Rhetoric now gradually stepping back

Vikash Ranjan

New Delhi

Tue, 30 Dec 2008: 

After more than a month following the monumental Mumbai terror strikes and the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, soon after it became evident that terrorists who committed the heinous crime were from Pakistan and their mentors still operating from Pakistani soil, tensions though persists on both sides b rhetoric now gradually stepping back.

While India saying all options are open and military options was not completely off the table, and Pakistan taking into battle mould with fighter jets circling over the key Pakistani cities and the army amassing at the borders, both countries realise that war is not the apt solution and the tensions could only be removed by diplomatic efforts. Even surgical strikes what had been contemplating among a section of politicians would result in a complete war, as Pakistan had warned it would hit back if India attacked.

If both countries, though chances are almost nil, go for a war whereas it is certain that the war would be a curse for Pakistan, it is not going to be a boon for India. Furthermore, what would be the optimum point to end the conflict whether either will wait for international intervention or go into a full escalation or would reach to a bilateral negotiation, and on what terms — nobody knows that at this moment.

A section of politicians, vociferously arguing for war, have been saying that the decision to attack requires courage. How can it be called courage to go for a war without considering its consequences? War cannot be an option particularly with a nuclear weapon state and what happens if some morons in Pakistan decide to go for nuclear war?

But it does not certainly mean to stay motionless, albeit push up the strategic effort to build up international pressure upon Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure responsible for Mumbai incident as well as many other terrorist attacks across the world. India could also use its international clout to ensure the economic and political isolation of Pakistan. But all this needs a well-calculated diplomacy, and concerted and united approach on the part of our politicians who do not want to see beyond their nose.

Realising peace is the only option; Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said on Monday that as a mature democracy of the world, India does not want to set a timeframe for Pakistan to initiate action against Mumbai terror perpetrators. He, however, insisted that India wanted Pakistan to take concrete action against terrorists.

Another action, with a view to dilute tensions and allay apprehension among Indian Muslims as an integral part of India, was initiated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who said on Monday that Islam preached love and communal harmony and rejects terrorism. The patriotism of Muslims is no less than others in the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a crystal clear message had asserted that India did not want war with Pakistan but had asked Islamabad to dismantle terror machines operating from its soil.

And now after much rhetoric, Pakistani President Zardari after meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei made conciliatory remarks saying Pakistan do not want war. He said that both India and Pakistan need to avoid further vitiation of the atmosphere and engage in dialogue to address their differences.

Whatever be the reason for insisting on peace rather than war, it is almost certain that India cannot go for war against the US desire. It had also become evident after 2001 Parliament attack when India amassed its force at the border but could not go for war as US did not give its green signal to war. US after reacting angrily, indicating viable attack by India if Pakistan does not dismantle terror apparatus on its soil, mellowed its voice in view of its interests in South Asia.

In some of the recent statements coming out from Washington the US has apparently stated that the long-term answer is a regional strategy that includes India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations. The US joint chief of staffs Navy Admiral Mike Mullen recently said in Islamabad that the nations must improve relations among one another so attacks like the one in Mumbai do not escalate closer to conflict.

Eventually, whereas it is a fact that war is not the solution to end terrorism the Mumbai terror strikes raise question whether our foreign policy, to some extent, is directed by some other nation say US?