INDO Pak relations?

INDO- PAK RELATIONS? Since Pakistan was carved from united India, the relations have never been neighbourly. The process of allegations and counter allegations is continuos process. The two countries have been at war thrice. Followed by an uneasy cease fire. Naturally the questions arise what did we achieve in three wars? If we did not, why should we repeat it? If we did achieve the objectives why can't we have good neighbourly relations? Is it against our national interests? If we assume that the Hindu fundamentalists have nefarious designs that is also a blessing in disguise. This fear is keeping the country together otherwise our rulers have not left any stone unturned to disintegrate the country. We don't need enemies to disintegrate the country, our so called politicians are better qualified for this purpose than any one else. I am sure none of our rulers have logical answers. Being the student of politics I don't remember the war in Kashmir, just after partition. My father also took part in it. The subsequent two wars I remember distinctly. In 1971 I was conscripted to the army. I resisted but couldn't avoid. I failed to convince myself to be a party to the crime of our rulers and support the rape of the then East Pakistan. In 1965 F.M. Ayub declared war to divert the attention of the public from the domestic problems, particularly dis franchising the nation and creating a limited electoral college that could be easily bribed. The 1971 war self imposed, to get rid of East Pakistan and to retain the citadel of power in Islam Abad. What can we achieve by having strained relations with India or to be at war with India or vice versa?The fundamentalists bugs on both sides want the status quo, as it is the only logic for their survival. Unfortunately these war mongering bugs are much stronger on our side, compared to India. Our society has been thoroughly radicalised particularly in last thirty years. Zia is the sole responsible person, for radicalising the army establishment and the public. He was a vicious and wicked person. It was at the expense of loosing professional standard. The chain of sequence of the events in the last few years has proved the public fear. It was the only organised professional institution that was destroyed. It is ironic that we teach our children hatred right from primary level. We poison innocent minds.It is shocking for any logical mind to see the hatred as a part of educational curriculum. I am perplexed what do we really want to achieve by spreading the venom of hatred? Our cricket matches stinking the same foul smell of hatred. There are some unresolved issues between India and Pakistan. But do we have a military solution for them? Let us take Kashmir, our attitude and intentions towards this issue are backfiring on us. Liberation struggle cannot be exported. If we think Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and are really honest to ourselves, then Pakistan based political parties should stop interference in Kashmir affairs. Let the Kashmiris sort out their problems. The political interference by Islam Abad and heavy presence of our armed forces in Kashmir is counter productive. It sends a signal that we want to occupy Kashmir. I am yet to meet a Kashmiri outside Pakistan who is ready to opt for Pakistan. It is quite logical that we have any attraction for them to opt out of indian union and join Pakistan? They want an independent Kashmir. If our fundamentalist bugs and hawkish generals are really determined to settle the score with India by fire power, they must think twice? The huge buffering capacity of India is strategically against us. Her economic, political stability and shear vastness are the added advantages. To limit the war to Kashmir was tried by Bhutto assuming that India will not violate the international borders, have been tried and badly failed. It is a futile exercise and political insanity to pursue this policy any more. No national will can be crushed by tanks and missiles, if the Kashmiri really want they will ultimately achieve it. Other issues like water can also be resolved by dialogue. Even the wars are ultimately concluded on the table. Pakistan has been taken on ransom by fundamentalists. Both the civilian and military leadership are scared, to sell the idea of peaceful co-existence to masses. There was never been blackout in India in the two wars beyond Agra, because of its strategic depth. To acquire strategic depth Zia invaded Afghanistan, what a silliness? I met the people hailing from south east India who were surprisingly unaware of the massacre during partition and subsequent three wars, I had the opportunity to talk to political personalities and journalists of India on several occasions and was surprised that they consider the destabilisation of Pakistan against their national interest and integrity. T I don't advocate that India will not be interfering in our internal affairs. But to the best of my knowledge that is to check Pakistan. If Pakistan stops this unholy game, India is least likely to do pursue this policy unilaterally. As I was told by an Indian high up smilingly that if Pakistan stops telling lies about us, we will stop telling truth about Pakistan. I feel that India is engaged in a tough competition with China. They are more interested in their industrial, technical advancement, to out play China regionally and globally. They are crystal clear that this competition should be on healthy basis and want to avoid any confrontation with China. India is preparing itself to occupy a central stage in global and regional politics. It is trying to surge out of the cocoon of regional hostilities. Though a developing country but it is ready to play an international role. They have a complete shift of priorities. Their economic growth have given them more confidence while maintaining democratic set up. They have second biggest brain pool in the world. It's technical and industrial advancement is indigenous and cheap. I was surprised that when I went to Sialkot to purchase hospital equipment's and observed the desire of the local industrialists to get an access to Indian market to acquire cheap technology. In spite of having a good sized Kashmiri community they were holding Kashmir dispute responsible for stalling their technical advancement. Our fundamentalists bugs are scaring the public of Indians occupying our market, withholding comments on Chinese occupation who have destroyed our textile and electronic industries. We have to be objective. Pakistan is a protected market for Chinese goods. Our access to cheap Indian technology will be the start of a healthy competition between China and India and we will be the ultimate beneficiaries. War mongering is not the solution to our problems. To maintain the fifth biggest army in the world, is beyond our resources. It is a white elephant for impoverished country like Pakistan, where seventy percent of the population is living below poverty line. It is the time for us to review our priorities and put the internal policies first to our external policy. Let the internal policies dictate our foreign policy. Let the well being of the silent majority over ride any other presumption or assumptions. Fair governance, national credibility and international trust should be our top priorities. International respect cannot be demanded but it has to be earned. In present circumstances I doubt it. Dr. Khurshid Alam, London. Dated 10/05/2012