Author: P. M. Kamath
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: May 20, 2003
Prime Minister's principal secretary
and part time national security adviser, Brajesh Mishra during his discussions
in Washington, DC with his counterpart, Condoleeza Rice had the occasion
to address American Jewish Community's annual dinner meeting. Mishra, at
this meeting, publicly advocated a trilateral effort-by India, US and Israel
to fight the scourge of international terrorism.
There has been active cooperation
between India and Israel ever since former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao
upgraded relations between thetwo countries to ambassadorial level. But
this is the first time any government official publicly favouring such
an alliance. There could be many reasons for India taking such a stance.
First, obviously it was a congregation of Jews who are after all very powerful
as a community in the US. Their lobbying power is proverbialy so strong
that many presidents have found it very difficult to overrule them especially
as an election year approaches.
Second, it could be a signal to
the US that India is running out of patience on the US promises to make
Pakistan see the futility of supporting cross-border terrorism. It is particularly
disgusting to know those double standards are applied to terrorism by the
US. Latest in the series is the fact that Powell says in the Middle East
that unless Palestinians take steps to disarm militants, peace in the region
is not possible. Is it not the case in South Asia? Unless Pakistan dismantles
terrorist training camps and disarms them, peace in the region is impossible.
Hence, in frustration, if India increases Indo-Israeli cooperation in political,
diplomatic and security relations, US should not view it with alarm.
Third, it could be a message to
Pakistan that unless it improves its ways in conducting bilateral relations
with India, we will be left with the only alternative of intensified fight
against terrorism on the borders, with any other means. In that India will
be free to take help from any country it deems appropriate. Incidentally,
an important technique developed by Israel is to penetrate into terrorist
groups to foil their designs by taking counter-terrorist steps. India needs
to learn it from Israelis.
Whatever may be the purpose behind
the Mishra move, reactions from Pakistan and even within our country, are
interesting and surprising. First let us look at the Pakistani reactions.
Pakistan says it is already a member of international coalition floated
by the US to fight against global terrorism. Pakistan's Foreign Office
Spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan informed the media that many countries including
the US have praised its role in the war against terrorism.
Indeed, Pakistan performs its role
as a fighter by right hand against international terrorism in the west
while promoting it by its left hand against India, so well that no one
can really match it that easily. Beyond praise, the US has also waived
off Pakistan's debts in billions. The US has even lifted sanctions economic
and on sale of dual use technology to Pakistan while retaining the latter
against India. Recently Prime Minister Vajpayee referred to the double
standards adopted by the US in this regard while christening Light Combat
Aircraft as Tejas in Bangalore.
The US is a promoter of democracy
globally. But Pakistan is an exception. General Musharraf wants to hold
dual positions and play a dual role-as a civilian President of incipient
democracy and the chief of army at the same time. Musharraf might even
convince George Bush at his ensuing meeting in Camp David that he is in
fact embodiment of American concept of civilian supremacy over armed forces!
After all Pakistanis are new to democracy and they need his guidance!
Now turning to reactions within
the country, Indian Muslims are upset over Mishra's proposal of fighting
terrorism with the help of Israel and the US. Interestingly Raza Academy
has said, according to a press report, that involving Israel in any process
will not be acceptable to Muslim community. "To tackle the threat of terrorism,
India cannot risk taking the help of terrorists themselves." The academy
forgets the fact that the US is taking the help of Pakistan, which is the
promoter of terrorism against India in its fight against Al Qaida terrorism.
The Academy also holds that visit
by Ariel Sharon to India could lead to law and order problems. If India
plays host to a foreign dignitary it is not that India approves all its
policies. India had hosted Chinese leaders who were responsible for massacre
of 2200 students in Beijing in 1989 pro-democracy movement. India does
not condone massacre. Hence the point is that if a country can provide
us know-how for tackling the menace of cross-border terrorism, as Indians
we should welcome it. Muslim intellectuals in India need to look to Indian
national interest first rather than illusive interests of others. This
reminds me of the behaviour of Communists in India and elsewhere. They
irrespective of where they lived always spoke for the interests of the
Communists in the Soviet Union. The nationalism for them was internationalism.
Since Reza Academy does not want
India to have any connections with Israel, why not they promote a new mindset
in Pakistan, to educate them, that terrorism is an unmitigated evil? Hence,
that is against Islam so that they too join India in the fight against
terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Already Al Qaida has engineered suicidal
terrorist attacks in Riyadh, Casablanca and Pakistan killing innocents
in hundreds.
Only other day, Pakistan's Foreign
Minister, Khurshid Mohammad Kasuri has given us a quotable quote. He said:
"When a suicide bomber goes on a martyrdom mission, he does not take permission
from anyone." He admitted that Pakistan did have influence over the people
of Kashmirimplying that terrorists crossing Pakistani borders are Kashmiris,
which is incorrect by 99 percent. But, he added "we cannot dictate to them,
they don't take dictation from us."
Pakistan should be made by its friends
like the US to learn to dictate the terrorists. Sooner they learn, better
it will be for them. Terrorism is like a ballistic missile; it can be directed
against any target.
