Indo-Pak Relations: it is ‘War’ and not ‘Politics’

Indo-Pak Relations: it is ‘War’ and not ‘Politics’

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Major General Mrinal Suman

Indian apologists of Pakistan are often heard delivering sermons that Indo-Pak cultural/sports ties should not be held hostage to politics. It is a perverse argument. They deliberately ignore the fact that it is the ongoing war, and not quiescent politics, which has been the overriding feature of the relations between the two neighbors.

Politics is the art or science of government, especially the governance of a political entity (such as a nation); and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. On the other hand, war is a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations (both declared and undeclared) between two nation states. 

In pursuit of its avowed objective of Bhutto’s ‘1000 year war’ and Zia’s ‘bleeding India by 1000 cuts’, it has been resorting to unconventional warfare relentlessly. India has lost more lives due to Pak-sponsored terrorist activities than all the armed conflicts fought after the Independence. If it is not war, pray what is it? Yes, Pakistan is at war with India.

While not endorsing the act of blackening the face of the Indian host, Shiv Sena cannot be faulted for opposing the visit of Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri to Mumbai to promote his book. Certainly, Shiv Sena could have staged the protest in a more democratic manner. Therefore, criticism by the Indian media is understandable.

However, what is more shocking is the fact that no one has bothered to question the credentials of Kasuri and his audacity to lecture India on the need for good neighborly relations. He was treated as a peace loving and moderate leader; and a well-wisher of India. One TV anchor went to the extent of eulogizing him as a beacon of peace for the sub-continent.

A few facts need to be recalled here for objective appraisal of Kasuri’s profile and to judge his sincerity of purpose. It was a matter of common knowledge that Musharraf was the prime architect of the Kargil aggression that wrecked the peace–process initiated by Vajpayee’s bus-diplomacy. Yet, Kasuri had no qualms in joining his cabinet as the Foreign Minister from 2002 to 2007.

Let us look at his track record. One, export of terrorism is a declared instrument of Pak’s foreign policy and Kasuri pursued it as steadfastly as his predecessors. He never tried to veer Pak away from the path of fomenting trouble in India. Two, his anti-India tirades at the UN and other world forums were always full of hostile enmity.  He never uttered a word against the Kargil misadventure.

Three, he was fully aware of anti-India venom being spewed openly by the fanatic leaders in public meetings. Such diatribes were regularly reported in Pak print and electronic media. Did he ever advise his government to reign in such elements? No.

Four, he never asked his government to hand-over to India terrorists accused of mass murders. It was no secret that Pakistan was sheltering them. When quizzed, he had the temerity to pretend ignorance - “How would I know whether Dawood was in Pakistan or not at that time.” He wants India to believe him. Some temerity!

Five, India has been repeatedly asking Pakistan to return 54 prisoners of war (POW) languishing in Pakistani jails. Did Kasuri get even one of them returned to India? Similarly, did Kasuri seek action against the Pak soldiers who tortured and mutilated the bodies of young Lt Saurabh Kalia and five other soldiers? Despite being a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, the Pakistanis had inflicted burn injuries on them with cigarettes, pierced their ears with hot rods, removed their eyes before puncturing them, and chopped off various limbs and private organs. They were shot dead after 22 days of unimaginable physical and mental torture.

In short, Kasuri did not take a single step during his five year stint as the Foreign Minister to address Indian concerns. Not one. He was as hostile to India as all other Pak politicians.

Since he was in India to sell his book, one is not surprised at Kasuri’s effrontery to claim to be a friend and messiah of peace. However, what hurts every Indian the most is the red-carpet laid out for such a duplicitous politician by the unscrupulous Indian hosts. It was repugnant to see leaders embracing, felicitating and fawning over him.

Instead of castigating him for his failure as the Foreign Minister to stop terrorist training camps and infiltration of jehadies into India, the media was seen groveling before him. It was nauseating, to say the least.

To be honest, one should not have been surprised. Indians has been overly indulgent towards the Pak dignitaries earlier as well. Remember the way Imran Khan was extolled in India. He produced equally friendly homilies. Yet, the moment he returned to Pakistan, he reverted back to India-bashing.

Shiv Sena’s opposition to Ghulam Ali is equally justified. To claim that music has no boundaries and should not be mixed with politics is all rubbish. Shah Rukh Khan’s recent statement that ‘politics between the two countries should be handled by the politicians.....creative people have nothing to do with it’ is outlandish. It amounts to asserting that artists are least concerned about the loss of Indian lives due to Pak hostilities, and that, they should be allowed to continue to make money under the euphemism of cultural ties. Does Shah Rukh Khan know the pain of losing a dear one in bomb attacks?

Similarly, it is repulsive to see people demanding restoration of Indo-Pak cricketing ties. Their logic defies logic; they do not want sports to be mixed with politics. The same argument is put forward by the enthusiasts of Track-II diplomacy and initiatives like ‘Aman Ki Asha’. They also desire that cultural ties should not be mixed with politics. Instead of talking of non-existent politics, they should introspect whether to have sports/cultural ties with a country that is waging a war against India.

One wonders if the organizers of Ghulam Ali’s concerts would have been equally enthusiastic had they lost their family men in Pak’s terrorist activities or if their relatives were rotting as POW in Pak jails. Would they have claimed that music has no boundaries if their own son had been subjected to inhuman torture like Kalia? How selfish can one get?

A legendry cricketer has also expressed his support for Indo-Pak matches. Apparently, he wants to earn money as a commentator even if Pakistan keeps killing Indian soldiers and citizens. Would he have been equally keen, had his son become a casualty in a terrorist strike? Has shamelessness no limit?

Peace is a two-way process. Both parties have to desire it. India cannot be friends unilaterally while Pakistan pursues a path of vicious hostility. It will be naïve to expect a rogue nation like Pakistan to shed its ‘cloak and dagger’ strategy. One may not fully agree with former Australian Test umpire Darrell Hair’s description of the Pakistani cricketers as ‘cheats, frauds and liars’. But the fact is that the whole world considers Pakistan to be an untrustworthy and deceitful nation. 

Affable statements made by a few retired Pak politicians, cricketers and singers are of no import. Their masquerading as ambassadors of friendship is a façade to make money while Pakistan continues to train hundreds of terrorists and infiltrating them into India without any let-up, to kill and maim Indian soldiers and citizens. General Musharraf’s recent TV interview should open the eyes of all Pak-supporters.

Pakistan was born on anti-India plank and that is its only identity. A nation born out of hatred needs hatred to feed itself on for continued sustenance and to justify its existence. Shedding of anti-India posture would amount to questioning the very logic of its creation. For that reason, Pakistan can never be India’s friend. It is time India accepts this bitter truth.

To start with, it must be acknowledged by all that Pakistan is an enemy state. Playing cricket with an enemy state amounts to betrayal of national allegiance. Similarly, cultural exchanges border on high treason. Any Indian who hosts Pak celebrities (political leader, singer or cricketer) should be censured for acting against our national interests and shamed.

  

More importantly, India should pursue a proactive policy. It has suffered enough. Following the example of the successful boycott of apartheid South Africa, India should leverage its enormous clout with the world cricket body to have Pakistan expelled from the cricketing world for its sponsorship of terrorism the world over. It must be isolated internationally and embarrassed. It will hit Pakistan hard.

Finally, eating biryani, sharing stage or playing cricket with a country whose avowed aim is to destroy India can never be justified. Not only is it an insult to the memory of the thousands of Indians killed by Pakistan, but an anti-national act of serious proportions.*****