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Indian never ending deceptions and fabrications
Asif Haroon Raja
Indians are past masters in deceit, deception and fabrications. They apply these immoral foxy tricks and rationalize them under the pretext of superior diplomacy. One of their favourite games is to make the other side engaged in unproductive and endless talks with the sole aim of gaining time. They keep moving in circles around the pole star to frustrate and drive mad the aggrieved as it has been doing for the last 62 years over Kashmir.
Having indulged in futile composite dialogue for the last five years, India suddenly suspended dialogue in December 2008 on the plea of Mumbai incident. India took a stand that unless culprits nominated by India were punished and terrorist network operating against India was not dismantled, talks would not be resumed. Drama was staged to wriggle out of talks, which had reached final stage towards resolution of all longstanding disputes like Sir Creek, Siachen, illegal construction of dams on rivers and above all Kashmir. The plot conceived by RAW and Mossad suited Indian Army and Shiv Sena to settle score with Karkare who had collected requisite evidence and was very close to reveal the real face of Hindutwa forces.
To further vitiate the atmosphere, Indian leaders not only kept hurling offensive statements and spurning repeated pleas of Pakistan to resume talks, they started to steal Pakistan’s share of water from River Chenab and also commenced work on additional dams to turn Pakistan agricultural lands barren. These intimidating acts were in gross violation of Indus Basin Treaty signed in 1960. Like USA, it also nudged Pakistan to do more on terrorism or else get prepared to face adverse consequences. Indian Army Chief upped the ante by first hinting at the possibility of limited war under nuclear hang and then bragged of taking on both China and Pakistan simultaneously.
India kept the talks in suspended animation for 14 months and would have continued to remain in uncompromising mode for quite sometime had international pressure not punctured its obstinacy. US leaders instead of advising Indian leaders to refrain from jingoism and war mongering lent support to Indian haughty posture as was evident from Robert Gates statement he gave in New Delhi during his last visit.
Pak Army’s outstanding successes in Malakand, Swat and South Waziristan brought a change in the otherwise cynical attitudes of American and western leaders. Brimming with confidence, Gen Kayani gave an illuminating talk to the captive audience of 65 NATO countries senior officers at Brussels. Besides touching upon several important aspects and highlighting the high price Pak Army had to pay to break the myth of invincibility in South Waziristan and to turn the tide, he bluntly stated that irrespective of US assurances, he as Army Chief could ill afford to neglect Indian military intentions as well as capability and the threat it poses on Pakistan’s eastern border. His candid, forthright style and down to earth practical suggestions impressed the listeners. After winning the ground battle, Kayani won the admiration and respect of the western military commanders which greatly helped in removing lurking misperceptions and doubts. For the first time, Pakistan was looked at with deference.
These happy tidings together with fast changing situation in Afghanistan compelled USA and western countries to apply pressure on India to soften up its inflexible stance for the first time. US sole interest in resumption of Indo-Pak peace talks is to make Pakistan divert its full focus towards war on terror and to achieve some kind of victory in Afghanistan so that its forces could depart on a winning note. Gen McChrystal is overly eager to emulate Pak Army model in Helmand.
India is going through anxious moments for fear of getting marginalised in Afghan affairs and Pakistan regaining importance. It had already come under pressure after its subversive activities in FATA, Swat and Balochistan got exposed. India was finding it difficult to disown its heavy involvement in clandestine operations. Burgeoning Maoist threat which has spread like a wild fire in 20 Indian states in eastern and central India and is termed as the biggest threat to existence of Indian Union is of serious concern. Khalistan movement has started to simmer and Sikh leader Awatar Singh Sekhon is exposing the ugly face of India to the world. Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir are getting more and more assertive because of unabated cruelties of Indian security forces. Cases of insubordination, suicides and psychiatric problems among Indian soldiers serving in Kashmir have up surged. Cases of theft and accidents in its nuclear facilities located within Red Corridor where Maoists are most active are worrisome. Enhancement of Pakistan’s position in the eyes of USA, NATO, Iran, Turkey and neighbours of Afghanistan is not to the liking of India since it pours cold water on years of hectic Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan. Biggest fear of India is the possibility of train of suicide attackers making a bee-line towards Kashmir or other sensitive regions of India once Afghanistan start getting stabilised.
Its image as the champion of democracy and secularism received a set back when Indian IPL managers at the behest of Indian rulers did not select a single Pakistani cricketer for the tournament. This discriminatory attitude was adopted despite the fact that Pakistan cricket team was the reigning champion of T-20. It was clear manifestation of inward animus of Hindus towards Pakistan. When Indian leading Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan expressed his regret over exclusion of Pakistani players, he had to suffer the ire of Bal Thakerey led Shiv Sena, which carries anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim agenda. The Hindu extremists have disallowed release of his new film “My name is Khan” in Mumbai. It is a small glimpse of level of extremism, bigotry and intolerance in shining India.
Indian Brahman rulers were caught between the rock and a hard place. On one hand they had to contend with surging world pressure to resume talks. On the other they could not afford to ignore the fury of Hindutwa preachers who advocate decimation of Pakistan. Not knowing how to climb down from the high pedestal of arrogance and belligerence, Indian psychological operators hit upon the deceptive scheme titled Aman ki Asha (quest for peace) to hoodwink the world and Indian lovers in Pakistan. Indian media in collaboration with its likeminded media persons in Pakistan are giving wide publicity to this charade to project soft face of India and to wash away bitter memories of Indian truculence and negativity. This vehicle is now being used to project India as a harbinger of peace. Mindful of mounting criticism from opposition parties and Hindu extremist groups, Indian leaders are issuing contradictory statements, some of them wanting composite dialogue to resume from where it got disrupted and others stating that the scope should remain restricted to terrorism only.
To give strength to its latter version, terror attack on a German Bakery in Pune on 13 February, frequented by tourists was fabricated. Eight persons including two foreigners got killed while 32 received injuries. Even if it was not engineered, thoughtless reaction is mechanical and intentional. India has started to point fingers at Pakistan without even completing preliminary investigations. Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamat-ud-Dawa is being blamed. In the last few days Indian senior officials have on three occasions accused Pakistan and are now trying to build up a case to narrow the scope of talks to terrorism only. Pune attack was a small trailer; in coming months, bigger attack will be stage-managed to trap Pakistan in yet another false case. Purpose will be to demean Pakistan and to re-shift attention of the world towards India. It has already predicted that sooner than later another Mumbai like attack planned in Pakistan will be launched on India.
Indians want to exclude Kashmir and water disputes not realising that Kashmir issue has bred extremism and terrorism, while water dispute would kindle 4th round. Pune incident helps India in projecting itself as a victim of terrorism, in accusing Pakistan, building pressure and putting Pakistan on the defensive at the outset to make it recommence talks from a defensive wicket. There is no earthly reason for Pakistan to be in a hurry. It should take a principled stand that without including core issues in the agenda it would not like to waste time in inconclusive and infertile talks.
The writer is a freelance defence and security analyst. Email: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com
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