Indian overplay?? - Jung (Pakistan) Back   Home  
The mixed signals coming out of New Delhi in reaction to President Pervez Musharraf's historical and unprecedented policy moves against terrorism, including that perpetrated in the name of Kashmir Jihad, reflect a sense of confused bewilderment, with the Indian leadership unable to decide where to go now with its military machine on Pakistani borders waiting for shooting orders. Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh was apparently struggling for words in his televised reaction to the Musharraf speech. In one breath he welcomed Pakistan's pledge to fight terrorism, in the second he refused to acknowledge the massive crackdown already underway in Pakistan against Jihadis of all hues. At best he repeated the mantra: "We have to go, not by the stated intent, but by the action on the ground." And soon he seemed to be moving the goal post further by adding: "There would be a similar need to address other terrorist organisations targeting India, as also the parent organisations that spawn them." Many sensible Indian analysts were more pragmatic in their response. Jasjit Singh, a leading strategic affairs analyst of the Indian Express described Musharraf's speech as a "landmark policy".

New Delhi's dilemma is understandable as in its rush to emulate America, the BJP strategists ignored the fact that Pakistan was not Afghanistan and India would not be fighting an air war with massive striking power on sitting targets. BJP's policy makers blundered into creating a situation which can now lead them nowhere. General Musharraf has satisfied the entire Western world by his daring and direct assault on terrorism of all kinds. He has followed up his words with action but has also told the world that going after terrorists is one thing and resolving the five decades old Kashmir dispute, which the world knows and recognises as a legitimate struggle of Kashmiris, is another. That is where the Indians have got themselves boxed into a corner. When US secretary of state Colin Powell travels to the region in the next few days, this will be the obvious message he will carry for the Indians: De-escalate tensions and try to resolve Kashmir. For Pakistan the message, in so many words, will be: Well done and keep it up.

Jaswant Singh, aware of the glaring contradictions in the Indian policy, tried on Sunday to de-link the dialogue the world wants on Kashmir with the on-going events in Pakistan. But for how long can the Indians keep on hoodwinking the world. On the one hand they demand world intervention to stop what they call Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir. On the other hand, they refuse to do anything about the genuine struggle of the Kashmiris and also tell the world to keep its hands off. Either the world has to intervene in the region to get the entire mess cleared or they will have to leave the three sides in the Kashmir dispute to handle it themselves. New Delhi cannot expect partial intervention to help its cause and wish the world away on the core problem. Keeping the gun on Pakistan's head for long will not bring it international support either.
Editorial published in Pakistan newspaper Jung. May be there is a point in what the author is trying to say.. India should try to resolve the root cause Kashmir.. instead of shouting War mantra.