Avtar Bhat
This is an admitted fact that War is a curse creating lot of destruction and devastation all over. It eats up human resources and takes nations going on war decades backward hitting their economy hard.
Keeping in view the horrors which a war will inflict on a country, no saner nation will like to go to the war. Same has been case with India-the nation believing in the theory and principle of Ahinsa (non violence) has always been opposed to war. However, when a war is thrust on it by a hostile country like Pakistan, India is left with no opportunity but to retaliate with full might and capability at its command.
After four days of hostilities between two nuclear powers after the last month’s Pahalgam carnage in which Pakistani terrorists killed 26 tourists India was left with no option but to retaliate. India responded on May 7 by attacking nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) killing over 100 terrorists including five dreaded terrorists to avenge the Pahalgam killings by launching Operation Sindoor.
However Pakistan in retaliation attacked civilian population in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in J&K killing 16 civilians. It also launched drone and missile attacks in various Indian cities in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat ignoring all International War Canons. But India’s strong defence mechanism was able to neutralise all drones and missiles attacks by Pakistan. India also launched offensive attacks on Pakistan’s air bases in various cities and created a lot of destruction there sending shivers down the spine of Pakistani political leadership and Army Generals.
Sensing trouble and decimation, Pakistan begged US for mediation to save it from India’s wrath. US and some other nations who were already trying to end the hostilities between India and Pakistan intervened and brought two nations DGMOs of two nations on negotiating table and both in the evening of May 10 agreed on ceasefire. This was followed by another meeting on May 12 to draw a road map for future.
Though nation has full faith and trust on the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and it is hoped that unlike past India’s interests will be fully protected and safeguarded on negotiating table.
Right from 1947 Pak raiders’ invasion in Kashmir to 1971 Indo -Pak war that resulted into creation of Bangladesh out of Pakistan, Indian leadership has always negotiated its interests during diplomatic negotiations.
During Pak raiders invasion in Kashmir in 1947 when after the arrival of Indian forces who chased the raiders and they were on the run, the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru gave a ceasefire call despite opposition from his party colleagues and ceded a vast portion of J&K to Pakistan known as Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Even the world famous Hindu Shrine of Goddess Sharda in Muzaffarabad district of PoJK which was a symbol of faith for Hindus across Globe and whose history dates back to Puranic period was handed over to Pakistan.
Later in 1965 war when Indian forces had reached up to Lahore and annexed many Pakistani areas the nation surrendered them during Tashkent agreement signed by the then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani military ruler Ayub Khan. During these negotiations India also compromised on Haji Peer a strategic defence Chowki in Poonch Sector and since then Pakistan remains on an advantageous position in Poonch Sector.
Likewise in 1971 Indo Pak war when the then PM, Indira Gandhi created a history and fragmented Pakistan into two parts by creating Bangladesh on the map of world, India again compromised during Simla Agreement signed by Mrs Indira Gandhi and then Pakistani Prime Minister, Z A Bhutoo who took over as PM of Pakistan after winning general elections following the division of Pakistan and ousting of then military ruler Gen. Yahya Khan.
During Simla Agreement India returned all the 90,000 prisoners of war and the areas captured by it including conceding Chhamb and other areas to Pakistan. Though it was a golden opportunity for India to force Pakistan not to have any claim over Kashmir, India failed to do that at that time.
However, after agreeing ceasefire this time it is hoped that Modi Government will make it binding on Pakistan to dismantle all terror camps on its soil, arrest or handover the dreaded terrorists like Hafiz Syed, Azhar Masood, Syed Salalh-ud- Din and Mumbai blasts master mind, Dawood Ibrahim to India for trial. Moreover, India should make it binding on Pakistan that in future it should not send any terrorist in any part of India failing which India will be at liberty to attack Pakistan without caring for international opinion.
If America can attack Pakistan’s hidden locations to kill Osama Bin Laden the mastermind of 26/11 US airstrike why can’t India reserve the right to attack Pakistan which has been sending terrorists in India for last half a century first in Punjab during eighties and now in J&K since 1989 resulting in genocide of Hindu minorities from Kashmir.
India for that matter should tell US President, Donald Trump in unequivocal terms that how long India will tolerate a hostile neighbour like Pakistan which has given hundred cuts to the nation. India should also make it clear to US that it is neither Iraq nor Afghanistan on which it can dictate terms. Being the largest democracy in the world and a nation of 1.5 billion people India has every right to defend its sovereignty and it won’t allow hegemony of any nation that will be against India’s larger national interests.
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