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TRAILING the global route of atypical nature, Pakistan
and India have agreed on a basic roadmap for a peace
process — which the two nuke-neighbours — envision with optimism
‘would eventually resolve all their disputes including the
core issue of Kashmir.’
Towards the end of a 3-day interaction — the first after a pause
of almost half-a-decade — Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Riaz
Khokhar says: 'We do have before us now a sort of a basic
roadmap for a Pakistan-India peace process to which we have
both agreed.'
Analyzing with a pragmatic outlook, nothing else could be
expected beyond this ‘achievement’ from an elfin-level contact
between the two realms of South Asia, which remained betrothed
in a hostile posture ever since the surfacing of Pakistan on
the world Atlas — as a sovereign state, which India, deviously
did not recognize by heart.
As is indexed in the folio of ties between the two countries,
the relations between the two relentlessly were blemished by
irritants of perilous nature — only because of stringency n’
egotism vis-à-vis the ground realities — a traditional New Delhi
style.
The newest overtures for peace n’ amity in the region are
indubitably an upshot of Pakistan’s adore for first-rate ties
with its’ all neighbors, of-course with India on the top of
the catalog. This veracity has — overtly — been vindicated n
manifested by every pragmatic nation — even by the United
States, the ‘unembroidered ruler’ of the present-day
compass — the orb.
Yet in spite of lofty hopes — emotionally involved by the comity
of nations — towards the Indo-Pakistan link via parleys, a
diminutive icon of a major breakthrough seems perceptible as
New Delhi, prima facie persists with its illicit grip over a
part of the Himalayan State of Jammu n’ Kashmir and is in no
mood to turn flexible by bending before the legitimate aspires
of the people of this magnetic terrain — in any way.
Well-versed with the reality that this volatile issue is the
root cause of tainted relations between India n’ Pakistan, it
looks that New Delhi is glued with a gambit which shall, in
the long run, make all the global ambitions evaporated via a
simple rub of its customary flare-up.
With such a mindset, the on-gong delight of love for peace in
South Asia by India would vanish in a spur of moment — bringing
back the volcanic milieu in this luckless region. Every
realist views that the current Indian zest for friendship with
Pakistan is an ‘Election con’ — in other words a ‘short-lived
love.’
Had it [New Delhi] sincere towards Pakistan’s fabulous
gestures of goodwill, it would have instantaneously depicted
an identical response by agreeing to a Summit-level talks to
sort-out all the issues — with Kashmir atop — much before airing
the outline of its polls. Paradoxically, the sketch of the
situation stays — as it was back in 1947.
We must eschew all types of
illusions — for the times to come. A mere accord on a ‘roadmap
for amity’ ought not to be deemed as a ‘feat’ — in any manner.
If an alike ‘roadmap’ — floated in the Middle East to avert
perils in the cogent Palestinian State has — by now — proved
fruitless n’ futile, how can we accept as true, the one about
peace in confrontational South Asia?
Dispute the dissolution of the Indian Parliament, we believe
that the BJP-Janta is strong enough to take major decisions
for a serene scenario in the region — provided it has a will or
wish to do so.
For instance, if New Delhi can intensify the magnitude of
atrocities in the forcibly-held area of the Jammu n’ Kashmir
State — even to the extent of eliminating to vocal and gallant
voices of apex Kashmiri leaders, including the fêted figure
Syed Ali Gilani — there should be no obstacle in India’s way to
get on to the task of a real process of dialogue with
Pakistan — with sincerity n’ candor.
We would — once again — like to remind India that there can be no
lovable or jovial rapport, no trade, no exchanges in any
loop — and virtually no links with it sans the solution of the
awaiting disputes, exclusively the Kashmir issue in line with
the wishes of Kashmiris [in whatever mode they consider
apposite] — as, by all pragmatism are the key party.
At the same time we endorse the vision of President Pervaiz
Musharraf, who has announced that ‘the next round of peace
talks with India will take place later this year, just after
the Indian elections, and that foreign ministers from the two
sides will soon get involved in the negotiations.’
Breaking this news at a conference of Islamic clerics, the
President viewed; ‘The talks have been held now. I want to
tell you that in July or August, or God willing, in May or
June and the next secretary-level talks will be held,
immediately after the elections in India.’
Musharraf beamed to the world that ‘the Kashmir issue will be
included and in July or August, when a Foreign Minister-level
composite dialogue will be held.’
While eulogizing the anticipation of the President, we hope n’
pray for a grand n’ grandiose victory of his acumen n’
wisdom — because, otherwise, the track-record of India’s
hypocritical impend on account of the acidic experiences at
Tashkent, Simla, Lahore declarations n’ of-late with a
traumatized outcome at Agra — has to-date been, full of
complexities with a pose of catch-22.
At this stage, we can only articulate the icons of
optimism — yet with reservations. Going by the guide of the
history — we feel that such an dialect of India — if at all
persists would not be less than a marvel or miracle — as its’
tone n’ tenor — has, by n’ large been marred by sounds of
antagonism.
By realism, we love peace, we love amity, we love friendship,
we love all types of marvelous ties — yet only by upholding our
national dignity n’ honor leading — with equilibrium as its
podium. One can’t give a standing ovation with a solitary
hand, which is ought to be reciprocated and backed by the
other. Paradoxically, such a course has been missing — from the
Indian side.
Now is the time for India’s test as to what degree or scale n’
size is it really sincere for friendship with Pakistan. The
gauge is overt. Its’ the core issue of Kashmir — the solution of
which is vital — rather must — for an amiable setting. Its’
virtually a taxing task — from which BJP — if at all returns to
power in its’ realm — may make an escape. If so happens, the
world — specially the United States — shall have to step-in
instantaneously [of-course via a vibrant diplomatic style and
certainly not through its’ fascinating n’ cute marines, facing
enormous risks in Iraq n’ elsewhere] — to avert all perils to
peace in South Asia.
With this acuity, we hope that sanity shall ‘grow with still
more altitude’ on the part of India and it shall come to the
table of meaningful negotiations — with candidness — to remove all
types of irritants, which have been the origin of frostiness
between the two neighbours — lest it fails to see a road to peace
in this part of the planet.
© 2004 Mumtaz Hamid
Rao-Pakistan Times |
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