Manmohan Singh breaks new path in Indo-Pak relations
The worst fears of some of us have now been confirmed. Pakistani society, politicians and media has always been talking
about the involvement of Indian intelligence agency RAW in fomenting trouble inside Pakistan . First it was in Sindh,
particularly in Karachi . Now people say there is no doubt about Indian involvement in Balochistan and some say that RAW
is also supporting Baitullah Mehsud in NWFP. Questions are being raised on unusually high number of Consulate offices
opened by India in Afghanistan . The involvement of CIA and Mossad is also not ruled out. There is a speculation that
Baitullah Mehsud could not have survived for so long since the US drone attacks began if it was not for the support of
one or more of foreign intelligence agencies and/or military help.
Asif Ali Zardari has now openly admitted that the Talibans are creation of Pakistan . The terror that Pakistan exported
has now come back to it. Until it was limited to NWFP it was not seen as a major problem. But now that it has the
potential of taking over Islamabad , Rawalpindi and Lahore even the military and intelligence which were not too keen on
taking on the home grown terrorists have been forced, partly because of US pressure but primarily due to threat it poses
to them, reluctantly but decisively to come around to confront them. When Zardari makes a bold statement he obviously
has the approval of military and intelligence.
The terrorist groups in Af-Pak region whether al-Qaeda, Taliban or Lashkar-e-Toiba were propped up by the US and
Pakistani governments. They received arms & ammunition, money and training from military professionals. The association of terrorist groups with Pakistani
government during the military regime was so close that some former military officials are part of terrorist set ups and
terrorists have infiltrated the Pakistani establishment. One reason why the governments, whether Punjab or Federal, in
Pakistan is reluctant to take action against Hafiz Saeed, the LeT founder, is that he can become a cause of much
embarrassment for the establishment there if he decides to open his mouth.
But the question is after the present Pakistani establishment has made up its mind to confront the terrorist groups and
US has relentlessly pursued the terrorists even going to the extent of launching attacks inside the sovereign territory
of Pakistan, how are the terrorists holding fort? One would assume that the lot which was trained to fight the Russians
would be old enough to be combatants now. So, even if there is supply of money from Saudi Arabia or somewhere or plenty
of drug trafficking money is available, and there are youth from central Asia, southern Punjab (Pakistani) and from all
around the world ready to be trained as jehadis who is providing them the training in use of modern methods of warfare?
Is CIA playing a double game? Peace in the area would make the justification of US military presence in the region
untenable. And it is no secret that US wants to be involved not only in the Af-Pak region but also in Kashmir . We’re
not talking about George Bush. We’re talking about Barack Obama. Even before Obama’a victory results became public he
had already announced his intention of appointing a Kashmir aide. Why on earth is an uninitiated US President interested
more in Kashmir than his own country?
But what would be disturbing for most educated self-righteous middle class Indians, who have always seen India as a
peaceful country and Pakistan as source of all trouble, is the revelation that India could have a role in instigating
violence inside Pakistan . The joint bilateral statement issued from Sharm-el-Sheikh has reference to Pakistan having
information on threats to Balochistan. Pakistan sees it as diplomatic victory. The response in India is that of shock,
especially from the hawks. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has displayed rare courage and insight in saying that he is
willing to discuss any issue with Pakistan . He has also encouraged Pakistan to take action against perpetrators of
November 26, 2008, incident in Mumbai without linking it to resumption of composite dialogue. As a leader of the senior
(in terms of experience with democracy) and bigger nation only he could have been expected to be magnanimous. And he has
lived up to his role. He has breached the parochial approach which constrains progress on India-Pakistan official
relations.
Manmohan Singh has merely acknowledged something which is common knowledge in Pakistan . But Pakistan will have to
provide concrete proof of RAW’s involvement in Balochistan or elsewhere in Pakistan just like India has done in the case
of Mumbai incident. But this is only a trivial matter. It is an open secret that ISI and RAW have been working at cross
purposes.
What Manmohan Singh has achieved as a statesman is that he has set out to define a new paradigm in which India-Pakistan
relations will be discussed. For the first time in the history of the two nations he has laid the grounds for India and
Pakistan to work together to solve the common problems, including that of terrorism. The US has already given an
indication of this by asking India to provide help to Pakistan . And why not? If India can develop close ties with
Afghanistan and provide financial help to it and Pakistan can derive help from the US , India and Pakistan , if they can
shed their historical baggage, can cooperate as friendly neighbours. Pakistan , where receiving US aid is a government
policy now, can enjoy a more democratic relationship with India . Can we conceive of RAW and ISI working together, like
both of them have a working relationship with CIA, to root out terrorism from the region? Pakistan , being the smaller
and more insecure of the two nations, would warn up to India only if it feels comfortable. The long adversarial
relationship between the two has dried up all the trust. Manmohan Singh has certainly made Yousuf Raza Gilani and
Pakistan feel that they can do business with India .
Note: The author is back from a week long trip to Pakistan in July, 2009.
*************
[Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for emergent leadership, member of National Presidium, People's
Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of
California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted
at: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org]
ENDS