Avoid another Headache
By Hem Raj Jain
New Delh, India

This refers to an article dated May 1, 2006 by Maleeha Lodhi, the High Commissioner of Pakistan in UK, in prominent Indian print media. It is not difficult to fathom the real reason for Ms Lodhi's miscomprehension of Indo-Pak equation. She erroneously believes that Indo-Pak relations are going from strength to strength due to unprecedented civilian interactions, peace dialogues, CBMs etc and they will usher an early 'solution of vexed Kashmir problem' verily the sine-qua-non for any worthwhile Indo-Pak friendship.
God only knows when Pakistan and its diplomats would realize that for the time being there is no solution to the Kashmir problem in view of: (1) Hindu-majority India is simply not interested in retrieving the Muslim-majority Pakistan controlled Kashmir whereas Pakistan does not have adequate military power to snatch the remaining Muslim-majority Kashmir from India. (2) After independence, to find a solution to the Kashmir problem was India's responsibility but after the terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley in the last 15 years in which almost one hundred thousand have already lost their lives, to resolve the problem has now become not only the responsibility of Pakistan but also a continuous source of fatigue for Islamabad to India's glee. (3)- India has reconciled to the situation of paying the price of some lives here and there in terrorist (mostly Kashmir problem related groups) attacks all over India.
To seek a solution of the Kashmir problem is simply a futile endeavor by Pakistan. It would be wise if Pakistan avoids another headache – the recent India-US nuclear deal. If the statement of USA President Bush on Indian soil during his recent visit that - India, the largest functioning democracy of the world, is now a strategic ally of USA- is any indication, Pakistan will be well advised not to waste its time and energy on the impossible day-dream of achieving nuclear parity with India and instead try to strive for 'global nuclear disarmament,' which is feasible and will not only put Pakistan at par with India in the nuclear field, but will also give a salutary chance to Pakistan for acquiring global leadership for the noble cause of protecting civilians (including children, women and aged) from the weapons of mass destruction which are likely to be used by misguided leaders.


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