The Indian Obduracy and the Rhetoric of ‘Aman Ki Aasha’

[ABDUL JABBAR KATIAR]

The main cause of failure of recent Indian Foreign Minster SM Krishna’s visit was the Indian rhetoric of terrorism, and duplicitous tactics of Indian side

After the Mumbai episode, the peace process between India and Pakistan came to standstill, mainly due to Indian rigidity. India presents its own reasons to react in this particular way but this is an undeniable fact that this inflexible Indian attitude has grave implications for the both south Asian over populated and poverty stricken states. Both states are confronted with innumerable tribulations like internal security, communal clashes, bad governance, terrorism, natural catastrophes, economic and management issues. Then Indian hegemonic designs and aspiration to become a regional and global power cannot allow it to remain hostile or unleash any military adventure against nuclear Pakistan, the war which has chances to cross nuclear threshold after reaching a certain point of death and destruction on either side.

The main cause of failure of recent Indian Foreign Minster SM Krishna’s visit was the Indian rhetoric of terrorism. India was not willing to talk about any other contentious issue. On the other hand, Pakistan wants Kashmir issue to be discussed first as Pakistan rightly calls it, the real bone of contention between the two neighbours. This Pakistan’s stance has some mass that the issue of militancy and terrorism cannot be divorced from the issue of Kashmir as both have acute ‘cause and effect’ relationship. Pakistan’s foreign minister made it very clear that Pakistan and Pakistani people cannot d-link themselves from Kashmir and the severe human rights violation in that earthly paradise. But India is never moved by any of Pakistan’s argument.



India, what I see, is playing a double game and duplicitous tactics not only with Pakistan but with international community as well. The readers may doubt my neutrality and being a Pakistani writer, I may have my own reasons to believe that, but I can humbly present numerous facts in support of my above statement. When one comes across Indian press and Indian electronic media, it seems as if the whole Indian nation is enthusiastically waiting for an opportunity to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries and want genuinely peaceful, harmonious and cordial bilateral relations with Pakistan. ‘Aman ki aasha’ is the practical manifestation of this Indian media tactic. On the other hand, the rigid attitude of Indian foreign secretary and now foreign minister leads us in different direction and unveil the hollowness of Indian peace rhetoric. Most importantly
the recent survey conducted by Times of India, exhibits the real picture of India and its people’s intentions toward peace with Pakistan. According to this survey 86 percent of Indians have opposed further talks with Pakistan, which is a clear contradiction with the slogan of aman ki aasha.
The sole reason of India being so noisy in this play “peace” is, just to gain favour of international community, especially the west, and then to maintain its so-called democratic reputation. Then it’s recently dreamed, aggressive military doctrine ‘cold start’, which India wants to pursue as limited war strategy under nuclear umbrella, so that a total war leading to nuclear exchange might be avoided. Many experts have asserted that this is a flawed strategy due to many a reasons and it will not serve Indian purpose of limited war under nuclear umbrella and it can direct to the outbreak of full-fledged war between these nuclear weapons belligerents.

Then India is also having double standards when it vociferously opposes Pakistan’s nuclear deal with china which is only and only for peaceful purposes, and which is immensely needed by energy stricken Pakistani nation, the deal which New Delhi is already enjoying with US. But India has forwarded its weightless concerns over this deal and is also successful in selling them to international community through its unbridled media and diplomatic means. Stop and think for a moment, what kind of peace India wants with Pakistan by pursuing these policies? Then let’s move further, India’s ceaseless work on the illegal construction of dams, violating Indus water treaty is another contradiction with its ‘aman ki aasha’ oratory. Now let’s have an acquaintance with India’s recently signed agreement with US for counter terrorism is nothing else but to channelize US pressure on Kashmir’s indigenous freedom struggle. Then New Delhi’s aspiration for ballistic missile defence system, funded by America, has clear prospects of destabilizing the existing minimum credible nuclear deterrence between these south Asian contesting states, is another manifestation of Indian hegemonic designs in the region. This aspiration of India has commenced a new arms race in the region which has crucial implications for the whole region. Is this Indian ambition of ballistic missile defence system is for peace? Obviously it is not, even a layman cannot think of it.

India’s rapidly growing influence in Afghanistan, backed by United States is another alarming bell not only for Pakistan but also for china. Indian eagerness in Afghanistan is mainly strategic, Pakistan and china-centric. India aims to encircle Pakistan and to deprive it of its asset of traditional strategic depth, which Pakistan would pursue at the time of any aggression from its western borders. Then Indian ruthless secret intelligence outfit, RAW, history of which is evident that it had always been adopting the methods of destruction, instability, hostility, confrontation, breeding and ethnic, linguistic, religious, communal, sectarian discords among its neighbouring states. Their sabotage and espionage activities are beyond any doubt. Indian involvement in Balochistan and FATA is just to destabilize Pakistan and to make the west realize of Pakistan’s incapability to handle its extremist elements, so to declare it a rogue state. Portraying alleged threats of nuclear terrorism, so that Pakistan could be deprived of its nuclear assets by international community.
India still considers and projects itself as one of the greatest democracies of the world and guardian of peace and harmony. The 86 percent people refusing to move forward in talks with Pakistan is an alarming situation and depicts the fact that the hawkish elements present in Indian media and politics have successfully smoothened public opinion against Pakistan.

One can conclude after observing all above facts that the motto aman ki aasha is nothing other than an Indian tamasha (trick). Yes,
If India is true in its words it should reciprocate Pakistan’s flexible attitude to move forward in peace process, adequately addressing Pakistan’s concerns and giving kashmiris, the pledged right of fair plebiscite,
under UN supervision and according to UN security counsel’s resolutions. It should cease all its clandestine programmes in the region especially, in Pakistan, which in truth are the greatest hindrances in the line of peace, prosperity and stability of the region.
The writer is a bilingual defence, security and foreign policy analyst.
Email: mustansardss@hotmail.com

Mustansar Hussain Tasir