India's opposition leaders have demanded that talks with Pakistan be called off. PHOTO: FILE
The heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, which flared up after India accused Pakistani troops of staging a raid across the Poonch sector of the Line of Control in Kashmir on August 6 continue to accelerate. Indeed, Islamabad is reported to be considering reducing diplomatic staff at its High Commission in New Delhi, with the war of words assuming an increasingly angry tone. This is not comforting, and as allegations flow across the border, there is a real fear that attempts to rebuild the peace process with India could be affected. This, of course, would be a tragedy, for both countries and also the region.
Yes, we have heard some words of sense. India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid has said that the matter must be dealt with between the civilian governments and not with the military. He, however, has emphasised that the Pakistan government must take responsibility for the incident. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has attempted to de-escalate tensions by regretting the loss of life, but loud cries heard in New Delhi grow increasingly hostile. They come from Army Chief Bikram Singh, opposition leader Rajnath Singh, the hawkish Bharatiya Janata Party which hopes to win India’s next election and the media — which is stirring up greater and greater public frenzy. Calls have been made for a cancellation of the meeting between prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif, scheduled on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York next month, and for the withdrawal of the Pakistani High Commissioner to New Delhi. In Islamabad, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet is to discuss options.
The situation is highly disquieting. It shows just how easily things can flare up as a result of a single incident. Telephone talks between military officers have failed to calm things down. What we also see is active efforts by military, political and media players, most notably in India, to play up the situation. The effort seems to be to derail the peace process as the Manmohan Singh government comes under growing pressure. These voices trying to disrupt talks must not be allowed to succeed; a halt at this point in a bid to normalise ties would be disastrous and both governments must work to ensure these elements fail.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (16)
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It is sad that both parties are not ready for peace. . I think there are deep interests in status quo (on both sides).
Pakistan can stop this LoC tensions immediately. All that needs to be done is to give a three year, 3rd time extension (or another re-appointment) for COAS and 18 months extension for CJP.
@Jat: "When the Pakistan Army is not moved after brutal killing of 50,000 Pakistanis, including 5,000 soldiers; why would it care about the cowardly killing of 6 Indian soldiers ?"
Never thought on those lines. What you say is so true.
Indian interlopers in action - no point in a making an argument with delusional agents of bharat.
@author, first find out why there was firing, first clear this issue. There is NO CIVILIAN AUTHORITY IN PAKISTAN WITH RESPECT TO ISSUES OF INDIA. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOW FACT. YOUR CIVILIAN AUTHORITY WANTS TO GAIN LEGITIMACY BY TALKING TO OUR CIVILIANS WHICH IS ACTUALLY A TRIED AND TESTED DEAD END.
YOUR CIVILIAN AUTHORITY SHOULD FIRST CALL OPENLY TO HALT FIRINGS OR ASK THE ARMY WHAT IS HAPPENING, LET YOUR CIVILAN AUTHORITY GAIN LEGITIMACY BY ITS SELF ON ITS OWN.
@Naya Pakistan: "Internal troubles, weak igovernment, the army disorientated, a nation divided." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ = Naya Pakistan= Purana Pakistan. The more things change in Pakistan the more they remain the same.
No statement(s) from anyone in Pakistan accepting responsibility for the cruel killing of 5 Indian soldiers within INdian borders, not even a formal offer of investigation ( which if done by Pakistan will yield nothing). What do u expect India to do. Nothing ? like Pak army who has lost so many in many ambushes by the terrorists and still hasnt convicted one culprit._
I do not believe there was any real Peace process going on at all, just some frivolous and inconsequential talks. There is very little understanding as to where the two countries are coming from, making efforts at Peace elusive. Since the introduction of non State actors by Pakistan from 1980, Pakistan thought it could cause mischief and absolve itself of blame. The Civilian Government was undercut whenever it tried to mend fences. The realization has dawned only recently on Indian policy makers that the Army controls policy and not civilians. Talks will remain futile and India is recently making sure that the cost of adventure should be raised substantially till there is a visible change in mindset and outlook. There are lots of tools that can be leveraged without going to war and they will be exercised. I think the terrorist training camps could be the next casualty.
Most serious development from the India side is the authorization by defense minister to the Indian Army to deal with situation as it deems fit. Now that the responsibility has fallen on Indian Army, things are like to get ugly. There is news in Indian media that Pakistan has been firing not only across loc but international border also. If not addressed properly, we might see quite an extended conflict during coming days. Chances of incremental escalation from both sides can not be ruled out. I have no doubt now, there are some Musharrafs who are recreating some sort of Kargil once again.
"The situation is highly disquieting. It shows just how easily things can flare up as a result of a single incident. " Accelerating the tension is for purpose and should be taken in context of instructions from the Big Boss. Big Boss says take it slow with India.. Pakistan is trying to kill two birds with one stone. The attempt is to signal India back off from Afghanistan or we will bring Kashmir to front page. Second plan is to help NS in his visit to US and UN in Sept. All these tension will be part of talks at white house, UN and US press interview. This will divert attention from terrorist attacks, OBL, Hafiz, Do more on western front etc etc. Also attempt is to extract some movement on Kashmir issue. Pakistan in the past got money, military hardware but no concession on Kashmir. The problem with the Pakistani establishment is that emphasis is always on PR and not on the substance or goodwill. PR without sustained soft power can get you brownny points and fifteen minutes of fame but will not deliver desired results. Despite all the PR Joe Average end of the day still thinks India doing good work by development in Afghanistan and Pakistan is doing bad things by supporting Haqqani and Taliban.
Seems like the Indians are itching for a brawl. They could not have picked a better time. Internal troubles, weak igovernment, the army disorientated, a nation divided.
Your PM may have good intentions but he has no control over your army and ISI. Before advising Indians on how to control the situation, why don't you bring your army and ISI under control and stop them from killing our soldiers? Single incidence?
Indian response has to be intrepreted in terms of events 2014 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If India will be tolerant of Pakistani sponsored terror now the situation would balloon out of control post US withdrwal. Hence the seriousness.
@gp65: When the Pakistan Army is not moved after brutal killing of 50,000 Pakistanis, including 5,000 soldiers; why would it care about the cowardly killing of 6 Indian soldiers ?
It is all about the mindset - they cannot rid themselves off the dream of leading the World Islamic Caliphate.
"What we also see is active efforts by military, political and media players, most notably in India, to play up the situation."
Play up what situation - that 5 of our soldiers were killed on LoC by Pakistan? That there has been a 80% increase in LoC violations this year by Pakistan? That there has been no action in last 5 years to identify and hold masterminds of 26/11 responsible? That Dawood Ibrahim who was responsible for hundreds of deaths during serial bombings in Mumbai lives under protection of Pakistan's own security forces? http://www.firstpost.com/india/will-india-ever-mount-an-operation-to-capture-dawood-ibrahim-993529.html
If Indian media plays something up, it plays up facts. Pakistani media on the other hand plays up lies about India stealing its water http://tribune.com.pk/story/588840/water-warriors/, about 26/11 being an inside job and so on.
"These voices trying to disrupt talks must not be allowed to succeed; a halt at this point in a bid to normalise ties would be disastrous"
Disastrous for whom? Why would disengagement (mind you that is quite different from war) be disastrous for India when peace talks have failed to yield any peace dividend? Why is it unreasonable for India to expect that it should only talk when Pakistan civilian government demonstrates that it actually controls its army and is able to implement agreement it reached with Indian government?