On Saturday, March 7, I watched General Musharraf’s speech and the question and answer session in the India Today Conclave beamed on Headlines Today Channel. He handled himself with a lot of class and panache. He is a great ambassador for his country. Whatever one may say about him, he is not a coward. He will not flinch and he won’t run away.

Though there were several holes in his arguments, he came across as blunt and straight forward. Yet, paradoxically, he did tell lies with a straight face when it came to protecting the image of his country. He laboured hard to drive home the following points.

1. He is a man of war (as an army man), but a man for peace as a human being and leader of his nation.

2. He did his best to bring about peace during his 11 years as the power center in his country. But peace can be only between equals treated with respect.

3. He had worked out a blue print for peace along with Vajpayee and Jaswant Singh during the Agra summit. This was scuttled by certain forces.

4. The Indians are hysterical about Pakistanis, Pakistani government, Pakistani army and ISI. The same level of hysteria is absent in Pakistan.

5. Just as RAW is very much active to undermine the growth of Pakistan, ISI is abuzz to clip the wing of India. Both RAW and ISI should be restrained.

6. Kashmir is the root cause of all the problems. He used the simile of a problem tree to describe the situation. Tackling terrorism, improving trade, dialogues etc., would be only like removing the leaves, branches, trunks etc., of the problem tree. The problem would linger till the cause named Kashmir problem is removed from its roots. When Kasparov, the world famous former Russian chess player suggested that the tree could be also destroyed by denying it water, the general did not have a convincing answer.

7. To find a solution, there has to be a lot of give and take. And, to give, leaders on both sides have to muster a lot of courage.

8. Terrorism was born to protect the deprived Muslims in India and particularly in Kashmir. When a turbaned, Muslim M.P pointed out that there were more Muslims in India than in Pakistan and they felt very much safe in India and at least 70 % of the Hindus would protect the Muslims even risking their lives, the Pakistani general was a bit shaken, but later added that he always believed in mouthing what his head and heart dictated. He seemed to insinuate the Muslim M.P was playing to the gallery.

To every question, General Musharraf had a ready answer. The burden of his message was, as long as “eye-for-an-eye” or “tit-for-tat” responses were the basis of the relationship between the two countries there would be no durable peace.

It appears solutions to the vexing problems staring at the two countries will not come easily. Pakistan and India have to share the faults for the state of things. As long as we are concerned only at the wrongs perpetrated by the other, the problems will linger. Each country needs to look inward.

We harbour prejudices against each other. These need to be removed by making attempts to understand the other through dialogue and ceaseless communication.

Courageous leaders will have to face the problems and catch the bull by the horns and subdue it. Otherwise, the problem will last a thousand years as some leaders from across the border indicated. If countries in Europe which were at one another’s throat for centuries can live in harmony, bonded by a common vision and currency, all is not yet lost in South East Asia.

For this to happen, populism has to give way for statesmanship, fear has to be vanquished by courageous steps and the lessons of history have to be learned and assimilated.

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Finally, Pakistan showed pragmatism and accepted that the 26/11 attack is largely linked to its citizens. The outcome of India’s diplomatic offensive has striking similarities to the outcome of Kargil war in 1999.

Planning

Both the attacks were executed after careful and lengthy planning and were highly professional. 26/11 has a frighteningly expansive global footprint. If Pakistan is correct, people in Spain, Austria, Italy and USA were involved in the attacks.

Objective

The Kargil war was waged to undermine the Pakistan civilian government and also to destroy the improving Indo-Pakistan relations at that time. The 26/11 attack also seems to follow the same pattern. While the former succeeded in achieving both objectives, we will have to wait to see if 26/11 also achieves the objectives.

Responsibility

Whereas Kargil war was carried out by the Pakistan military, 26/11 was carried out by militant groups with some apparent connection to the Pakistan intelligence agencies. India has accused the ISI of masterminding the attacks. In both the cases, the civilian government was caught unawares.

Strategic miscalculation 

If the masterminds of Kargil went wrong in the assumption that they can occupy Kargil forever before India can counterattack, the 26/11 planners went wrong in their assumption that none of the terrorists were going to be captured alive. The attackers also left evidence behind which turned out to be very crucial.

The aftermath

India suffered significant casualties in both the attacks. Indians were angry and went through enormous anguish, but in both the cases, rallied around each other and showed their outstanding resilience.

US influence 

In both the cases, US played a huge role in normalizing the situation. President Clinton acted very tough against Pakistan and was able to force the Pakistan army to pull back from Kargil. In the case of 26/11, US sent the FBI to India and helped in collecting foolproof evidence that Pakistan could not brush aside. If Pakistan were to divert its army from the Pakistan-Afghan border to Indo-Pakistan border, the biggest problem will be for the US. So it was in US’s interest to ensure that it did not happen.

Strategic implications

If Kargil forced the international community for the first time to acknowledge that India is the victim of Pakistan sponsored terrorism, 26/11 went further. International community, especially US and UK, put enormous pressure on Pakistan to come out of its denial mode and confront the terrorists in its soil. The first global “live telecast” of terror attacks and the killing of the foreigners significantly increased the concerns of the international community.

There is no doubt that while it must have been very painful for Pakistan to admit India’s blame, this is a significant victory for the Indian government for keeping up the pressure on Pakistan with its diplomatic offensive. Kudos to them for resisting the call by the war-hawks to attack Pakistan. That would have been disastrous. The only concern is, our political leaders will start a war of wards to claim credit and squander away the advantages of India’s huge symbolic victory.

One question remains. Kargil ensured electoral victory for the ruling establishment. Will 26/11 have a similar effect? We’ll find out the answer in another 4 months.

And how should India respond now? Read the article “India, please help Pakistan!”

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Pakistan’s untiring denials to accept the truth reminds me this famous saying – when cat drinks milk stealthily, it shuts its eyes assuming that nobody is watching it. Its seems so evident that Pak is acting blindfolded and trying to find excuses to accept the truth in the dossier which was recently been produced by our home minister on Mumbai attacks. Even the British, now approve involvement of Pak militant groups. Until now we have come across short sight, long sight, far sight and hindsight, so what do you call this behaviour? – Ignore-any-evidence-by-India Sight

What could be the reasons making Pak do this?

Being called Terror State

If the culprits are handed over to India, then Pakistan might be having a fear of these culprits letting all secret terror acts disclosed to India. In turn this might call for more pressure from International community, especially USA, to ban all active in-situ outfits and pronounce Pakistan as a Terror State.

Sanctions And Political Coup

A declaration of terror state would have consequences like sanctions of all kinds from the international communities. As it is the economic condition is not in a good state in the country, and such sanctions could lead the nation into another political coup. Result could be another Musharraf kind of era.

ISI Activity going public

We may only have gathered some evidence around ISI links to terror activities all these days. But if culprits are handed over to India, Pak might be apprehensive of having ISI activities being made public. An insecure feeling of having its national intelligence’s activities made public.

Or Simply Self-Esteem

The relations between India and Pak have never been healthy, India has always been considered as archrival by Pak. By handing over the criminals to India, is it in a way succumbing to India and hurting its self-esteem?

But one thing that Pakistan seems to miss the point is – if it hands over the criminals to India, it keeps its honour and respect in the world community, in that helping the community to tackle terror.

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India has compiled a dossier to nail Pakistan on the November 26th attack on Mumbai. Next week India’s home minister will present the complete dossier to the United States.  It is almost everywhere what the dossier consists of – almost every leading news channel is talking about the so-called dossier.

The key question is – Will Pakistan accept India’s claim and the so called fool proof evidence?

I will be surprised if they do.

Here’s how I anticipate Pakistan to react for every proof submitted:

Role of ISI

“Transcripts, confessions, recordings and circumstantial evidences prove nothing. We don’t have it in our record that the ISI was involved in this. Hence we will not believe that they played any role whatsoever.”

Confessions of Kasab

“Kasab who ? We don’t know any Kasab. His name is not there in our database. We have almost 60% covered in our database. If he is part of the remaining 40%, we cannot help it. India should have ensured the existence of Kasab in our database before they made those horrendous claims. Go ask India why they did what they did”

Satellite Phone Records

“Those satellites have been built so as to corroborate evidence in India’s favour.   Satellite phones are another form of creations by Indians. They should know that Pakistan also is capable of creating evidences which will implicate their ministers.  Let us do a joint venture and make satellites and then any conversation recorded by either party can be taken as evidence. Until then, it will be termed as unilateral. And that is not acceptable to us”

LeT & JuD

“Conversations between the attackers and the LeT & JuD leaders are things of the past. These organizations cease to exist as per the directive from United Nations. Where is the question of evidence from something that is non-existent?  Bring proof that LeT & JuD exist or even existed.  This will not be admissible in any court of law. Why don’t you check with your Indian lawyers before claiming such evidences?”

The Kuber Log Book

“That log book also proves nothing. Our spies have told us that the attackers  are of Indian origin and it is a big Conspiracy Theory on the part of India to malign Pakistan. As per them, the log book has been created by these agents so as to misdirect the investigators. They cannot be treated as evidences. Sorry !”

Tapped Conversations

“Tapped Conversations – Who gave you the authority to tap our conversations ? This is invasion of privacy.  We will sue you for defamation, invasion of privacy and such other counts. Assuming it is tapped, how does it prove that these conversations belong to these majors? Aren’t there too many mimicry artistes in India who can emulate Amitabh Bachhan’s voice? If they can do his, they will be able to produce anybody’s voice.  No point even in trying your luck.”

Army Training

“You claim that Army camps were used for training. What else will army camps be used for ? When we recruit people, we don’t check their background. We don’t have such process since we don’t have a national database. It is not our fault. Tell us, can you tell us confidently that there are no terrorists in Indian Army ? How about that Col Purohit and all his accomplices in the Malegaon Blast. You didn’t know they were terrorists, did you? So, how can you point fingers on our training ?”

…and India continues the fight, pays the price by losing innocent civilians and the world watches on as a silent spectator.

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After the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, pressure is building up on Pakistan to take action against the terror camps operating from its land. Investigations carried out by Indian, US, British and Israeli officials proved that the attacks were planned by the Lashkar-e-Taiba   supported by ISI .

In spite of Pakistani denials (just for giving the impression that Pakistani Government doesn’t give in under pressure), United States, and other countries have applied a lot of pressure, and have urged Pak to take action failing which they will act.

Now what should be the course of action?  How should we respond?  Can we trust Pak when it says it will take action against any terror outfits operating from its land.

What should be done ?

Our politicians are highly gullible.  Even after it was proved that the terrorists are Pakistanis, what did they do? They spoke to Mr Zardari and asked the ISI chief to come to India.

For what?

If at all we want to call anyone we could have called the CIA, a few investigators from Britain and Israel who can give us credible evidence that this was masterminded by terrorists from Pakistan. They would have substantiated it as an act of war (they are very good at it and we all know that).  Mr Zardari promised to send ISI Chief to India to help investigation but took an about turn overnight.

Can we trust such a man?

Time has come for India to take strict action.  Resignation of Shivraj Patil or others is meaningless and a political stunt.  It’s the Government and Prime Minister’s actions that will speak on India’s position and strength in the International community.  Since we have proof that this was sponsored by Pakistan,  the Ambassadors of USA, UK and Israel should be summoned and presented with these.

India should make it clear that we take this as an act of war by Pakistan against India and we would deal with it in a similar way US or UK has dealt with.  As far as US, UK and Israel are concerned their citizens were specifically picked up by the terrorists and they should take it as an act of terrorism against them.  This would have forced them to declare Pakistan as a Terrorist State and deal with it accordingly.

“Give thousand chances to your enemy to become your friend, but don’t give a single chance to your friend to become your enemy”. This doesn’t hold well with Pakistan.

In 1974 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists during Munich Olympics.

What did Israel do?

It hunted down each and every one of them.  It showed the world that nobody can escape by attacking Israel.

Now look at what have we done – engage in a dialogue with our neighbor!  Discussions will not provide any solution with Pakistan. If it did, it would have provided long ago.  Pak has neither neighbors nor friends; they just use the situation and time to act.

They are one of the best friends of America and in another way they are the biggest threat as well. They are damn smart. Remember they have used Americans to act against America.

So with such a country how long will you keep discussing?  How many more blood baths will we have to face to learn?  Indian politicians and media have to change their mindset. Media is getting worse than the politicians.  Every news channel / paper seems to be backed up by one or the other political party.

In Pakistan democracy is nothing but a proxy of the military.  Military always holds the reins of that country and it is not possible to delink both.  It was born after a bloodbath, it is continuing the same way even now.  Army, Islamic Radical Groups,  ISI,  Elected Government,  Taliban – every group is a power centre. No one is responsible for anyone.

Everyone has their own beliefs, system, and agenda.  Terrorism is a business for them.  Look at the amount of aid they got from US for fighting against terrorism which was created by them.

We must step up pressure on Mr. Zardari until the following things are done by Pakistan;

1. Handover the terror suspects to India including Dawood Ibrahim,  Masood Azhar who was left free in exchange of Kandahar  passengers.

2. Stop financial and moral support to radical fundamentalists who propagate hatred against non Muslims.

3. Change the think tank of ISI

4. Stop training Islamic militants

5. Stop inducing venom into Muslims in India.

Pakistan knows for sure that in an open offensive against India they will be wiped off. Hence they continue this proxy war. They will never stop till we wipe out terror camps that are running in POK and in Afghan borders.  Time has come to say “Enough is Enough”.

Mr Prime Minister – Don’t just give statements.  Let’s get on with this war and finish off before this proxy war finishes us.  At least let our future generations live in a peaceful India.

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