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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