An appreciative move

Pakistan OBSERVER, Tue, Jan,15, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema
 

A recently published report it was stressed that India has quietly geared up the intelligence operatives it has in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to help President Pervez Musharraf fight terrorists. A senior intelligence source stated that this practical step has been taken to aid the President in restoring peace and stability in Pakistan. The source said the decision to activate Indian assets in support of Pakistan regime was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security held a day after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. 

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It was concluded in the meeting that a strong and stable Pakistan was the need of the hour for peace within India and decided that President Musharraf was battling the same terrorist groups that have spread sleeper cells in Jammu and Kashmir and inside Indian hinterland. It also concluded that the same groups were also responsible for instability in Afghanistan. 

It was decided in this meeting that the Indian assets were ordered to lie low and not make things difficult for the Musharraf regime. They were ostensibly directed not to take advantage of Pakistan’s current phase of instability and try to help wherever possible without jeopardizing their own interests. The report also revealed that India has doubled its forces on Pakistan’s border in order to prevent spill over into the Indian territories but also to push back any terrorists that may try to escape the crackdown ordered by the Pakistani authorities after the assassination of PPP leader. This is nothing unusual and the past has witnessed many countries taking somewhat similar action if the neighboring country is assume to be drifting towards undesired  instability. 

If the report that has been published in a Pakistan newspaper is correct, then it certainly augurs well for future relationship between the two countries. Undoubtedly the extremists and terrorists are common enemies of all the regional societies. A joint approach could be far more effective than dealing with them individually. Not only this kind of cooperation is bound to strengthened trust between the two nations but it would also open new vistas of cooperation. 

Almost all security analysts would agree that this kind of cooperation can facilitate the ongoing peace process. However it is quite understandable that the neighboring countries would not only be carefully watching the developments in Pakistan but would like to help Pakistan in securing the desired level of stability. Instability tends to take a heavy toll of not just the affected countries but it invariably also impacts adversely the neighbors. 

Given the state of hostile relations India and Pakistan have experienced over many decades, it was not expected that India would begin to entertain such cooperative approaches so soon. But this certainly proves that realization of need for stability in the region is now beginning to take roots. If continued on such a path, the relationship between India and Pakistan would rapidly and dramatically improve. 

Pakistan’s fight against terrorism is well recognized by the international community and its contribution to the international coalition to combat terrorism are also regularly appreciated but Indian attitude of blame game impeded and dampened the cooperative streaks of the Pakistanis. It is a well known fact that Pakistani President actively initiated it stern policy against the terrorism and the extremist groups. In jan.2002 President Musharraf banned many militant groups, their assets were seized and their offices were locked. Since then the Pakistanis have never really slackened in its efforts to curb both terrorism and extremism. 

Despite Pakistani practical steps to check the activities of militants, the Indian government never ceased to put the blame of almost for every disruptive terrorist act on Pakistan. It was only after the tragedy of Samjuta Express one noticed decline in blame game. Nevertheless one cannot deny the enormous benefits the two nations can achieve if they begin to start a meaningful cooperation. 

The reported order to Indian intelligence operators inside Pakistan to avoid any act that can further deteriorate the situation in Pakistan would indeed be appreciated by the Pakistani authorities but one cannot easily get rid of the burden of the past. Secondly, it is difficult to rule out the existence of many skeptics who would wait and see the actual manifestation of this order. 

While one would agree that a stable Pakistan would be in the interest of India but the past happenings tell us a different story. The need to get over the accumulated reservoir of suspicions acquired over years of hostile relationships quickly is beneficial for both. Once the two countries are able to reduce the incumbent level suspicions, it would facilitate both of them to embark upon a more cooperative path. 

Four rounds of dialogues over the last four years have created a climate that appears to be very much conducive to the resolutions of all outstanding issues and disputes. What is required is that both sides make positive inputs towards making the peace process to continue moving forward. The peace process has already made commendable strides which has further positively improved the overall atmosphere. 

It is time that the Indian decision makers should also make moves towards the conflict resolutions of disputes which includes Siachin, Sir Creek and most important is the ongoing Kashmir dispute. Already the Pakistani side has advanced many proposals to resolve the Kashmir dispute, it is time that India either seriously puts forward some new proposals or gives its construction suggestions regarding the modification of the Pakistani proposals. 

Many Pakistani questions the unnecessary delay on the part of India to come out with some of its own suggestions regarding the ongoing Kashmir dispute. Even many of those who supported the Pakistanis moves over Kashmir during the last few years are beginning to demonstrate their impatience and have begun to entertain disappointment. 

Undoubtedly the recent report would invoke appreciative responses from many quarters in Pakistan. However care must be taken that such an initiative is not allowed to be misused by the field agents. Strict vigilance must be maintained in order to allow the initiative to attain the desired objectives. More similar moves can vastly improve situation which in turn would enable the decision makers to quickly resolve at least the minor issues first and then focus on the major complex issues.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.