When people lose their lives and valuable possessions as a result of border violations, who should be held responsible
KARACHI: Since Pakistan and India have emerged as separate states on the world map, both have had a horrendous relationship full of bloodshed and destruction. In 69 years, they have battled four times with each other and the chronicles reveal extremely painful experiences for both nations with a gigantic number of injuries and deaths on both sides. Whatever the objectives of these wars, we have seen both sides experience more loss than gain. Yet, the two countries are found ever ready to enter the battlefield and relentlessly threaten each other.
Even when they are not at war, a certain element of tension constantly remains at the border. People living near the border on both sides often experience bombardments and the strikes of heavy weaponry, costing them their life and property. Their lives have become the epitome of helplessness as they are deprived of their freedom and property as a result of unprovoked firing and it seems that neither country’s government is interested in reimbursing them for their losses. Unfortunately, it seems that both governments are so busy retaliating against each other that they have forgotten their preliminary objective, which is to work for the betterment of their respective citizens. I would like to raise a question here for the authorities of both the countries: when people lose their lives and valuable possessions as a result of border violations, who should be held responsible and from whom should they seek mercy?
Mohammad Hassam Siddiqi
KarachiPublished in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2015.
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