The Missile Syndrome

India and Pakistan, with new Governments in both countries, are trying to forge better relations with each other. Within a couple of months of Nawaz Sharif and Gujral taking over as Prime Ministers, there have been a couple meetings. The Foreign Secretaries of both the countries are meting in Islamabad, June 19 and even if nothing concrete emerges from the second round of talks the mere fact that the two Governments are talking, and not fighting, should be encouraging.

There are, of course, other factors also in the relations between the two countries that have prevented smooth dialogue and closer contact. That there is so much in common is not saying much. India, without doubt, is bigger, more powerful and with more resources than Pakistan but under the Gujral Doctrine, the big brother is going more than half way to show its goodwill for a neighbor. All said and done, Pakistan remains a neighbor of India, nobody can take away that geographical fact. History of conflict and quarrel can also be used to learn valuable lessons and a new phase of friendship and cooperation can start given the right perspective and vision.

The relations between India and Pakistan, however, do not depend only on the policies and attitudes of the Governments in these countries. In India, there are genuine concerns as Pakistan has right after its creation, set on a path of confrontation and strife, because the creation of that country was based on the separatist theory. Based on religion and refusal to co-exist with the other community resulted in the partition of India--a fact that has brought so much material, emotional and economic pain to both the countries. It was the result of a third party making decision for the people of India.

It is difficult to wipe out bitter memories of the period immediately before partition and the partition itself. To deepen wounds there are three wars (1947, 1956 and 1971) and the on-going proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir foisted by Pakistan on India. Despite these the new Government of India has extended its hand of friendship toward Pakistan, a development many may not like, but true to India’s history and culture this kind of gesture probably was inevitable; it had to come from India.

Foreign Minister, and now Prime Minister, Gujral has taken the initiative to cement the bonds that do exist between the two countries. Despite strains and unfavorable developments, criticism and the existence of vested interests, machination by other countries and pressures, and forces inimical to peace and harmony in the region, India--and to an extent Pakistan also-- have expressed a desire to set up working groups to take the talking phase to working phase that may reach other phases for closer cooperation.

However, the developments in the last few days have put a damper on the goodwill and the atmosphere seems to become murky. One can see the invisible hand of those who will gain in perpetuating tension between the two neighbors and keeping their interests intact. This is an undisputed fact that peace brings reduction in arms and decrease in expenditure on equipping armed forces. The group that thrives on acquiring weapons and through a real or contrived perception of external dangers, maneuvers to whip up tension where there may not be any.

Some of these elements are present in countries that are interested in maintaining their sphere of influence and keep some other nations as their client states.

Pakistan, more than India, has to keep a careful watch over these elements and forces that are not at all interested in peace and harmony in the region. They will work behind the scenes and under covers to misuse the media for reports that may not be true, or be half true or even if true will not be allowed to be seen in their correct perspective.

One may include in the list of trouble-makers the military groups and manufacturers of weapons of destruction in the United States. Then there is the military elite--and fundamentalist clergy-- in Pakistan who dominate that country’s politics and will never allow a truly and effectively working democratic Government to adopt a peaceful and realistic policy toward India.

The proofs are the recent reports appearing in The Washington Post, of India deploying Prithvi missiles on the India-Pakistan border and reports of an Indian aircraft violating Pakistani air space. These were followed by saber-rattling by Pakistani military elite, warning India of Pakistan’s own development of missiles and threatening to down Indian planes if air space violations continue. India has denied both.

The attempt seems to be to prevent India and Pakistan from genuinely striving for peace and harmony. Agreed, there is this Kashmir issue, but even Pakistani leaders know that it is a lost cause for them as India is not going to abandon a part of the country that legally, constitutionally, historically and logically is Indian. The Kashmiri links with the rest of the country are very deep and old and are integral part of the cultural history of India and its spirituality. Nobody can get away with attacking a country, grabbing a part of it, claiming it as disputed and asking it to be handed over to the aggressor. The military elements in Pakistan and the US know it but would keep the issue hot. They should realize that this policy will not succeed and it is against the interests of Pakistan and its common people.

The policy of confrontation only serves those who are not friends of Pakistan but utterly selfish elements trying to fish in troubled waters. They want to keep their own seats warm and comfortable, their business enterprise profitable and expanding, and their political interests and dominating influence in the region intact.

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