Sunday, June 13, 2010

SIMMERING INDIA AND PAKISTAN

US leaders are not a bunch of fools to believe that Pakistan is a friend indeed. A friend in need, need not be a friend indeed at least in this context. But they need Pakistan knowing fully well that it is a hot-bed of terrorism, a breeding ground of terrorists of various hues inimical to US and to the whole world. Vice-versa Pakistan with a mask of friendship toward US keeping hatred and anger in mind, continues with I- am- a- good- friend- of-yours attitude. Both deceive each other or both play into the hands of each other.

US also is well aware that unlike Pakistan India is a peace-loving country and less dangerous one, has no tradition of deceiving any other nation and submissive to them. India is to them a dumping ground of American products ranging obsolete items like weapons, nuclear-reactors, IT-products, food-items etc. US is certain they need not dictate to India just exerting soft pressure or persuasion is enough to make out ruling elite kneel down before them. US always shows concerns and often sheds crocodile tears whenever terrorists from across the border of our traditional rival strike at our national and social fabric. Something shocking and painful to India and at the same time they always go to any great length to keep a ‘growing economy’ from flourishing- the truth only a few know - in check. This is another side of the coin otherwise the US would not have pumped billions of US dollars, and logistical help to Pakistan, a country constantly simmering under terrorist attacks killing innocents, hundred of them on a daily basis. Every one knows for sure American intentions are not to force Pakistan to concentrate upon tackling the growing terror threats there and but to force the rulers to amass their forces at North West Frontiers and provide them with sophisticated weapons to mount large-scale offensive against the hard-core Al-Qaida elements safely embedded in the harsh terrains and the Taliban elements who are bent upon forcing the US troops and the NATO allies flee from Afghanistan and capture power in Kabul dethroning Hamid Karzai. The shrewd Hamid Karzai these days have turned tables on US and befriended the old-foes Pakistan, even paid a visit to Pakistan and took the opportunity to declare from the soil of Pakistan that both of them are con-joined brothers and India a good friend and obviously with the purpose of continuing in power as US these days is not on good terms with him.

Here I don’t want to delve deep into the complicated relationship relationship between these two countries.

Pakistan itself becoming a victim of its terror groups is not a new phenomenon now. Now we are witnessing something tragic and gruesome a nation paying for its past deeds of encouraging anti-India elements arming them with weapons and training and helping them to sneak into J&K under the cover of darkness on a massive scale, their only mission being destroying the peaceful and harmonious lives of civilians resulting in tearing apart the social and national fabric of a state first and gradually the whole India. The then leaders were proud of those elements who wreaked havoc in our country and even honored them by calling them freedom fighters. The govt. inspired Jihadi elements grew thick and fast and different outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hisbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-E-Jhangvi, a number of them all hard-core vowed to free Jammu & Kashmir from India at any cost.

While Pakistani leaders and terrorists leaders celebrated, dined, wined and roared into beastly laughters whenever the Jihadist elements struck at various parts of India inflicting heavy casualties and destruction of properties and their leaders hiding their happiness and delight termed all those attacks ‘painful, shocking, unfortunate’ and what not? Serial bomb explosions in Delhi, Mumbai, the economic capital of India, Bangalore ,the silicon-valley, all still targets and our security forces always on the vigil to nab those beasts before they strike.

Those who laughed at the misfortune underwent by India once are nowadays seen beating their chests and weeping before the World as the progenies turning against their creators like Frankenstein Monsters. The rulers find themselves in a quandary and despite whatever steps they take the lethal outfits like Tehreek-e-Taliban strike at various landmarks shedding much blood. Pakistanis see nightmares round the clock unable to make out where those animals are about to strike next. Where is Retd. General Pervez Musharaff now, who honored those elements freedom fighters without an iota of repentance or remorse. Far away in London cooling his heels. A courageous General indeed. Remember Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister fell to the assassin’s bullets in broad daylight at Rawalpindi while on a whirlwind election tour while Musharaff was in power.

The ghastly incident was one among many. The Marriot hotel siege and ruthless massacre of national as well as international dignitaries, suicide bombings almost on a daily basis with hundreds of perishing and the latest one reported two days back that of jihadists holding siege of minarets and during prayer times of Ahmediya sects at Lahore and the shoot-out followed for long hours leading in the death of more than 60 devotees. Pakistan has virtually turned into a burning cauldron.

India faces both internal and external threat simultaneously. Two neighbouring nations in turmoil. Two South Asian nations reeling under violence besides other gigantic problems.

India’s North East has reached a flash point with the continuous blockade of the two highways to Manipur through Nagaland to transport all essential items ranging from food items, stationary items, even life-saving medicines to those admitted to the hospitals with serious diseases. The denial of permission to Naga leader Issac Muivab (IM) to visit his native place in Manipur by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh besides the Naga demand for a United Nagaland annexing the areas which Naga leaders claim to be theirs’ since decades are the reasons cited for the blockade. The centre though intervened to settle the disputes between the two States has emerged without success. Almost two months have elapsed. So far Assam already under the constant threats of militant outfits like ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam) and the activists of Bodoland, now Manipur and Nagaland on a collision course India’s North-East as a whole sits on a fuming volcano waiting to erupt at any point to the fright of civilians who are peace-lovers wherever they are, it is mind-boggling and painful that they fall victims to the clashes and violence between different groups and by security force let loose by the govts in power. The fake encounter deaths of civilians by the army personnel and peoples’ determined fight for the repeal of the draconian AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) since years continue vigorously. It is worth remembering here that Irom Charu Sharmila, an young lady is on fast unto death since 2000 for the repeal of AFSPA now that ten years have elapsed and she is being forcibly fed through her nostrils by the govt. authorities. Suppression of a movement with an iron-fist does not behove a govt. which always claims and boasts about its vibrant democracy. Democracy as far as our ruling elite is concerned has turned out to be a label to sweep many a misdeed under the carpet. Not surprising or embarrassing as it is always like that in our country. The words and deeds of those at the top echelons do not match in contemporary times.

Another internal threat about which our Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh repeatedly mentions about is that of Maoists. Even the die-hard detractors of Maoist movement while stressing the need of beefing up our security forces to fight and crush them whole-heartedly point towards the urgent measures to be taken to alleviate the sufferings of the tribals who are being exploited since decades and take all steps needed, in other words the socio-economic measures for the uplift of down-trodden slogging it out in the jungles. Maoists with their fire-brand revolutionary spirit could easily penetrate into them exert maximum influence over them make conscious of their rights and the need to consolidate and take up arms against their exploiters. Now that with the injection of revolutionary spirit into them by the Maoists they have found saviours in the Maoists and are organized under their umbrella to fight for the fruits of their hard labour. The need of the hour is expedite measures on an urgent footing to bridge the socio-economic disparities along with launching security steps to minimize the blood-bath not to maximize it with brutal suppressions. Alleviating the hardships of the socially depressed classes is long overdue and delayed measures may turn counter-productive. Recently our committed Gandhian Defence Minister held serious discussions and consultation with the chiefs of Armed forces the urgent steps to be initiated to take on the Maoists first but no decision has been finalized yet. Even a common man is very well aware that it is not the Maoists alone going to be annihilated much of the harm would certainly affect the already suffering tribals. Maoist threat is centred along the different terrains of jungles of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Bengal.

Another internal threat stares in the face of the Kashmiri civilians. Recent gunning down of three youths at Rahiabad- who were not terror elements by the security forces and protests and violence followed had aggravated the already fragile and volatile atmosphere in Jammu&Kashmir. The bandh declared by hard-core Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani and the subsequent closure of business and educational establishments of the area, the house arrest of moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq had virtually thrown the life out of gear in the affected area. Besides all these is the terror threat apprehended at any point of time anywhere in our nation.

Pakistani leaders now keep away from celebrating over the unfortunate incidents in India as they have more than handsful of problems- all horrific- to tackle. Added to these is the arrest and imprisonment of a US based Pakistani Faizal Shahsad who was nabbed by American security forces for his attempt to plant a bomb in a car at Time Square, NewYork. On grilling of Shahsad by the US authorities he was reported to be hand in gloves with the most dreaded terror outfit of Pakistan – Tehrek-E-Taliban. Besides Afghanistan Pakistan is also included in the hit list if not an imminent strike, a massive onslaught by the American forces is expected in the near future itself. The friend in need need not be a friend indeed as I had already mentioned at least in this context.

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