Candle exchange may not bring peace between India and Pakistan

Recent media reports of the ‘peace initiative’ organised by two daily nationals of Pakistan and India though praiseworthy but only raises high hopes of the lay people of both countries . Negative results disappoint both the nations when clear objective and road map is not set as both parties need to show determination at state, Governmental andpeople level to accept each other and move forward. Mere candle exchange may not bring peace between arch rivals unless core issues are addressed in a compact and meaningful dialogue, and Kashmir remains and will be the bone of contention even in hundred years between two nations unless resolved according to the will of Kashmiripeople as was chartered in the United Nation.

UN resolution, No 47 (1948) adopted by the Security Council at its 286th meeting held on 21st April 1948, is unequivocal in giving a way forward, “Noting with satisfaction that bothIndia and Pakistan desire that question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”, But in last 61 years India and Pakistan are circling around the question, but to accept that this remains an issue between them and sit together and resolve it.

Peace is good thing, but unless peace initiative and lawful drive is aimed with clear objective and supported by two countries governments and state machinery along with its intelligentsia and civil society , I am afraid the results will be negative and half hearted effort may even be dangerous as people have been disappointed many times and has been let down on each occasion by the ‘mind set’ which never accepted Pakistan’s existence to start with, and halted any efforts ofpeace responded by violence and intrigues.

If anyone has any doubt, they must read latest stir caused by Deepak Kapur, the Indian Chief of Armed Forces who is willing to fight at two fronts with China andIndia simultaneously, and the views of Editor of Indian Defence Review, Mr. Bharat Verma who recently wrote in his journal that ‘new Delhi is its own enemy, when it permitted the creation of a pure Islamic state on its borders,” and Mr Verma further wrote in his thesis that, “many conveniently propose the myth that a stable Pakistan is inIndia ’s favour. This is a false proposition. The truth is that Pakistan is a bad news for the Indian union since 1947-stable or otherwise. ” I disagree with the Indian author as Pakistan emerged as a result of a successful struggle for independence by millions of Muslims ofIndia who felt that two nation theory is the only viable option to preserve and protect each other’s identity and core values. Indian Hindus too got liberated after remaining under Moghuls for over 6 centuries and then British Raj through the same process due to Gandhi’s vision. Independence was neither granted through diplomacy, nor as a charity. It was snatched on the basis of fundamentals of the modern day democracy, one man one vote’ principle and majority of Muslim populated areas vowed to join the newly established idea of ‘Pakistan’ where they saw security, identity and a peaceful enjoyment of civil and political rights, and a freedom of religion, culture and values.

Seeing both the declaration of 21st February 1999 at Lahore and 5th January 2004 at Islamabad between both countries, there seems to be a desire for resuming adialogue and a need to promote confidence building measures and then onwards peaceful resolution of Kashmir. But disruption seems to be an end on each occasion. I guess If ‘Kargil’ debacle had not derailed the ongoingdialogue, we could have progressed a little more with India with a new relationship and determination to resolve the inherent issues. What happened in ‘Kargil’ is still unknown and no commission was set up to investigate the reasons behind which halted the civildialogue . Though in Britain on one scientist ‘Dr David Kelly’s death, then Prime Minister Blair knowingly that he may loose his premiership, initiated a ‘Judicial enquiry’ headed by Lord Hutton. I guess that’s the difference between two democracies an open, fair and impartial one and a ‘controlled’ one, andIndia and Pakistan must move forward on a route to a greater dialogue to save its nations from plunging into poverty, weaker civil system(s) where army has an edge due to ongoing conflict for last 62 years.

As long as this issue remains unresolved, the security situation between both will never normalise and ‘mind set’ will win and As long asIndia keeps dreaming the disintegration of Pakistan, it will survive as a viable state as the very negativity serves the purpose of knitting this crowd of 170 millionpeople into a nation, whenever it is confronted by its arch rival. Two main parties, (Muslim League & PPP), Pakistan Army, and robust civil society are the protectors of the ‘two nation theory’ and the soul of Pakistan, which can never be tarnished unless the spirit of acquiring a nationhood status is alive.

Wishing for Peace is not a weakness but is a symbol of tolerance, but begging peace is not a viable option. On one side we have a war threat, and 10,000 cusec feet water blockage at Chenab, (a real situation) and on the other we are advised to hold candles for wishful visiting armies, (an idealistic approach) which will not go well with thepeople of Pakistan unless CBM’s of a concrete dialogue are evident paving way for the solution of Kashmir with an acceptance of each other as neighbours not perpetual enemies.

Amjad Malik is a Barrister at law and a chair of Association of Pakistani Lawyers
7 January 2010