Appreciating Mr. Modi for his confessionals

By Raza Muhammad Younis

Thanks to Mr Modi for his public confessionals of perpetrating unrest in Pakistan. Thanks to his Security Advisor Mr Ajit Douval for his outrageous outburst of destabilizing Pakistan through terrorism. Thanks to the State of India for offering asylum to Bramdagh Bugti, who is responsible for killing and making hundred of Pakistani men, women and children handicapped. Who is also responsible for destruction of people and government assets, even the international companies working in oil, gas and mining sectors in Balochistan. Their open threats to wage a war against Pakistan and the consequent tirade by the media has further exposed Indian psyche and mind set. To top it all Mr Modi wants to revoke Indus Water Treaty, brokered and guaranteed by the World Bank in 1960 that with stood the War of 1965 and the blatant Indian aggression of 1971 that resulted in truncation of Pakistan, also admitted by Mr Modi.

No saner statesmen would behave the way Mr Modi and his coterie has. But good thing is that this all has gone in Pakistan’s favour. More than that it has exposed so called largest democracy of the world’s dictatorial face and brutal measures against unarmed Kashmiri men, women and children who lost lives, limbs and eyes as a cost to their genuine demand of freedom in line with the United Nations resolutions on the subject agreed to by the then Indian Prime Minister Mr Jawaharlal Nehru.

Most nations have fissures and vulnerabilities in their societies, so do we have. Admitting publically to exploit these and interfering by no one else but the Prime Minister of India in Pakistan’s internal matters actually goes into Pakistan’s favour. It vindicates Pakistan’s oft expressed stance by politico-military leadership, officials, people of Pakistan and Pakistani media that India was sponsoring terrorism and unrest in Pakistan. Their overtures of teaching lesson to Pakistan and wows to support separatists in Balochistan also confirm recent Indian serving intelligence agent Kulboshan Yadiv revelations of his anti Pakistan activities, apprehended in recent past. State of India’s involvement in the violent acts of sabotage, arson and terrorism aimed at destabilization of Pakistan can not be condoned by any law or norms. These open confessionals by the State of India, are the act of aggression under the prevalent Geneva conventions and diplomatic norms. It amounts to blatant flouting of international laws and norms.

Important point that must be understood well by the International Community, specially the USA and Afghanistan, that keeping Pakistan’s inner front destabilized does not serve well for the regional peace as whole and peace in Afghanistan in particular. It amounts to playing with fire.  More so a destabilized Pakistan, in any case, is not favourable for India as well.

Today’s world is interconnected and interdependent. The CPEC which is taking longer strides towards accomplishment is going to open very new and wider opportunities for not only the Asia rather Africa and Middle East. Russia, China Central Asian States and even Iran will be connected to Indian Ocean, its littoral states and Gulf countries through Pakistan. India likes it or not, it’s a reality. It is going to be a great success regardless of hindrances and opposition. By spoiling it relations with Pakistan, India is going to loose the golden opportunity to benefit from socio-economic and security dividends from the Regional interconnectedness.

Indian trade convoys from Afghan and Iranian borders could reach India within 24 hours through Pakistan. Opposite to this, the use of Chahbahar, or Bandar Abbas Ports would take Indian cargos approximately a week to reach its ports closest to the Persian Gulf. Not only this, the social Interaction through CPEC could give India more economic and security advantages thereby enhancing her regional stature as a responsible and progressive country.

To the good luck of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan displayed higher level of statesman ship by making an effective, well worded and gracefully delivered speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Our politicians, the media, Foreign Office and military spokesmen also gave comparatively mature responses, albeit strong. Other advantage of these events has been that the Pakistani Nation rallied together to react sharply to the Indian rhetoric and threats.

Not only the Kashmiris of Indian Occupied Kashmir but also an anti Uri rally by Congress in Moradabad of Uttar Pardesh have been chanting Pakistan “Zindabad” slogans,  that should serve as a great eye opener for the hawks of India.   The extremist elements in India also started speaking against Pakistan artists working in Bollywood. Luckily the Indians themselves stood up against them. They have asked Mr Ball Thackery to play it cool.

India has been falsely implicating Pakistan in the past as well for many acts of violence. Samjhota Express terrorist attack perpetrated by Raw and confession by by Lt Col Shrikant Purohit, and Pathankot Air Base attack that did not stand ground, are ample manifestations of Indian blame game. These became sources of embarrassment for India and the RAW. Blaming Pakistan for Uri is also likely to meet the same fate. Pakistan has volunteered to assist all kinds of probes lead by United Nations to uncover the Uri incident mystery.

The Prime Minister of India, his ministers and security advisor, Indian media and extremist Hindus will do more good to India by looking inwards, and introspection on the atrocities being committed by them against the hapless Kashmiris, addressing problems in East Indian States and controlling the extremist Hindus who kill poor Muslims on the pretext of cow slaughter, even not proven; latest case of Mr Ikhlaque being a case in point. Instead of training, arming and funding militants for terrorism in Pakistan they should accept Pakistan’s offer to negotiate on all contentious issues to bring peace and stability in the Region. Similarly India must honour the commitments made by her Prime Ministers on the UN resolutions to solve Kashmir imbroglio through plebiscite, and Indus Water Treaty. According to international law also, the upper riparian states cannot stop the flow of waters to the lower riparian states.  Any such steps by India could become precedence for the upper riparian states of India.

The Pakistani civil and military leadership, the Federal Ministers, political parties, the media, the anchor’s and analysts, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government officials and Ambassadors of Pakistan deserve appreciation for their mature, but strong reaction to India’s unfounded blames, rhetoric, threats and immature acts like decision not to attend SAARC Summit Meeting and abrogate IWT. The best advice for India is to tailor its behaviour according to it dreamed stature. India must understand that each act of aggression at Line of Control will result in severe and upscaled retribution.

Raza Muhammad Younis is a retired government servant and ex-ambassador