The writer is an Islamabad-based TV journalist and tweets @FarrukhKPitafi
While terrorist attacks are designed to derail the peace process, they also act as a grim reminder that the two sides face common threats. Terrorism, poverty, overpopulation, epidemics, ignorance and communal disharmony threaten our very social fabric. Our conflicts might be grounded in history that cannot be brushed aside, but for far too long they have defined who we are and are hence, responsible for our retrogressive historical experience. The saddest part is that each time a terrorist strikes anywhere in the two countries, a political force steps up to help him fulfil his purpose, for what do terrorists want, other than to sabotage the dialogue.
India needs to realise that a strong democratic government in Islamabad, committed to stamping out the menace of terrorism, is in its best interest. It is strange that while the Indian state eyes the role of an international power, it refuses to let go of its fixation with a country that is no longer in its league. During the past 12 years, as Pakistan undertook the existential fight against terrorism, the Indian side has refused to offer any solace, except a reluctant restraint. Instead of advertising its victimhood in the world, New Delhi should have seized the moment in denying the non-state actors any oxygen, by settling all possible disputes between the two countries. We refuse to see our disputes for what they are — bloody and painful, yes, but only border disputes.
In the past decade at least, Pakistan, in many ways, has proven to be a barrier that separates India and the terror groups. If, for some reason, Islamabad were to lose control or be vanquished by such elements, imagine what this spectre could do to India. If you sitting in Delhi still don’t get the picture and insist on highlighting a few odd incidents of terror, just take a hard look at Pakistan and what such groups have done to us. Hence, there is no point in disrupting the peace process with Islamabad in the lame hope that, one day, the country will collapse under the weight of its own contradictions. That way, too, you lose.
Time and time again, New Delhi has given Pakistan demands that are primarily designed to humiliate the state in the eyes of its own citizens. Handing over Pakistani nationals to a country that has fought four wars with us hardly seems plausible. While our government fights terrorism even today, it cannot fight a substantial part of its population that is conservative. The best way is to dismantle the narrative that fuels hatred towards India. And the only way to do that is to settle the border disputes that have been thorns in our side. Despite whatever is said, Pakistan has a good track record of settling border disputes.
The festering legacies of Partition have done more terrible things to Pakistan. One by one, the non-state actors in the country have been collected by al Qaeda. Granted that India-centric groups have still managed to stay away from it but they, too, can easily be assimilated. It is important that the two sides do not allow our mutual disputes to be hijacked by groups like al Qaeda.
It is imperative that instead of playing politics with our collective future, politicians, on both sides, get their act together. There should be one India policy in Pakistan and one Pakistan policy in India. If we ever conclude that even toying with the idea of a war is plain stupid, let us work on a solution that ends misery on both sides.
When Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif meet on September 29, they should remember they need to do what is right, not what is easy or popular.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (20)
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When MNS and MMS meet then there is nothing going to change and happen.This meeting shall be informal,meaningless and aimless because India is never going to change its attitude regarding Kashmir issue and still considering Kashmir its integral part...
The writer is a thinking young man whose concerns and efforts are understandable and legitimate. But his comments leave mush to be desired. It would be unfair to doubt his sincerity but a possible lack of experience is to blame for his naivety. His heart is in the right place when he ends his article thus: "When Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif meet on September 29, they should remember they need to do what is right, not what is easy or popular."
Just the right conclusion, but is this advise practicable? Not at all, in my opinion. It is important to remember that a suggested action must also be possible. What is possible for Manmohan may not be possible for Nawaz, and vice versa. It is too simplistic to assume that the two countries are similar. In fact, there is a world of difference between the two. Just look at the facts that the two armies are as different as chalk and cheese. Pakistan is Islamic on paper at least, but India is Secular. Pakistan has deliberately divorced its past, whereas India prides itself on 5000 years of its historical past. Pakistan is still a straggling democracy whereas India is an established one. The differences in the two societies cannot be overlooked.
The writer would be well advised to try looking at the two countries through different prisms. His sincere efforts will then be sure to bear fruit. He could however as easily ignore this comment if not convinced of it. In any event I am never going to miss his any future piece.
This article is very typical in that it seeks to be "balanced" and "equal". In doing so it seeks to hold the victim - India, "equally" responsible for the terror visited upon it by the perpetrator - Pakistan. Nurturing, training and exporting "strategic" assets to India (and rest of the world) as a means to settle grievances is a choice that Pakistan made. These exports were plentiful and barbaric - not a "few incidents". Worse yet, it is state policy pursued vigorously by civilian and military leaders with the support of the masses. This is what makes the Indians and the world so concerned - this state policy is rooted in religious nationalism and supremacy (nazariya Pakistan).
Many countries have territorial issues and feel wronged by the other. But adopting terror as a state policy to settle the issues is unique in modern times. IF and when Pakistan decides to have peace with itself, there will be peace with others. It is for Pakistan to decide what it wants to be and how it wants to conduct itself. The world is not fooled anymore.
Looks like very Pakistani knows how India should behave towards them.. where as Indians know how to behave by themselves
There is so much of a victimhood narrative here I do not know, as Indian, how to react. Starting from partition - Pakistan suffered more (how? - are you saying that the millions of punjabis who lost their fertile lands in your part of punjab and the sindhis who lost thriving businesses came to india and found a pot of gold waiting for them from the govt of India? I am not sure how you would compensate the families that executed their daughters in the heart of Rawalpindi at that time. I am not even talking about the millions of Bangladeshi hindus who migrated in 1947 and those that were pushed out in 1971. Most like Milkha singh were just ordinary refugees living from hand to mouth in sordid refugee camps.
You write then (possibly between sobs) "During the past 12 years, as Pakistan undertook the existential fight against terrorism, the Indian side has refused to offer any solace" - Ha ha. So what should we have done? When our planes were hijacked by Pakistani hijackers? Offer scholarships to their children? When Kargil took place - rewarded Musharraf with Bharat Ratna? When the Parliament attack took place - forgiven Ghazi baba and that Azher mahmood chap and given them the VIP tour of the place? When our embassies in Kabul and other places were attacked - apologized to Pakistanis for running hospitals in that country?
You mention - The festering legacies of Partition...what are the festering legacies of partition? Pray tell us - and let us know what we can do other than offering a couch.
@Water Bottle: Please explain your logic. Why is it India's job to strengthen Nawaz. If NS is weakened by his own actions, how does it affect India adversely? India should just stay out of their internal politics and negotiate with a trust but verify policy with whoever is in charge.
@Gratgy: with china....while india fought and lost against china,pakistan settled the dispute in case u didnt know
declare LOC as international border both country will b happy ....otherwise u have to waste another 65 yrs in it
@author: " ... There should be one India policy in Pakistan and one Pakistan policy in India. ... "
This statement exemplifies the intellectual bankruptcy that Pakistani opinion makers suffer from. On the one hand you expect India to have ONE Pakistan policy and on the other you want India to compartmentalise relationships with the various power centers in Pakistan - one relationship with the "liberals" and another with the "military", so on an so forth.
@notGratgy @ Gratgy: Tried China? Giving a part of Kashmir (which you do not own) to China is not exactly "dispute resolution"
@ sid kafir
Middle ground: Kashmir for Kashmiris only!
Only when the political power transfers from elites to masses the problems of Pakistan will start diminishing. Will take one or two decades. But I am sure that will happen.
The border disputes are as settled as they're ever going to be. Move on.
@ Gratgy: Tried China?
You have ended this on a very sensible note. For a moment let's consider that both leaders are sincere in their objectives, the difficulty arises for each to sell the product down the chain, in their respective countries.
Everbody wants peace......But Pakistan wants Kashmir but India cannot give it......I hope some middle ground can be found........
Balanced and pragmatic I hope the stakeholders on both sides of the border are listening. Indian trolls please pause, think and then comment. Belligerent comments serve no one.
Despite whatever is said, Pakistan has a good track record of settling border disputes. With whom? Afghanistan? India? LMAO