K.N. Pandita
Pakistani parliament’s “unanimous” resolution of Thursday is inspired by deep sense of inferiority complex gripping the army. What precisely does the resolution condemn?
We don’t find any explicit and sound reason to prompt the house into passing a condemnation resolution: Pakistani print media rambles from one vague complaint to another like a child annoyed with its toys.
It says that the Indian Prime Minister made a statement in Bangladesh that is “aimed at stoking hatred against Pakistan; Indian attempts to sow seeds of discord between people of Pakistan and Bangladesh”.
We repeat what Modi precisely said in Dacca University: ” Pakistan aaye din disturbs India, jo naak ko dum la detahai, terrorism ko badhawa deta hai …..ki ghatnaayein ghatthi rehti hain. In simple English it is “the nuisance which Pakistan creates gives rise to terrorism and terror – related happenings take place everyday.” Does this simple statement of fact mean “stoking hatred or sowing seeds of discord”?
What is sinister in Prime Minister Modi remark that India allowed 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of Bangladesh war return home without trying them under Geneva Convention for serious war crimes, genocide and trampling of human rights? Modi made the point while averting that regional and global peace is fundamental to Indi’s foreign policy.
Humudu’r- Rahman Commission, constituted by the Pakistan government, vividly recorded genocide of nearly 2-3 million Bengalis and rape of half a million Bengali women by barbaric Pakistani army. Who stoked hatred and who has sown the seeds of hatred between Bangladesh and Pakistan?
Pakistan Assembly should have taken the cue from Modi’s plain reference to Bangladesh war in his Dacca speech, and tabled a resolution for unanimous condemnation of Pakistan army and the rulers of the day for such heinous crimes.
The so-called Islamic Republic should have tendered apology to its Bangladeshi co-religionists for having broken the code of behaviour which a Musulman is enjoined by faith, scripture and the tradition to show to another Musulman. It should have recollected how the holy Prophet pardoned even unpardonable enemy. It should have given a proof of its faithful adherence to UN Human Rights Charter to which it is a signatory.
Again, if Pakistani legislators had an iota of faith in their country’s history, they should have understood that it was not India which divided Pakistan; it was the West Pakistan triumvirate — landlords, Generals and bureaucrats—- that broke the Islamic State. It is they who refused to handover power to Mujibur Rahman and his party in 1971 that had won a majority vote in general elections. The same triumvirate is poised to bring about another split (or splits) to the Islamic State.
It will be noted that what has been said by the sponsors of the motion in Pakistan Assembly, indicates deep frustration of Pakistan sparked by the action of the Indian army in Myanmar. We are well aware that ISI has been vying with Chinese spies in using Rohangiya Muslims for facilitating clandestine operations against India by some terrorist elements in the region. The success of Indian troops in smashing two big terrorist hideouts deep inside Myanmar has unnerved Pakistan army in more than one way. This operation has come close on the heels of Myanmar government coming down with a heavy hand on subversive and seditious activities of Rohangiya terrorists. Moreover, this operation has come in response to the threats orchestrated by Turkey to initiate military action against Myanmar. India cannot allow any adventurism close to her border that jeopardizes her security and territorial integrity.
It was in this background that the MOS in the Ministry of Defence had said that by conducting surgical strikes in Myanmar against terrorists, India meant to send a message to those who harbor disruptive activities in the region.
This is the first time that Indian army has crossed the border of a neighbouring country and made a pincer attack on the strongholds of terrorists wherefrom they conducted raids across the international border. India may not have done any such operation in Kashmir. Nevertheless, she reserves the right to do so in self defence. Pakistan army has been crossing Pak-Afghan border in a bid to punish TTP, and also in Baluchistan to punish Baluch rebels seeking temporary shelter in Iranian part of Baluchistan.
Pro-military hawks among the law makers in Pakistan Assembly, while debating the “unanimous” resolution, spoke the language of war. It was echoed in the Senate also. A week earlier, Pakistan’s former Army Chief and President Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was not meant to make a jamboree on Shab-e-Barat night. In other words he meant to say the arsenal is to be used for mass destruction. Even the Pakistan acting army chief has solace in brandishing nuclear threat.
This gives a peep into desperation with which Pak army is beset. Indo-Bangladesh mutual understanding and agreement on cooperating closely in their anti-terrorists operations and sharing of intelligence, has taken the wind out of ISI’s sails. It foresees liquidation of its base in Assam-Bangladesh-Myanmar region.
Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs says his country “will take all possible steps to expose India’s role in the break-up of East Pakistan in 1971, and its threat to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism”.
We note with amusement Pakistan’s new-found love for the UN. It is the same UN which Pakistan has been accusing of partiality towards India by not implementing resolutions on Kashmir, which according to its version “ask for plebiscite” in Kashmir. Will the people of Pakistan get any solace out of Aziz’s bombast?
But we wish Pakistan really goes to the UN with this complaint whatever its contours. Indian foreign office need not enter into argument with Pakistan on this count. Before Pakistan’s application comes up for consideration all that the Indian representative at the UN should do is provide a copy of Humud’r-Rahman Report to all the 192 member-states of the UN and then retire to the lounge for a nice cup of coffee and crossed-leg relaxation.
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