Cover Story

The road to peace

Dr. Ravni Thakur

Reviewing Indo-Pak Relations

Just a day before the bus across the border to Pakistan was scheduled to depart, terrorists detonated a large bomb strike. Yet April seven saw the people of Kashmir defy the threat of further violence and embark on a journey of peace, goodwill and the rebuilding of old ties. The presence of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Smt. Sonia Gandhi to flag-off the Srinagar - Muzaffarabad bus, was symbolic of the importance India gives to furthering confidence building measures (CBM's) with Pakistan. The opening of this old pre-partition route across the border is a huge investment in India's people centric stereotypes approach. Building people to people contact is the best way to assuage fear and stereotypes against each other.

India and Pakistan emerged as independent countries after sharing a composite culture for more than a thousand years. We have shared more years as a composite culture than we have as enemies. A history of fifty-five years cannot wipe away how we learnt from the extraordinary synergy unleashed by two civilisations intermingling. Our relationship with British colonial rule was also mediated through the strengths of our culture. Up until the early forties, the two faiths had a common enemy, the British Raj. Unfortunately, narrow-minded definitions of faith and culture dissuaded us from taking steps that would have been in the interests of the people of the sub-continent. We allowed our prejudices to determine the course of history. Today, the bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad is giving us a chance to try again. The positive response to this peace initiative across the border shows that boundaries marked on uneven lines of land do not borders make. Violence has cost Kashmir two decades of development and thousands of lives. As Smt. Sonia Gandhi said during the ceremony to launch the bus,

"It is heartening to note that for the past some time there has been improvement in relations between India and Pakistan. Above all it is a matter of pride that people of both the countries have realized that confrontation would not benefit anyone."

The past few years have seen a major change in the environment and discourse surrounding the Kashmir issue. This is also directly linked to the concerted international war against terrorism that the world has unleashed since 9/11. Ever since the Kashmiri's braved terrorist threats and a Hurriyat boycott to participate in the elections three years ago, the people of Kashmir have demonstrated that they want to live in peace and reclaim their normal lives. The huge turnout in the recently held local elections also demonstrated the same commitment on their part. These events have categorically proved that the people of Kashmir no longer support a pan-islamic Jehadi agenda. The nexus between those who took to the gun and the people has broken down. It is also further proof that the quality and character of the terrorist movement has changed. When violence first erupted in the late eighties, it was largely led by local youth, inflamed by the rhetoric coming across the border. Today, this is no longer the case. The jehadi belongs not to the valley but to training camps run by left-over sympathizers of the Taliban. Those that also send off missions to Indonesia, Thailand and Europe. The people, on the other hand, want to work with the government of India towards creating lasting peace. The Hurriyat and hardliners like Geelani too need to change their positions and realize that their role is holding back genuine progress on the ground.

After 9/11 and Pakistan's help to the USA in its war against terrorism, the Pakistani Army has been forced to take on the jehadis in Pakistan. However, as our Armed Forces continue to point out, Pakistan may have curtailed its support to the Jehadis in Kashmir but its ISI continues to send in trained infiltrators, designed to disrupt any tenuous peace process. The solution to the Kashmir dispute cannot be settled overnight, yet a promising start in the right direction has been made. Pakistan, of course, has been at pains to point out how the plying of the fortnightly bus does not mean that the Kashmir problem has been solved. It has however condemned the terrorist attack on the bus depot and their threats to the passengers. Nevertheless, the launch of the bus was a lack-luster affair on the Pakistani side. No major leader was there. But the spontaneous response of the common people, the garlands, the love and sighs of relief that it had finally come through, more than made up for lack of government celebration. It will now depend on the determination of the Kashmiri people on both sides not to bow down under terrorist threats. Cooperation between the people and trust amongst them and the armed forces is also intrinsic to turning the tide once and for all away from violence. A vibrant civil society in India has always highlighted any army excesses. This has ensured that the army remained strictly confined to its legitimate role. They have of course played a major role in ensuring the success of this project.

Pakistan now must take a lesson from the improvement in Sino-Indian relations and work towards strengthening other areas of our bilateral ties. Trade, again, like India and China have proved, can be a major impetus for the growth of other joint projects and programmes. When I was last in Pakistan, I was amazed at how popular India is there. Hindi soap operas and fashion are much the rage in middle to upper middle class homes. The love for cricket, is of course, the other thing that overshadows any feelings of animosity. Pakistani fans in India and Indian fans in Pakistan are very welcome and feel at home. President Musharaff's coming to India to see the match is another step in the right direction. Although declared an informal visit, it nevertheless with lead to a round of discussion on various issues. The presence of his mother and his son was also welcome sign. Here the Congress Party has built upon and continued the peace process with Pakistan. The Shimla Agreement remains the corner stone and the Prime Minister has briefed his colleagues in the Opposition. Building an all-party consensus on foreign policy is important for any measure of continued success.

Educational exchanges amongst students, expanded journalists visits would add to and build upon such an opening. Border trade between Kashmiris should also be tacitly explored now that the border has been opened. Here we must congratulate our MEA for having very skillfully negotiated the impasse over identity papers, passports and visas. The visit of External Affairs Minister, Shri Natwar Singh to Pakistan also helped in creating a conducive atmosphere for this event to take place. These are small steps but can lead to the building of stronger ties of trust and friendship.

Today the world is changing all around us. Countries that had no bilateral ties years ago have opened their borders to each other. My reference is to Eastern Europe of course. But it is also a reference to the way India has improved its relationship with China. India and Pakistan can embrace the economic integration of the world together and play a mutually enhancing role rather than one whittled down by old mindsets and rigid ideological grids. The war that both need to fight is on poverty and the abysmally low living standards of our people. If we were to work towards development, we would benefit our people the most. Allowing people to people contact is the only way forward. We must all work to ensure that this momentum generated is not squandered and the bus continues to roll. Let us put the interests of the people before those of ideology.

Rahul Gandhi's Maiden Speech in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: Ten months after the 14th Lok Sabha was constituted, Shri Rahul Gandhi made his debut as a Parliamentarian by raising the issue of payment of arrears to the sugarcane farmers of Uttar Pradesh. Shri Gandhi caught most of the members and those viewing the proceedings from the galleries above by surprise. Among the first couple of persons to be called by the Speaker to raise the issue he had given notice for during Zero Hour, Shri Gandhi said his bit without much ado and got undivided attention from members across the floor. Referring time and again to a piece of paper, he urged the Union government to ensure that the State government paid the arrears to sugarcane farmers as directed by the Supreme Court in May 2004. The Speaker complemented Shri Gandhi for his maiden question and the House applauded him. Some Congress members, including Ministers, rushed to congratulate him.