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Rupee News
Moin Ansari
Peace between India and Pakistan?
New York, NY, United States, June 13 — Peace is always in the mutual interest of parties tied up in conflict. One party does not do the other party any favors. It is the height of arrogance to convey the impression that peace talks are a reward for the good behavior of one party. By portraying Pakistan as the guilty party, Delhi sabotages any prospect for peace. If the Americans and the Russians can smoke the peace pipe, so can the Indians and the Pakistanis; however, it has to be done on the basis of dignity and mutual respect, not diktat and dictation.
There is much in common between India and Pakistan, but there is much that separates the countries. Mere cultural affinity and anathema to religion cannot wish the differences away. India must recognize that Pakistanis do not see Delhi as the perfect model to emulate on anything. Therefore, Delhi must stop wishing for a Pakistan in its own image. There are many routes to success, and Pakistanis admire the Chinese a lot more than they admire Indians.
It is not Delhi’s God-given right to rule Kabul. Nor does India extend from Kabul to the Raj Kalhani (a mythical land east of Bali, Indonesia) in the East. Indian religions preach the eternal history of India beyond its borders. If India is a secular country, then this transnational dream of a greater India must be brought back to reality. Every time BJP party leaders Adhvani and Modi open their mouths, peace is sent back a decade.
Good relations with Pakistan begin with better treatment of Muslims in India – beginning with the Kashmiris, but not just limited to them. The Gujaratis and the other downtrodden Muslims in India must be treated as equal citizens, and things must move beyond tokenism (Azad, Fakhuddin & Kalam).
There are many types of peace. It is obvious that India has neither the capacity nor the wherewithal to impose peace of the sort that exists between the Native Americans and the U.S. government. India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not the Gaza strip. If Israel, with all its might, could not force an unequal peace on unequal partners (Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon), it is also very obvious that Delhi cannot impose peace on Pakistan the same way. India could not break up Sri Lanka and make it kowtow to India. It cannot force Pakistan. It has to woo Pakistanis if it wants peace on its western borders.
The statements emanating out of Delhi seem to suggest that India will begin talks about peace with Pakistan if this, that, or the other happens. This is typical Indian arrogance that keeps both countries embroiled in perpetual enmity. India, come what may, cannot dictate its terms to Islamabad. If India wants peace in the subcontinent, it has to change its attitude towards all its neighbors – Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. While the other states may accept some bullying from Delhi, China and Pakistan will not. In light of the nuclear factor, Delhi cannot outstare Islamabad.
Delhi has to tone down its rhetoric on terror. Islamabad and the world knows who is behind the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in Swat. If Delhi wants peace with Pakistan, it has to pull back in Afghanistan and Swat. It has to make major territorial concessions in Kashmir and the border areas. Once the border disputes have been resolved, the sky is the limit in terms of cooperation with Pakistan. Disputes over areas like Sir Creek and Siachen have to be resolved and resolved quickly. Once the issue of Kashmir is resolved in accordance with U.N. resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, the Pakistan government will find no problem in helping India gain transnational travel through to Pakistan. However, this has to be on a mutual basis that would allow Pakistani trucks to reach Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. India must live up to the letter and the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty and begin treating Pakistanis as friends rather than enemies.
If India wants peace with Pakistan, it has to dismantle the infrastructure of the RSS - a large organization in India committed to Hindu revivalism - and the BJP party and gag the Islamaphobes that it nurtures within its borders. If India wants peace, it has to stop sabotaging Pakistan at all international forums, and begin supporting common and Pakistani causes. Jointly fighting for the Basmati rice patent and the International Rice Research Institute copyright would help the atmosphere of friendship.
Keywords
Pakistan India peace Islamabad Delhi
There is much in common between India and Pakistan, but there is much that separates the countries. Mere cultural affinity and anathema to religion cannot wish the differences away. India must recognize that Pakistanis do not see Delhi as the perfect model to emulate on anything. Therefore, Delhi must stop wishing for a Pakistan in its own image. There are many routes to success, and Pakistanis admire the Chinese a lot more than they admire Indians.
It is not Delhi’s God-given right to rule Kabul. Nor does India extend from Kabul to the Raj Kalhani (a mythical land east of Bali, Indonesia) in the East. Indian religions preach the eternal history of India beyond its borders. If India is a secular country, then this transnational dream of a greater India must be brought back to reality. Every time BJP party leaders Adhvani and Modi open their mouths, peace is sent back a decade.
Good relations with Pakistan begin with better treatment of Muslims in India – beginning with the Kashmiris, but not just limited to them. The Gujaratis and the other downtrodden Muslims in India must be treated as equal citizens, and things must move beyond tokenism (Azad, Fakhuddin & Kalam).
There are many types of peace. It is obvious that India has neither the capacity nor the wherewithal to impose peace of the sort that exists between the Native Americans and the U.S. government. India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not the Gaza strip. If Israel, with all its might, could not force an unequal peace on unequal partners (Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon), it is also very obvious that Delhi cannot impose peace on Pakistan the same way. India could not break up Sri Lanka and make it kowtow to India. It cannot force Pakistan. It has to woo Pakistanis if it wants peace on its western borders.
The statements emanating out of Delhi seem to suggest that India will begin talks about peace with Pakistan if this, that, or the other happens. This is typical Indian arrogance that keeps both countries embroiled in perpetual enmity. India, come what may, cannot dictate its terms to Islamabad. If India wants peace in the subcontinent, it has to change its attitude towards all its neighbors – Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. While the other states may accept some bullying from Delhi, China and Pakistan will not. In light of the nuclear factor, Delhi cannot outstare Islamabad.
Delhi has to tone down its rhetoric on terror. Islamabad and the world knows who is behind the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in Swat. If Delhi wants peace with Pakistan, it has to pull back in Afghanistan and Swat. It has to make major territorial concessions in Kashmir and the border areas. Once the border disputes have been resolved, the sky is the limit in terms of cooperation with Pakistan. Disputes over areas like Sir Creek and Siachen have to be resolved and resolved quickly. Once the issue of Kashmir is resolved in accordance with U.N. resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, the Pakistan government will find no problem in helping India gain transnational travel through to Pakistan. However, this has to be on a mutual basis that would allow Pakistani trucks to reach Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. India must live up to the letter and the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty and begin treating Pakistanis as friends rather than enemies.
If India wants peace with Pakistan, it has to dismantle the infrastructure of the RSS - a large organization in India committed to Hindu revivalism - and the BJP party and gag the Islamaphobes that it nurtures within its borders. If India wants peace, it has to stop sabotaging Pakistan at all international forums, and begin supporting common and Pakistani causes. Jointly fighting for the Basmati rice patent and the International Rice Research Institute copyright would help the atmosphere of friendship.
KeywordsPakistan India peace Islamabad Delhi
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This may be a pact between two evils?
The world should have a competition that who is the better evil?