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Topic : Will Pakistan be a failed state?
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Industry : Publishing Functional Area : Politics
Keywords :

india

pakistan

terrorism

Activity:  4 comments  235 views  last activity : 03 02 2011 04:48:58 +0000
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Ball is in Pakistan's Court

 

What makes India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought three direct wars (and one indirect one) since 1947, like phosphorous and air: highly combustible when they come into contact? The answer lies in an acrimonious past and the painful baggage of history. Pakistan has never forgiven India—and probably never will—for dismembering it in the 1971 war. The Pakistani military establishment is painfully aware of the fact that Pakistan’s clout would have been much greater if Bangladesh hadn't been carved out of East Pakistan.

For about a decade through the early 1980s, the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment licked its wounds and laid low while Islamabad began to embark on its policy of ‘a thousand cuts’ by allegedly using terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy against India. Fast forward to the present day, and the silly thing is that even now, Islamabad isn’t ready to give up its dangerously flawed policy, even though its own creations (the terrorists) have turned inward to commit almost daily acts of terror in Pakistan over the last several years.

In comparison, India has become quieter, with just two terror incidents to report in the whole of 2010: Pune and Varanasi.

The reason why India and Pakistan have continued to remain in different orbits despite dozens of summits and hundreds of senior officials’ meetings is because of the fundamental difference in the approaches of the two sides to bilateral talks. Pakistan pursues a top-down strategy that favours taking up the most important issue (Kashmir) first and less important issues (‘less’ from its perspective) later. India, on the other hand, practices a more bottom-up approach—first tackling and sorting out less contentious and easily resolvable issues like Sir Creek, trade and more intensive people-to-people contacts—then going for the more prickly ones. That's why most bilateral talks between India and Pakistan end up as dialogues of the deaf.

India and Pakistan need to look at normalization of bilateral ties as a process, not an event and a marathon, not a 100-metre race. This hasn’t happened thus far, and is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. Full normalization of India-Pakistan relations isn’t going to be possible until the Pakistani military establishment’s mindset undergoes a major change. Anti-Indianism is in the DNA of Pakistani civil and military establishments.

Only Pakistan can change this. India cannot.

 Top Comment : Joydeep Dasgupta   | 02 19 2011 05:48:55 +0000
What "Ball is in Pakistan's Court"? Have you lost your's It is people like you together with politicians have created the phosphorus and air combination. Phosphorus is no extraterrestrial element, earth always had sufficient air, its cunning greedy Politicians who mine the phosphorus and people like you blow the air.
 
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4 comments on "Ball is in Pakistan's Court"
  Commented by  Neha Choudhry, Content Writer, Service Magic Info Jobs (for Atoot.com)    | 03 02 2011 04:48:58 +0000
Pakistan has time and again blamed India for all the ordeal, most prominently- dismemberment. Also, I second Mr. Sharma that in any summit or conference, all they hang on to is Kashmir whereas I second India has always tried to start off where the trouble begins-terrorism and otherwise, maintenance of relations.

Pakistan NEEDS a reform because clinging to Kashmir and raging will only make matters worse.
  Commented by  Rajeev Sharma, Strategic Analyst, Columnist, Publishing    | 02 23 2011 07:03:06 +0000
Rating : +2 
Dear Mr Dhingra,
First of all I didn't say what you have presumed. Your entire thesis rests on your presumption 'that I am saying India needs to seek Pakistan's forgiveness.

As for your next question whether I am a strategic analyst, I will refer to three of my Pakistan-specific books: PAK PROXY WAR: A STORY OF ISI, KARGIL AND BIN LADEN; THE PAKISTAN TRAP; and PAKISTAN FROM JINNAH TO JEHAD. 

And no I will not question whether you are CEO of a company. The proof of the pudding is in eating it. I have been taught to be humble always. For time constraints I will not be able to join you in further debate or discussion on the subject till you have done your home work. 
Rating : +1 
Dear Rajeev,
I wonder if you are really a strategic analyst when you say, "Pakistan has never forgiven India—and probably never will—for dismembering it in the 1971 war." The question arises, why India need forgiveness of Pakistan? Did India sinned against Pakistan for which India should need forgiveness of Pakistan?

I don't think you have even read the history properly. Had you read the history properly you would have known who was responsible for dismembering Pakistan. You would have known who was fist to attack all the three times, whether India or Pakistan? It was Pakistan, who attacked India in 1947. Again it was Pakistan, who attacked India in 1965. Third time also, it was Pakistan, who attacked India in 1971. Pakistan still tries to act forcibly against India time and again through its terrorism activities.

Some strategic questions arise, as follows:

1) Who was responsible for dismemberin Pakistan? It was the then PM Zulfikar Ali Bhuto, who refused to step down even after defeat of his party, the PPP?

2) How do you feel the Pakistan was right in 1971 when West Pakistan refused the right of majority Rule to Mujibur Rehman and sent him to jail without any fault on his part and in spite of popular majority in his favor?

3) Was Pakistan the personal property of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that he could have refused to hand over the reigns to the democratically and popularly elected leader, Mujibur Rehman of East Pkistan?

4) How West Pakistan was justified to crush the then East Pakistan and not to work in a democratic way?

5) Was there any agreement between East Pakistan that only West Pakistan would rule and keep control of the East Pakistan, even if East Pakistan gets majority vote?

6) Why Pakistan attacked India, when India had nothing to do with the East or West Pakistan in 1971?

7) Earlier, why Pakistan waged a war with India in 1965?

8) Sill Earlier, why instead of resorting to peaceful talk, Pakistan sent his army in the guise of Kabailies to Kashmir, if Pakistan had had intention for peaceful co-existence?

9) When Kashmir people resolved to merge with India in 1947, why Pakistan Rulers were so eager to merge Kashmir with Pakistan forcibly?

10) Why do you feel that in spite of several such aggressive and terrorist activities on the part of Pakistan, only India should also feel sorry without any of its fault and ask for the forgiveness of Pakistan?

SO NOW, IF YOU ARE REALLY A STRATEGIC ANALYST, YOU NEED TO ANALYZE THESE ISSUES FIRST AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY WITH YOUR CLARIFICATIONS ON THIS VERY POST OF YOURS.
  Commented by  Joydeep Dasgupta, Business Development Manager, Mega Net    | 02 19 2011 05:48:55 +0000
Rating : +2 

What "Ball is in Pakistan's Court"? Have you lost your's

It is people like you together with politicians have created the phosphorus and air combination. Phosphorus is no extraterrestrial element, earth always had sufficient air, its cunning greedy Politicians who mine the phosphorus and people like you blow the air.  
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