Reality is a female of the canine species
VIEW: Thinking in terms of ground realities —Nazir Naji
We are currently trying to sort out matters with two international powers. We have long regarded India as an enemy and are determined never to go soft on it. Till the war of 1965 we could look it in the eye. Our economy was getting stronger and we counted United States and its European allies among our friends. This was primarily because India — while it talked of non-alignment — always sided with the Soviet Union. The People’s Republic of China was so friendly it was willing even to fight India on our side. But our rulers’ blunders during and after the 1965 war reduced all talk of Pakistanis’ courage and daring to a joke. No foreign power could think ever after of risking war on our side.
An anecdote here: When a Pakistani delegation visited China to request for weapons and support in war against India, the Chinese leaders wanted to know whether we thought the armaments we had and those we were requesting for would be enough for a decisive war. Our representatives said they were enough for two to three weeks of fighting. “And then?” the Chinese hosts wanted to know. Our envoys said by then we expected the international community to intervene and call for an end to fighting. “Why do you want death and destruction for three weeks if in the end you are willing to negotiate? The option is already available.” This example of our planning for war is cited throughout the capitals around the world.
We went to war in 1965 to solve the Kashmir issue. We followed it up with an agreement in Tashkent not to fight again. We lost a war in 1971 and agreed to resolve the Kashmir dispute through bilateral negotiation thereby ousting the United Nations. Then we got the nuclear bomb and opened the Kargil front. As a consequence we had to sign the Washington declaration and subscribe to the sanctity of the Line of Control. After supporting armed struggle for independence for fifteen years we agreed also to disallow ‘cross-border terrorism’ and facilitated India in fencing the LOC.
In what way have the developments since Kargil helped strengthen Pakistan? The foreign exchange reserves do not frighten an enemy. What frightens enemies is a strong political system, national solidarity, circumstances conducive to industrial and social development, and a national objective emerging from a peaceful society for which the people, to the last child, are willing to fight till death. Do we have any of these?(Interesting question, the answer to which is HELL NO)
We are currently trying to sort out matters with two international powers. We have long regarded India as an enemy and are determined never to go soft on it. Till the war of 1965 we could look it in the eye. Our economy was getting stronger and we counted United States and its European allies among our friends. This was primarily because India — while it talked of non-alignment — always sided with the Soviet Union. The People’s Republic of China was so friendly it was willing even to fight India on our side. But our rulers’ blunders during and after the 1965 war reduced all talk of Pakistanis’ courage and daring to a joke. No foreign power could think ever after of risking war on our side.
An anecdote here: When a Pakistani delegation visited China to request for weapons and support in war against India, the Chinese leaders wanted to know whether we thought the armaments we had and those we were requesting for would be enough for a decisive war. Our representatives said they were enough for two to three weeks of fighting. “And then?” the Chinese hosts wanted to know. Our envoys said by then we expected the international community to intervene and call for an end to fighting. “Why do you want death and destruction for three weeks if in the end you are willing to negotiate? The option is already available.” This example of our planning for war is cited throughout the capitals around the world.
We went to war in 1965 to solve the Kashmir issue. We followed it up with an agreement in Tashkent not to fight again. We lost a war in 1971 and agreed to resolve the Kashmir dispute through bilateral negotiation thereby ousting the United Nations. Then we got the nuclear bomb and opened the Kargil front. As a consequence we had to sign the Washington declaration and subscribe to the sanctity of the Line of Control. After supporting armed struggle for independence for fifteen years we agreed also to disallow ‘cross-border terrorism’ and facilitated India in fencing the LOC.
In what way have the developments since Kargil helped strengthen Pakistan? The foreign exchange reserves do not frighten an enemy. What frightens enemies is a strong political system, national solidarity, circumstances conducive to industrial and social development, and a national objective emerging from a peaceful society for which the people, to the last child, are willing to fight till death. Do we have any of these?(Interesting question, the answer to which is HELL NO)
posted by India News Watch at 7:26 AM
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