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| Islamabad bombing its tribal belt, asking New Delhi to give freehand to Kashmiri separatists | | | RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 26: How can Islamabad ask New Delhi to "reduce troops on the borders" and withdraw anti-terror laws from the militant and separatist-infested Jammu and Kashmir State, which is an integral part of sovereign India? It has no locus standi in Jammu and Kashmir. To defend borders is the fundamental duty of the Indian State and to take on and neutralize the anti-India forces in the Kashmir Valley and other parts of the state is the national requirement. It is for the Government of India to determine the number of troops to be stationed on the borders and it is again for the authorities in New Delhi to enforce those laws which, according to them, have the potential of producing moral effect in the disturbed Kashmir Valley. By asking New Delhi to lower the guard on the borders and withdraw anti-terror laws from the state, Islamabad has overstepped its authority.
The Indian Foreign Secretary should have told her Pakistani counterpart then and there that Islamabad had crossed the line by interfering in the internal matters of India, as also in the defence-related matters. That it didn't do so and allowed the Pakistani Foreign Secretary to put forth outrageous suggestions only proves the oft-repeated charge that those managing the country's foreign policy and dealing with the country's internal security are not coming up to the expectations of the Indian nation. The Indian nation doesn't want its leadership to behave meekly. It wants its leadership to act and act decisively against the aggressor Pakistan.
There are reasons to believe that the friends and well-wishers of India have not appreciated the approach the Prime Minister's Office and the Indian Foreign Office adopted while talking to the Pakistani Foreign Secretary in Islamabad. In fact, the Indian public opinion has viewed it as a sign of weakness.
What exactly did the Indian Foreign Secretary say after the end of her meeting with her Pakistani counterpart? She, among several other uninspiring things, said: "We should jointly work together towards our goal of resolution of outstanding issues and also to dealing with the dangers, with the threat of terrorism…We believe that dialogue is the best way forward…During our discussions, we have accepted the modalities for restoring trust and confidence for comprehensive sustained and meaningful dialogue...You must focus that dialogue is the best option for deepening relationship…We owe it to our people to chart out a course for normalization of relations, narrow differences and embark upon a collaborative engagement." Nothing has emanated from Islamabad which could even remotely suggest that the Indian Foreign Secretary did rake up the issue of political future of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Besides, noting has emanated from Islamabad which could even slightly indicate that the Indian Foreign Secretary had rebuffed her Pakistani counterpart for what he said about the Indian troops and the Indian laws designed to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.
That's the reason that Pakistan has expressed "optimism". "I think this dialogue is a step forward, definitely a step forward. The fact that the two sides have resumed the dialogue, agreed to sit together, to talk on the issues of mutual concern, is an important development and, we should build on this development," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said.
Even otherwise, Islamabad has no right to dictate terms to India. For, Islamabad is taking recourse to aerial bombardment in its troubled tribal belt. It has not only physically eliminated hundreds of insurgents and Taliban operatives in this belt, but has also permitted the United States to undertake similar measures in this area to destroy the strongholds of the dread outfits such as Taliban and Al-Qaida. Not just this, Islamabad has repeatedly used force even in Punjab to put down the crush the unruly elements.
New Delhi has already caused enough of damage to the national cause by pursuing weak-kneed policies towards Pakistan. It is time for India to strike and defeat Pakistan and take back Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. This is what the Indian nation wants. (Concluded)
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