Author: Kamal Kant Gouri
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 12, 2001
With American military action in
Afghanistan in full cry, it is a great opportunity for India to bring an
end to the miseries inflicted on Kashmir and the nation because of Pakistan's
proxy-war. Upholding national interest and not getting bogged down by its
own unrealistic, moral posturing, the Indian leadership must utilise the
attack on terror as a chance to set things right in its own backyard.
At the moment, it is clear that
both Pakistan and the US are in a tight spot. The US has high stakes in
this war. It has to win it not only to re-establish its authority as the
sole superpower, but also to make the terrorists realise that it is bent
on winning the first war of the 21st century. For President Bush as well,
who has just started his stint from the most powerful seat of the world,
losing this war is unaffordable. The public in the US is horrified at the
thought of facing a "hidden" enemy on its home soil. It wouldn't spare
a president who doesn't win this war. Even one month after the WTC's collapse,
terror continues to stalk Americans. Their fear is reflected in their overwhelming
support for war - more than 90 per cent Americans, according to a survey,
have supported US action against Afghanistan.
Pakistan is in a tight spot for
different reasons. It is facing the consequences of using jihad as an instrument
of state policy. First, this policy was used against India, and then against
Afghanistan through the Taliban. This did not stop there; through the Taliban,
Pakistan has tried to expand the idea of jihad across the world. This has
become clear after a link has been established between the sacked ISI chief
Lt Gen Mehmood Ahmed and Mohammed Atta, one of the pilots who wrecked the
WTC. This is an indicator of the Talibanisation of the ranks in the Pakistani
military establishment.
Pakistan is thus under US pressure
to take corrective measures. In return it may get some economic and military
benefits from the Americans, but it will have to pay the price as well.
The internal situation in Pakistan is clearly taking a turn for the worse.
Two Pakistani provinces, which are ethnically closer to Afghanistan, are
up in arms. The Baluchis and Pashtuns would not like to see their people
killed in US attacks. These sections would see the altered Pakistani approach
as another instance of betrayal by the Punjabi-dominated establishment.
Then there are religious and assorted
fundamentalist groups which would wait for their day. The turbulence in
Pakistan has made the Americans choose the northern route to wage war against
the Taliban. In fact, very limited use is being made of the Pakistani territory,
for the moment at least.
General Musharraf is today in the
same position as Mr Nawaz Sharif. When the latter went to the US to get
his country out of the international isolation that it had placed itself
in by crossing LoC in Kargil, he became history. In the case of General
Musharraf, history has repeated itself too soon; he could well be waiting
to see another General take his place.
This spells an immense opportunity
for India to extract maximum mileage on Kashmir. Since Pakistan is presently
at its weakest, India must launch its proactive policy against that country,
diplomatically as well as militarily.
If India takes such action against
Pakistan, the Americans would certainly be concerned. The superpower would
not like to see another battle in the region where it is engaged in an
important war. The calls from President Bush and the forthcoming visit
of Secretary of State Colin Powell clearly underlines American concerns
in this regard. It shows that the US is not ruling out this possibility
and desires to avert it.
In such a situation, the Indian
leadership must extract the maximum advantage for the nation. Unfortunately,
it appears our leaders are content with whatever partial advantages that
are flowing in its direction. It is time India talked business with the
US: That if it's supporting the US gameplan by not opening another battlefront,
it expects support on Kashmir in return. But before that the Indian leadership
must reveal its proactive policy towards Pakistan.
The Indian objective in the quid
pro should be that Pakistan stop its proxy-war against India including
support to terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan has been conducting
this proxy-war for close to two decades. This war has resulted in tens
of thousands of deaths apart from draining thousands of crores of rupees.
Our response to Pakistan for its
"lay off India" should also be in English: "Enough is enough". Either Pakistan
mends its ways or it faces the consequences. It is time the Indian political
leadership showed the grit and the purpose. It must certainly not get swayed
by sudden overtures of friendship from General Musharraf, who is phoning
the Indian Prime Minister or inviting our Foreign Minister. And neither
should it resort to moral posturing which has been its bane for the last
several decades. The nation's objectives should be defined in clear terms
and put into practice. The hardening of position by a nation facing proxy
war for two decades is bound to make the international community see reason.
