PM’s US Visit failed To Deliver On Terrorism:

Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 at - Post Comment

A few hours after PM’s AirIndia One will land in  Delhi. A visibly happy PM will tell the Parliament in the coming week how smartly he has broken a new deal with the US who not so long back was a country of suspicion and envy for the Indians. He would also convey how  the joint communiquι esp. on the nuclear issue has placed India in the company of the “Haves” which India always craved for and that too for a little price of separating the civilian nuclear establishment with the military. There are other achievements in the field of Space, trade and investment, environment etc.

But one issue is missing in the basket of achievements. A firm commitment by US on terrorism in India by Pakistan. No categorical statement has been made by US which shows that US will henceforth cooperate with India against the Pak Sponsored terrorism. Only a meek reference was made that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and US will not meddle with as third party unless asked to do so. This was the reiteration of the old stand.

The canvas of the political discussions in US was contrasted by the unending killings of the innocent civilians and the army and paramilitary personnels serving the interest of the nation. After Ayodhya so many killings have been done. A major attempt by the terrorists in Gurej sector has been foiled by the Army. The US intelligence report says that about 2000 terrorists are waiting to enter the Indian soil to cause bloodshed. What is all this? Is it an indicator of bettering of relationship between two countries?

In my article titled “Mr. Prime Minister: Discuss the Rogue Pakistan with US:” I had proposed the following,

“It is in this context that I propose that PM in the ensuing visit to US must keep Pak high on the agenda and try to convince US that Pakistan is a rogue state. It harbours international terrorists like Daud Ibrahim and Osama Bin Laden. It promotes a culture of terror. India is the most hard hit but West to is now feeling the heat. And so US, the great friend  of Pakistan, must ensure that Pakistan becomes clean. PM must tell US that before Kashmir it is the terror question which needs to be dealt with. The issues of Civilian use of nuclear energy, energy policy or economic cooperation must get the second priority in his discussions with US. Pakistan needs to be declared a rogue state.”

However, it seems that the issue has not made much headway except the old recording of commitment towards terrorism again played for the Indian PM. This is the serious setback.

The schools of jihad in Pakistan first started production and export of terrorists at mass level for India and Russia-in-Afghanistan. Once the Afghanistan issue got settled they were diverted towards India with more vigour. Thanks to Al Qaida that the flow was then partly diverted to the US. The same US instead of hitting at the root of terror in Pakistan, like it hit Afghanistan, made Pakistan a more close friend in the fight against international  terrorism. The hope was that if US interest is served by Pakistan then as quid pro quo Pakistan should be allowed to pursue its policy of low intensity war through terrorists in India. Only lip serves were paid while addressing the concern towards Indian interest.

 And now this policy has backfired. London is bombed. Nobody knows how many more places will be bombed and how many more innocents will be killed. Iraq and Palestine will always be a source of encouragement for the jihadis towards committing terrorist acts. 

A sense of hatred is developing in the minds and hearts of Christians world over against the Islamic terrorism. Whether you say it or not realities will remain as realities. The schism between the two great religions is growing and the dark days are ahead.

In between, in order to keep their own house in order, the powerful countries like US and Britain will negotiate with Pakistan at their own term. It is doubted if the concern of India will be anywhere in their mind while discussions. West may again commit a mistake by allowing Pakistani terrorists to use India as their workplace in lieu of a peaceful West. Though this policy may again backfire as one of the cause of the hatred in the world i.e. the western colonial interest by capturing the countries like Iraq, will also continue to exist. But in their efforts the West may allow Pakistan this leverage of venturing into India.

Thus there is a need for India to follow her own policy towards terrorism rather than relying totally on the US and UK. Enough is enough. We don’t want a solution to Kashmir when the knife is kept on the neck. Nobody want the precious life of Indian security forces taken so easily and cheaply and making more and more  children orphans. The Indian government must immediately stop the peace process with Pakistan after giving one last warning. If Pakistan doesn’t stop the infiltration then India will have to rethink the Indo Pak relationship in a new perspective. The softness of Indian society may not be construed as weakness. And so the decaying Pakistan may be convinced that if they have to grow than they must draw a bigger line for themselves rather then attempting to become big by shortening the bigger line itself. If Pakistan refuses to agree then the sovereign India will have to recast its Pakistan policy.

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