Stop the unnecessary blame game

The POST, Sun, October,01, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

Delivering a talk to a select gathering in Harvard University the Indian Defense Minister did not mince words in accusing Pakistan of being a ‘nursery of global terrorism’. The allegation becomes even more intriguing if seen in conjunction with the public announcement of Indian Prime Minister and Pakistani President’s agreement to establish an institutional mechanism to fight the menace of terrorism at Havana.

Referring to challenges confronting India, the Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukerjee dealt initially with the issue of terrorism and then explained the other challenges. His particular thrust was focused on accusing Pakistan’s involvement in fanning developments in Kashmir. Interestingly he appeared to have acknowledged somewhat grudgingly that Pakistan has helped US in dealing with terrorism on its western frontier but has done nothing on its eastern border. On the contrary it accused Pakistan reneging on its pledges and assurances to stop all cross border terrorism.

Putting the rise of religious fundamentalism and terrorism at the top of India’s six challenges, he referred to repeated acts of terrorism that have taken place in India over the years. He particularly mentioned the acts of terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir along with specific acts of terrorism that have taken place in various parts of India in the recent years. He mentioned the 1993 Mumbai blasts were the original act of mass terrorism.

Perhaps the wildest aspect of Indian Defense Minister’s accusation was his allegation that the states of the region are involved in promoting acts of terrorism against India. He said ‘in most parts of the world terrorism of perpetrated by non state actors, in India it is sponsored and supported by state agencies from hostile neighborhood. While there is no doubt in my mind that his reference was to Pakistan specifically rather than to other neighbors but the newspaper report clear refers to the use of phrase ‘hostile neighborhood’.

It seems appropriate at this point to highlight the fact that Kashmir’s freedom struggle, which actually started even before the partition of the subcontinent, was initially referred by the Indian officials as insurgency, later it graduated to militancy, and now it is described as a terrorist movement.  All independent and neutral observers would not agree with Indian interpretation. Those familiar with the history of Kashmir dispute are well aware of Indian strategies and tactics employed to erode the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and the use of brutal and oppressive tactics in Kashmir to subjugate those engaged in freedom struggle.

To put the blame on Pakistan is nothing but a diversionary technique that has been frequently employed by the Indian authorities. Pakistan has repeatedly stated that it only extends moral, political and diplomatic support. Undoubtedly Pakistan has been continuously engaged in attempting to secure the right of self determination for the Kashmiris as it was promised to them by the UN resolutions of August 13, 1948 and 5^th January 1949. Incidentally both India and Pakistan accepted these resolutions but the plebiscite as enshrined in these resolutions has not yet materialized.

It appears that the Indian efforts to portray the freedom struggle in Kashmir are paying some dividends in some countries. They seemed to be inclined to accept India’s interpretation of developments in Kashmir partly because they want a share in large Indian market and do not want to invoke any adverse reaction from the Indians and partly because it is a movement led by Muslim leadership. In addition the visualized future strategic needs have also influenced few countries not to invoke the wrath of India.

It needs to be stressed here that no objective and neutral analysts would buy Indian interpretation of events in Kashmir. What seems somewhat plausible is that sympathetic elements on the AJK side of the LOC could support the freedom struggle rather actively? However it is not easy to cross from AJK side into Indian occupied Kashmir as Pakistani forces have been actively involved in stopping the infiltrators. Besides, India has not only constructed fence along the LOC and heavily mined large areas but also maintains a large contingent of forces all along the LOC. It also seems pertinent to mention that many Kashmiris living on this side of LOC do not consider LOC as a divider. There are many refugee camps in AJK whose residents are waiting for the final settlement of the dispute.  

It is all very easy to put the blame on a country with whom the relations have never been normal neighborly. Many ignorant outsiders quickly become the victims of systematic propaganda barrage regularly unleashed by Indian agencies. Among the reasons that account for preference to accept Indian interpretations of events in Kashmir include overall preference for India, intense dislike for the Muslim causes, vested interests such as share in the large Indian market, influence and status of the target country, contrived future strategic needs etc. However it is imperative that one should also look at the internal dynamics of the target country before jumping to already projected conclusion.

While the Indian authorities have been always accusing Pakistan for terrorists acts inside India and continuously undertook efforts to project Kashmir’s freedom struggle as a terrorist movement despite the fact Kashmir’s freedom movement has been recognized as such by the universal bodies along with many countries. In recent times, all terrorists’ acts such as Mumbai blasts of 1993, attack on Indian parliament in 2001, Delhi blast and the recent Mumbai blasts of July 2006 were attributed to Pakistani based militant groups. India did not hesitate to point the finger at Pakistan.

Two things seem pertinent to mention here. One whenever an Indian officials mentions acts of terrorism, they conveniently forget to mentions cases in which the Hindu militant organizations were involved such as the demolition of Babri Mosque and recent burning of a Mosque in which so many Muslims were killed. This is in addition to what is going on against the Muslims in Kashmir and what happened to the Muslims in Gujarat.

Second, the outsider sympathizers of India should also read the verdict of courts in all those cases of terrorism that were attributed to Pakistan based militants. In almost all cases the punishment has been awarded to the Indian nationals. In both cases of attack on parliament and Mumbai blasts of 1993 the recently announced punishment has been awarded to Indian nationals. One must realize that these verdicts have been awarded by Indian courts. In addition there are many inquiries conducted against the killing of innocents such Chittisinghpura killings and findings revealed the involvement of the Indians. Yet the Indian officials never cease to accuse Pakistan.

What is disappointing and not surprising is that fact that despite the existence of legal evidence regarding the involvement of the Indians in most acts of terrorism, many India sympathizers tend to ignore the fact and continue to believe what India tells them. It is evident that in almost all cases of terrorism the Indians were themselves involved but for officials it is useful to employ quick diversionary ploy and  put the blame on some one else. Such a policy not only buys the requisite time but also effectively hides one’s own incompetence.

Instead of accusing Pakistan, it would be appropriate for Pranab Mukerjee to look inwardly. Not only Mahtma Gandhi was murdered by extremist Hindus but even Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated by an Indian. In all the cases of terrorist’s acts, the punishment has been only awarded to the Indian nationals. Doesn’t this invoke some penetrating questions for those who readily accept irresponsible statements like the one recently given by the Indian defense Minister? It is time to stop the blame game and start acting in responsible manner. The persistence in blame game can only adversely affect the ongoing peace process.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.