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Old Thursday, October 29, 2015
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Default India and Pakistan’s Enduring Standoff

by Asma Jahangir, human rights lawyer and former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan

The subcontinent has lived through hostilities, partitions, massive killings and even genocide; to achieve lasting peace, the century-old conflict between Pakistan and India must be tackled. But the failure of the region’s leaders to learn the lessons of its past continue to threaten serious implications for its future. This was evident in India and Pakistan’s celebrations of Defence Day, held on the 6th of September 2015. On this day, in 1965, both countries went to war. This year’s celebrations reached a new height of jingoism as each state declared victory over the other. A senior Indian official warned Pakistan to “behave” or be prepared to suffer smart strikes from across the border. Pakistan in return threatened that the attack could elicit a nuclear response.

Skirmishes at the border had already killed innocent military and civilians on both sides: each blamed the other for starting the firing. The media played up the tragedy, adding fuel to the already burning animosities between the two neighbours.

The official image of animosity, though, is not shared by most of its people. A Pakistani child who travelled to India for treatment for an ailing heart was warmly welcomed by Indians. Pakistani shopkeepers and taxi drivers refused to charge money from Indian visitors to a cricket match in Lahore. An Indian film showing how a young man rescues a Pakistani child, who could not speak, and manages to reunite her with her family is a box office hit in both countries. Businesses plead for a liberal trade policy between the countries. People-to-people exchanges have overrun the visa offices of India and Pakistan’s consulates. Yet, peace is nowhere in sight.

Pakistan’s establishment insists that there can be no meaningful talks with India without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

India, on the other hand, agrees to discuss the “K” issue — as they describe it — if Pakistan genuinely gives up protecting and sponsoring terrorism. The denials and accusations are unending. Pakistan’s love of the Kashmiris has not brought Kashmir any relief. On the contrary, the Kashmiri freedom movement lost moral high ground after being infiltrated by militants exported by Pakistanis, a development that gave the Indian state an excuse to increase oppression in the Valley of Srinagar, where Muslims are in a majority. Politicians in India and the military leadership in Pakistan also continue to play to the extremists within their countries: communal politics in India has electoral appeal, while Pakistan’s military relies heavily on nationalistic and Islamist sentiments to wield power overtly or covertly.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spill across the region. Proxy war between the two countries is played out in Afghanistan: India is spending huge amounts in building infrastructure in the country, while Pakistan keeps a cozy relationship with the Afghan Taliban hoping to influence the political tilt through them. Nepal is being used by the intelligence agencies of both countries to infiltrate the other with spies. The Awami League in Bangladesh is perceived to be pro-India: its arch rival is thus supported by Pakistan.
Stability in South Asia can only be reached if there is a truce between India and Pakistan.

All political parties in Pakistan support talks and building peace with India, but the real power lies with Pakistan’s military. In India too, secular politicians want talks, but the ultra-right wing holds sway. Unless domestic politics in both states take a conciliatory turn, peace talks will continue to be disrupted. It is, therefore, critical that the international community adopt a long term policy toward the region rather than continue to focus on short term gains. Policy initiatives should encourage a step-by-step relationship-building, and could start with encouraging the two states to withdraw their troops from the Siachin glacier in Kashmir where, for nineteen years, both armies have continued to hold positions despite the loss of over 2,000 soldiers to extreme weather conditions.

Certainly the current approach — which includes eulogising India’s prime minister and activities that only serve to build the public image of Pakistan’s army chief — will ultimately prove counterproductive. As we look to the future, one thing is certain: if the international community fails to encourage both countries to resolve their outstanding issues, South Asia will remain hostage to war mongers and communal politics.

Source: The crisis Group
Independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict.
https://medium.com/the-future-of-con...258#.wkcrkvxgb
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