B L Saraf
The suspension of Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan has evoked mixed reactions across the political spectrum in the country and beyond. But, reaction in J&K, particularly in the Valley, has been rather severe. So much so that the legislative Council had to intervene and pass a resolution to impress upon India to resume the dialogue. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken upon himself to raise the pitch and criticize Modi Government for disruption in the dialogue process. According to him, Pakistan High Commissioner’s meeting with the Hurriyat leaders , before the Indo – Pak talks, was no reason for India to have reneged on the dialogue. Making a farewell speech in the last session of the state Assembly before State goes to the polls he said ” When there was an attack on Parliament , we stopped dialogue. We gave a list of 20 persons to Pakistan and asked them to hand over these people to us before the talks . What happened? Where are those 20 people. But the talks were resumed .” Then he went to say “And today we are stopping talks over a cup of tea.” Obvious reference to the meeting of Separatists with the Pakistan High Commissioner .
One must grant it to the Chief Minister that fragile law and order scenario in Valley and the havoc cross LOC firing is creating in the border districts of Jammu Division could be the reason for his pitching in for continuation of Indo- Pak talks. In fact, the volatile situation at the border should be a cause of concern for all peace loving people in the State. But it seems that the Valley centric political leaders have declared India as a villain. To Mehbooba Mufti Kashmir has been made a battle field. Omar Abdullah is missing an important factor in the whole game. He should have made such an appeal to Pakistan and , in particular, to its Army. Nawaz Sharif may be a well meaning person. But his hands are tied down. He has other Sharif – Raheel the Army General breathing down his nose, who has, lately, let loose Imran Khan and Preacher Tahir – Ul -Qadri on him. It is the Pakistan Army that has made things hot at the LOC for the GOI to suspend the talks. It is said of Pakistan that the country has two systems; the de jure system backed by the Constitution and the de facto system backed by the Khakis ( Reference to the Army). Writing in Dawn Pakistani columnist Babar Sattar says “While there remains a constant tug-of – war between these two, the history of Pakistan so far is the history of the de facto system being in overall effective control.”
We wish Omar Abdullah had read two recently published books, reflecting on the enormous role Pak Army and its de facto ruling elite have on the matters of governance and relations with India. In her book Fighting to the End: The Pak Army’s Way of War, Christine Fair notes “Pakistan would not be satisfied even if there was a solution to Kashmir, because for the Pak Army, the war against India is jihad or war of civilizations.” Then, goes on to say that the Pak Army pitches India as a Hindu nation . This is critical for them because they are setting up this civilizational battle. T V Paul in his book The Warrior State: Pakistan in the Contemporary World explains how Pak Army and the elite have kept population away from the effort of state building and laid great stress in ‘war making’ which has almost lead it to the brink. And now in the wake of massive agitation launched by Imran Khan and Tahir -Ul – Qadri we have reports that General Raheel has summoned his Corps Commanders to discuss “the deteriorating internal security situation.” In Pakistan context we know what it means! Given the bipolarity in the Pak administrative structure, the report can’t be dismissed that Nawaz Sharif is contemplating ceding control to the Army with respect to the matters pertaining to India and Afghanistan, in return of being allowed to retain P M’s post. It is precisely for this reason that, in India, some observers are advising engagement with Pakistan Army rather focus on the civilian government.
In his emotional outburst, understandable in his case, for being a Chief Minister of a strife torn state, Omar Abdullah is protesting too much. No Indian has ever dubbed him antinational. His nationalistic credentials are impeccable. However, one who professes nationalism should not look apologetic in being so. Chief minister Omar knows that for a dialogue there has to be other party. Situation obtaining in Pakistan- the other party- is not conducive for meaningful parlays. Shrill in articulation may be a good electoral stance, but, in absence of tangible work done on the ground, it won’t pay electorally. Time is still left for this government. Let it be spent in doing quality work .
Omar Abdullah’s yearning for peace and urge for resumption of Indo- Pap dialogue are laudable. While speaking to media in Japan, PM Narendra Modi reiterated his faith in peace between the two countries and expressed hope that the process will restart. Despite its complexities, both P M and CM are on the same page over this issue. Where, then, is the need to go ballistic ?
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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