Geopolitics

Pakistan: dialogue process will end only in frustration
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Issue Vol 24.4 Oct-Dec2009 | Date : 11 Nov , 2010

Since wars have failed to produce the desired results and have even led to the division of the country, a strategy of subversion, sabotage, terrorism and proxy war has been substituted, that despite mounting international and bilateral pressure Pakistan is refusing to give up. Growing Islamic radicalization in Pakistan makes a change of policy there infinitely more difficult.

The same applies to the Kashmir issue also. Besides, Pakistani leadership is also on record for stating that a solution of the Kashmir question will not end their confrontation with India.

Pakistani enmity for India is abiding. It is reflected glaringly in its educational, military and nuclear doctrines. Not only the madrasas but also the Govt. approved text books in schools and colleges demonise India, indoctrinating the young minds with hatred for India. One can ask the NGOs and think tanks that pitch in time and again for resumption and continuance of the dialogue process how many of them have asked for revision of text books to replace the animosity and hatred they teach, with a call for a friendly, compassionate and neighborly fellow feeling. Never has sympathy stirred the hearts of Pakistanis when attacks by Pakistani terrorists have killed innocents, women and children in India.

Enmity with India makes Pakistan focus its military and nuclear doctrine entirely against India. Increasing Islamization of the rank and file of Pakistani military and nuclear establishment makes reconciliation with India almost impossible. There are good reasons to believe that some in Pakistan are itching to unleash the nuclear arsenal on India. It will simply be unwise to think that the logic of deterrence that operated during the cold war can be the guiding lights for the irrational minds that govern Pakistan.

Several other issues harden the Pakistani posture with anti-India feelings. Regarding India as hegemonistic lands Pakistan in a perpetual conflictual stance. Search for parity with India in strength and influence amounts to a vain effort to prove geography wrong. Plans of a modus vivendi remain unattainable because of the unquenched thirst for revenge in the Pakistani armed forces which suffered successive defeats in wars with India. The causes of defeat remain incomprehensible to the military mind which then turns to the delusional solace that devotion to religion will turn the tables against the adversary.

Since wars have failed to produce the desired results and have even led to the division of the country, a strategy of subversion, sabotage, terrorism and proxy war has been substituted, that despite mounting international and bilateral pressure Pakistan is refusing to give up. Growing Islamic radicalization in Pakistan makes a change of policy there infinitely more difficult.

The dialogue process is just too inadequate to meet the challenges from Pakistan”¦ A majority of citizens of the country are likely to respect a bold and blunt policy.

Use of terror has created its own rules of the game. The initiatives have now passed beyond the hands of the state and the controller himself is being threatened. The short objective of the proxy war and terrorism against India was to initiate another two nation theory movement in India. Unless Pakistan moves away from the two nation theory it will be just futile to expect any change in Pakistani policies and practices. Till then Pakistani assurances should be rejected as too often in the past Pakistan has betrayed the trust reposed in its words, written or otherwise…

The dialogue process is just too inadequate to meet the challenges from Pakistan. First, they have to be fought at the ideological level and then at the field level. What the response at the field level should be needs to be thought out in advance and appropriate measures kept ready, to be launched at a moment’s notice on any new transgression. A majority of citizens of the country are likely to respect a bold and blunt policy.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Anand K Verma

Former Chief of R&AW and author of Reassessing Pakistan.

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One thought on “Pakistan: dialogue process will end only in frustration

  1. It is so unfortunate that Indian Intelligentsia considers violent protest by Muslims and Pakistanis, against Indian high handedness, as terrorism.

    Muslims will always protest, sometimes violently,because Prophet muhammad told them so.

    The only solution to intractable border issues is to sit down and talk like decent neighbors.

    Please let your readers get an idea about how Pakistanis think on Pakistan border map issue.

    https://how2havefun.com/pakistan-news/pakistan-map

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