INDI-PAKISTAN WAR... NEVER

Justice Rajindar Sachar
Chief Justice (Retd.) High Court of Delhi

The results of Assembly elections has proved that Indian electorate has reached a mature understanding of terrorism as being a world phenomena as against anti-Pakistan sentiment projected by the B.J.P. The cult of war cry, in the wake of Mumbai terrorist attacks had inflated the ego of the B.J.P. to imagine itself as a colossus. An electoral slap in reply has proved President Lincoln's saying “You can fool all the people for some time, you can fool some people for all time – but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

This is not meant in any way to lessen a whit the horrendous experience of Mumbai tragic killings by terrorist attacks on 26 th , 27 th and 28 th November 2008. It justifiably numbed and angered the nation, which saw the gruesome happenings live on T.V. for all these days. The security personnel and commandos are fully entitled to our thankful respectful homage.

Indignation at the incompetence, slothfulness and indifference of governmental agencies to national safety has rightly exploded. This perception now stands confirmed by the unalloyed but democratically correct admission of P. Chidambaram, the new Home Minister. Incompetency of the government should not be compounded by stifling civil liberties of the citizens.

But I am gravely worried at the sudden loss of trust between India and Pakistan . It is now an established fact that Mumbai attacks had Pakistan link. It does speak poorly of Pakistan government that in the first instance, it denied that terrorists were from Pakistan, and tried to play an unworthy smart card of India supplying proof of Pakistani connection, especially when Pakistan itself had been a victim of its home grown terrorists, the various assassination attempts on Musharaff, the murder of Benazir Bhutto were obviously the work of Al-Qaida, LeT and other Jihadi groups operating from Pakistan.

Initially President Asif Ali Zardari made the right noise – he talked of sending the head of I.S.I. (as was the understanding of Indian government). But then he recanted apparently under the pressure of I.S.I., which led to the demand for aggressive action in India .

Unthink-ingly,  the Government of India cowed under pressure and cut off all contacts which were mutually beneficial like peace talks on Silchin, Sir Creek, even trade talks have been put in abeyance. Who are we damaging but the average man in both the countries.

Things could have become worse but the U.S.A., desperate about its Afghan venture going astray, moved in and pressurized Pak government to act, which has now arrested Lakhavi, the leader of terrorist gang and detained Masood Azhar. One regrets that Pakistan did not resort to these steps at the asking of India . This has not shown our independence of working – rather it has shown both our countries as being subordinated to USA global programme. I should have thought that after Pakistan 's action, however reluctantly, greater trust will grow between both the countries. But so much is the mutual suspicion that a hoax call to President Zardari allegedly by Indian foreign minister threatening him to take action against terrorists was blown up in spite of immediate denial by India . Even more surprising is that the hot line which exists between two Prime Ministers was not activated – this mystery apparently has not been cleared adding to further strain.

Unfortunately, media is not acting responsibly by insisting on Government of India to demand the handing over of terrorists. One report, if true, that Indian Government had even asked for handing over of Hamid Gul, the former I.S.I. Chief shows a complete lack of realism. The U.S.A. may behave in a similar vein and get away, because unfortunately, Pakistan is a client State economically, especially with US war in Afghanistan determining the relationship. But surely saner thinking must tell us that India cannot and could not act, as some hawks are egging on Government of India to take near dangerous steps like limited strike in Pakistan territory on the plea of chasing the terrorists. Already suspicion has been so aroused in Pakistan that hundred gathered at Pakistan Wagah border shouting anti-India slogans – how sad it would make some of us led by Kuldip Nayar, the eminent journalist, who have been lighting candles of peace on 14 th August for over a decade and half, and which resulted since last two or three years with an equal genuine reciprocal gathering across Pak Wagah border as a bond of mutual friendship.

This mutual suspicion is suicidal. Terrorism is a danger to both countries. Pakistan has gruesome situation of terrorism on its own soil by the terrorists even targeting Shia prayer halls in Peshawar only a couple of days back. Pakistan is so much a victim of terrorism that in North-western Pakistan the number of terrorist attacks against police has gone up from 113 in 2005 to 1820 last year. The carriage at The Taj and Oberoi Hotels was in the same strain as the terrorists did at Marriot Hotel in Islamabad .

Similarly, European Union has sent a strong message and asked it to “fully cooperate” in investigating the “horrendous” terror attacks in Mumbai.

The well wishers of Indo – Pak friendship should not let the foul deeds of Al – Qaida or the newly named LeT or the latest or Jamat – ud – Dawa muddy our relations. The comment by some Indian artists proudly saying on TV ( India ) that they will not perform with Pak artists was objectionable, provocative and totally against the spirit of art. Similarly, action by Pak government telling Ghulam Mohd., the singer, not to go to India is equally unworthy.

We must put a halt to these unnecessary jingoistic, provoca-tive action. Let not our anger, at our Government's inefficiency, make us insensitive to common safety and welfare. We have to accept that average Pakistani wishes his democratic experiment to succeed, and his friendship with India to blossom (notwithstanding I.S.I. tricks).

Any hawkish attitude in India ill-befits the conciliatory and understanding statement of President Zardari, namely ‘Mumbai' attacks were directed not only at India but also at Pakistani new democratic government and the peace process that we have initiated.

The mutual wrangling can create an unintended dangerous course when like Mr. Qureshi, the Foreign Minister of Pak, (who by all reckoning is rightly considered a champion of Indo – Pak friendship) because of compulsions at home and possibly hawkish sentiments going out of India has had to say, “We do not want to impose war, but we are fully prepared in case war is imposed on us.” This only shows how politicians in both countries wish to display sterner face forgetting that there is nothing more destructive for us than war between India and Pakistan – this is not an option, because it can only bring untold misery to both our countries.