a bundle of misconceptions, misunderstandings, skepticism and
negativity. A ‘Political Aberration’ as had been referred to by Jawaharlal
Nehru or a result of Muslim Sub-nationalism Pakistan has never been accepted by
the Indian leadership with grace. The attitude of this nation towards India too
has been negative and bellicose as a matter of ‘State Policy’ wherein the
dispute of Kashmir has further aggravated the situation. The dismemberment of
Pakistan with the creation of Bangladesh out of East Pakistan in 1971 and the
support given by the Government of India to the ‘MUKTI BAHINI’ an organization
that had spear headed the insurgency
operations in East Pakistan against the West Pakistan political
establishment. India has always considered this support they had rendered to
the ‘MUKTI BAHINI’ as support to justice and human rights on the pretext of the
influx of refugees coming to India. The problem that had been largely an
internal matter of Pakistan was used by the then Government of India; against
World Opinion; to carve out an independent nation which they did successfully.
The debacle of 1971 created a deeper sense of insecurity in the Pakistani mind
and as a retaliatory gesture they supported the Khalistan Movement in Punjab,
continue to support the Separatists in Jammu and Kashmir that they claim to be
a ‘Freedom Struggle’ of the Kashmiri people and even the insurgency movements
in the North Eastern Part of India. It is only now that the approach of the
Government of Pakistan had turned over to a new leaf that has suddenly been
closed because of the Terrorist Attack
in Mumbai. The Indian media has turned hostile towards Pakistan and so have
the ‘hawks’ in the Indian political circles to be reciprocated by the
‘Pakistani hawks’ that may ultimately end up with the Indo-Pak boundaries
getting heated up. There can be another way of perceiving this problem by
viewing it as an opportunity in disguise. India can take the initiative of now
building up the confidence level of Pakistan and instead of only accusing their
neighbour and slanderous attacks come to the negotiation table and sort out the
complete issue without considering a military strike option. The general
passions are no doubt running high but sanity lies in sorting out the issue and
converting this environment to one where Pakistan themselves fight the Talibans
along with the US support and the tension on the Indo-Pak boundary reduces to
its lowest.
Manoj Joshi
C-603, Goodwill Garden CHS
Plot 15-16, Kharghar
Sector 8, Navi Mumbai - 410210
