Tensions along the border of India and Pakistan have forced millions of people on both sides to spend sleepless nights. It may not be a full-fledged war between the two nations that have an umbilical cord relationship, as both countries were part of undivided British India. Although many Indians still subscribe to the concept of Akhand Bharat (Undivided India), the situation that exists between the two nations is certainly discouraging for all peace-loving people.
Religious fanatics of the Sangh Parivar are chanting the mantra of Ekta (unity) and Akhandata (state of being united). But some groups in the Sangh Parivar prefer to exploit religion, focusing on Islamic Pakistan. Everybody knows that it is easy to incite people using caste, religion and place of origin.
When it comes to the issue of Pakistan, religious polarisation automatically comes to the fore. Tensions are always high if the issue is connected to Pakistan. In the case of the other neighbouring countries, the same feelings won’t come into the minds of those who perpetrate these thin
s. Indian rulers, whichever party they may belong to, treat the issue on the basis of religion.
The conflict between India and Pakistan has many shades. Many groups in both countries are trying to fan religious tensions. Both countries accuse each other of the latter’s hidden hand in developments on their soil. India is blaming Pakistan for promoting terrorism on its soil. Pakistan accuses India of trying to divide it by helping Balochistan separatists.
During the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) administration headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, he issued a statement agreeing to discuss India’s role in Balochistan affairs. The Pakistani political fraternity tried to interpret it as ‘confirmation’ from the horse’s mouth. Dr Manmohan’s comments partly gave credence to Pakistan’s claims. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval recently commented that Pakistan will lose Balochistan in case it carries out another attack like the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
It is a known fact that terrorism along J&K’s Line of Control has been continuing despite the Indian armed forces maintaining constant vigil. Some questions were raised regarding the terror attack on Indian forces at Pulwama. The incidents in which Pakistani infiltrators were killed on the LoC are proof of our armed forces’ alertness. But the huge quantity of explosives used in the Pulwama attack was brought from Pakistan. How was it possible for the infiltrators to smuggle in such huge quantities of explosives has been the big question.
The terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack surprised our country with their presence there. The failure of our Intelligence agencies is a question that remains to be answered. During the Kargil war in 1999, Intelligence failure had come to the fore. Then the opposition, including the Congress, had demanded a discussion on the Kargil issue in Parliament. But the Vajpayee Government rejected the demand, saying that it would damage the morale of our armed forces. In Kargil, Pakistani infiltration was first noticed by local shepherds, and they raised an alarm. The armed forces then swung into action and threw out the Pakistani infiltrators. Around 300 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the Kargil war.
During the Chinese aggression in 1962, there was a gross Intelligence failure. Some border villagers saw Chinese soldiers at a roadside tea stall having tea. This alerted our armed forces, but they faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of China. This incident badly damaged Pandit Nehru’s image. He accused China of violating the Pancha Sheel agreement with India, which clearly ruled out aggression.
In matters of war, people should be cautious and should not allow themselves to be misled. The media should be more responsible while publishing war news. Some TV channels had to face criticism over their news. Justice Markandeya Katju, who is known for his impartial criticism, said that one TV channel captured Lahore last night and another TV channel seized some other Pak cities, but they let those cities go from their ‘captivity’ for recapturing them the next night. The comments of this legal luminary show how the news aired by TV channels has become ridiculous.
It is objectionable for TV channels and the print media to take sides while publishing war news. People who cover wars usually take sides and denigrate the soldiers on the other side.
President Donald Trump claimed that he stopped a nuclear war between India and Pakistan that would have killed millions of people on both sides. Our Prime Minister has not responded to this so far. This shows that both India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the US.
It may be recalled that India had earlier categorically said that there would be no mediation by another country between India and Pakistan. But contrary to that, current developments indicate that India agreed to end hostilities after the US entered the scene. The people of India will come to know the facts only when our Prime Minister spills the beans.
