INDO-PAK RELATIONS

The urgent need of the hour

Due to the divide and rule policy of the British, India was divided into 2 nations. India and Pakistan share a close historic, cultural, geographical and economic ties but their relationship has been plagued by hostility and suspicion. This is clearly evident from the Kashmir dispute and the numerous conflict between the two nations.

After the passing of the Indian Independence Act by the British Parliament in 1947, two new sovereign nations were formed- India and Pakistan. But this was marked by a large number of deaths due to communal riots. Both the countries established diplomatic relations but the violent partition and numerous territorial disputes would overshadow their relationship. Since their independence, the two countries have fought 3 major wars, one undeclared wars and have been involved numerous armed conflict and military standoffs. With the exception of Indo-Pak War, 1971 which resulted in the birth of East Pakistan, the Kashmir dispute is the centre-point of all conflicts.

There have been numerous attempts to improve the relationship notably the Shimla Summit, the Agra Summit and the Lahore Summit. Certain confidence building measures such as the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement and the Delhi-Lahore bus service were successful in deescalating tensions. However, these efforts have been impeded by the 2001 Indian Parliament Attack, 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings, 2008 Mumbai attack and most recently the beheading of an Indian soldier on 8^th January, 2013 the killing of 5 Indian Army on 6^th August, 2013. The incident that took place on 6^th August gave a severe blow to the meeting to be held between Nawaz Sharif and Manmohan Singh on the margins the UN General Assembly.

Starting from mid-January, this have been described as the ‘worst bout of fighting’ since the signing of 2003 Ceasefire Agreement. There have been a series of armed skirmishes along the Line of Control. This is not a healthy sign for the two South Asian nations.

The latest skirmishes along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir exposed the lack of any sort of strategic clarity at the political level and sheer lack of options at the diplomatic level on how India should deal with Pakistan. It seems that India’s entire policy on Pakistan has shrunk into a single binary: to talk or not to talk. Over the last 67 years, India has failed to evolve a clear, cold-hearted policy on Pakistan. Merely declaring that a stable and prosperous Pakistan is India’s interest won’t help to deescalate tensions. There have to be a clear-cut policy on Pakistan to improve diplomatic ties. If it is India’s policy, then a big question arises as to what India has done to achieve this policy. The simple fact is that India has not made up its mind on what it wants from and out of Pakistan. This is one of the reasons why India has only an ad hoc tactical approach towards Pakistan.

The arrest of Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Tunda by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on 16^th August  in Uttarakhand Banbasa area close to the Nepal Border revealed the hidden agenda of Pakistan. He was arrested with a Pakistani passport.

From the interrogation report:

3 lakh members in LeT

2 Groups out of LeT= Harkat-ul-Ansar and Harkat-ul-Jihad. On directions of ISI and LeT, groups merged under the name Jaish-e-Mohammad. JeM was used by ISI for its operations.

1.5 lakh members in JeM

Most LeT cadres are recruited from Punjab Province, Pkistan30-70 members in a group for training

12 armed persons always with Hafeez Saeed

The above report shows a number of Anti-India activists are operating from within Pakistan. If Pakistan really wants to maintain a close diplomatic  ties with India, Pakistan must act swiftly and stringently to arrest Hafeez Saeed(founder of LeT and mastermind of 2008 Mumbai Attack) who so far have been arrested on a number of occasions but released due to lack of evidence. It has to ensure India that Pakistan is not a safe haven for terrorists and not to engage in state sponsored terrorism/ proxy war against India. And the ISI too should stop helping infiltration of terrorists into India.

The speech of Honorable President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on the eve of Independence Day clearly signifies that India is ready to defend its country at all cost. India with its military might may not be silenced for too long. There will be a time when India can no longer withstand its patience. Unless border skirmishes are resolved at the earliest, it will only lead to a state of war (might not be of conventional war). For the safety and security of World Peace particularly South Asia, it is of utmost importance for the two South Asian nations to resume bilateral talks at the earliest and refrain from any sort of violence.