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Pakistan is too serious a problem to be left to our TV anchors

By T J S George

19th January 2013 11:29 PM

Pakistan is in deep trouble. So it is pushing India into deep trouble. Our own professional patriots are pushing India into deeper trouble. The great television anchors would love nothing more than a full-fledged war, now, at this very moment, so that their ratings would go up. Some of our politicians too want their ratings to rise. A senior leader said that for one soldier’s head that Pakistan cut off, we must cut off 10 Pakistani soldiers’ heads. This is how patriotism makes villains of us all.

Internal trouble in Pakistan has been a perennial thing. The only difference this time is that it has come in battalions. The killing of Shias in Baluchistan and even Karachi is going on systematically; even after a Sunni extremist group claimed responsibility, the army has shown no interest in taking action. The Supreme Court orders the arrest of the country’s prime minister. Canada-returned scholar Mohammed Qadri organises a million-men march and sets deadlines for the government to abolish itself.

Bargains must be taking place behind the scenes at various levels. So, strange things are followed by stranger things. The Supreme Court’s order for the prime minister’s arrest was defied and nothing happened. Qadri’s deadlines passed and nothing happened. Qadri’s fire-breathing style itself changed suddenly as rumours rose about the government’s plans to arrest him for violating this law and that. As always, happenings of this kind have raised an old question: What is the army up to?

The Punjabi-dominated army has never been happy with the Sindhi-dominated Pakistan People’s Party currently in power. The PPP’s stock went down when Asif Ali Zardari became its boss and thus the president of the country. Zardari has been a synonym for corruption in Pakistan. His recent crowning of son Bilawal as successor must have riled the army. There would be nothing surprising if the army, under an ambitious hardliner like General Kayani, decided that the time had come to get rid of the civilian government.

From the army’s point of view, the timing was good. America is more anxious than ever to get out of Afghanistan and has come to realise that Pakistan can help make its exit smooth. The problems that had arisen over Bin Laden’s killing and the US drone attacks inside Pakistan have been brushed aside. Now America has restored its billion-dollar-a-year “coalition support funds” to Pakistan. Another billion is given in the name of counter-insurgency support. Pakistan’s requests for economic assistance from IMF and for other forms of general support will surely find favourable attention in Washington from now on.

This is the area India should have focused on. The Manmohan Singh government has gone out of its way to curry favour with America.

Indian public opinion against Delhi’s dependency attitude to Washington cut no ice. If we bow to US pressure on FDI and  agriculture policies and so on while America provides muscle and money to Pakistani military knowing that they will be used against India, it reflects poorly on the Indian government’s understanding of its responsibilities.

When Pakistan cut off an Indian soldier’s head, our aim cannot be to cut off Pakistani heads. We should try to cut off the misplaced support Pakistan gets from other countries. That is why experts have been counselling that we should keep the diplomatic channels open even with Pakistan while we try to convince the US and Western countries that Pakistan’s war-and-terror machine is a threat to their interests as well. There is scope for India to convey this message to China, too. Islamist extremists based in Pakistan and supported by Pakistani extremists are actively involved in the anti-government terror strikes in China’s Sinkiang province.

As of now, Pakistan seems to be smarter in international diplomacy. It gets backing from China and the US even as it plays one against the other. Can’t our diplomatic community do better? Can’t our intelligence community be told to look into the area of covert activities? Certainly they can if the political leadership is a bit wiser. The only thing we cannot do is to make our television anchors shut up. What a pity.

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Comments(13)

SHAME SHAME SHAME Mr. George- It is our anchors who bring out the truth- PROMPTLY and maintain accountability. It is a big shame that the country's leaders did not respond for a few days- The Indianarmed forces keep us safe- respect them- As for US support- this has been going on since independence- and will never change because in Pakistan, the army runs the country- Time or turning the other cheek has gone- be brave like Israel- where every soldiers life is precious- Sushmaji was right-- that is the ONLY language the Pak army will understand- After Akshradham, Indian Parliament attack- 11-26, attacks on minorities in Pak-- and now-- Freindship- cricket diplomacy- Bah Humbug- What makes you think they will change- DEAL WITH THEM IN THE ONLY ALNGUAGE THEY WILL EVER UNDERSTAND- it is the utopian Ghandhi apologists like you that always miss the boat- If any of our politicians need to learn it is from the great Sardar Patel. THANK YOU ARNAB GOSWAMI.. May you live long and prosper. Jai

Posted by Atul Patel at 01/20/2013 01:54 Reply to this Report abuse

Completely wrong. Media, more so electronic media has become bad, they resort to anything to being in the limelight. The over exagerration of Delhi instance and what followed was a complete electronic media creation. The act is highly condemnable and deserves stringent justice. But to portray that everything is wrong is far from truth. Media has become irresponsible,these days they don't just report but also suggest what needs to be done. They take shield from the fact that they represent people's opinion. Now if you instigate and get opinion, that is not a true opinion. Prime minister for once has reacted strongly and that is good enough. It is scary that the alternate to current regime has somebody like Sushma Swaraj who does not think twice before dancing in Rajghat, wants special session of parliament to discuss Delhi incident when they have spearheaded in stalling parliament on equally important issues facing the nation. Now to ask for 10 heads is nothing more than childish behavo

Posted by Sivakumar at 01/20/2013 09:34 Reply to this Report abuse

Thumbs Up! Atul Patel ... If diplomats can resolve everything better then what is the need for Army? both of them are must. they go hand in hand, they are not effective without the other. Sir T J S George, your article is well written theory! our diplomats couldn't do well around 1947, so don't want any more of such diplomacy... to me its easier and right thing to fight the intruder first than to search and convince the sponsor of the intruder against the intruder.

Posted by mnkusoji at 01/20/2013 13:18 Reply to this Report abuse

The Indian Army are professionals;they know what to do and please politicians do not interfere with, in their field of performance, they wont allow you to make a KICHDI out of it anyway!Then comes the question of DIPLOMACY! If our present selection of personnel for diplomatic assignments are of high order, then they would do it better. There are unknown implications and complications in that field not very much known to the ordinary gentry. Such things happen everywhere around us: when RAHUL is elected ,have you seen street enthusiasm?; it is stage managed by money power!! When Quadri cleric was delivering index-finger pointed street speeches for 5 days, millions collected there , were also stage managed well, by money flow. So in the present world MONEY & Muscle FLOW are prominently ground playing elements! Others are gun powder who gets fumed off !! So readers do not get flabbergasted when reading Georgee's well considered analysis! I consider it as an Excellent piece of ANALYSI

Posted by marshal [malayalam story writer] at 01/20/2013 08:36 Reply to this Report abuse

Sir, " Can’t our intelligence community be told to look into the area of covert activities? Certainly they can if the political leadership is a bit wiser.". Information available in the public domain, sadly, points to the fact that a 'credible' covert action capability in Pakistan, assiduously and patiently created, was 'ditched' as part of the 'Gujral Doctrine' in 1997. That doctrine, similar to the present 'Gujaranwala School of Foreign Policy' - had its central tenet as 'PEACE AT ALL COSTS WITH PAKISTAN'. Well known security analyst,B.Raman had written, many years ago, that R&AW imposed heavy costs on Pakistan for supporting the Khalistanis and in Baluchistan.The fact of the matter is that In this age of realpolitik, adherence to ahimsa (non-violence) will not pay dividends and India will remain at the mercy of terrorist organisations. Such organisations will always have the initiative as they can choose the time and place of the next attack. Its beyond our DHIMMI NETAS ! Regards

Posted by H.Balakrishnan at 01/20/2013 11:39 Reply to this Report abuse

Is it a pity that we are not able to 'control' electronic media. Are you advocating censorship? It was Nehru who said a irresponsible press is better than no press. Since Mr. George always takes an anti-BJP stand, will he like BJP imposing censorship on his writings. I do not agree with Arnob Goswami on many things; but I will defend his right to say what he wants to say. As regards Pakistan, it is trying to export its problems to us. The Pak army and many in pakistan are anti-Indian. So why not some Indians become anti-Pakistan. And do not give credit to Pakistan for its so called 'smarter' foreign policy. America equally needs Pakistan. As for China it is fishing in troubled waters and our muddle headed foreign policy followed in 60s and blunders shown during the China war are responsible today's India-China situation. Control on news channels can visit upon press also. Let them not shut-up lest the distance to dictatorship will be shortened.

Posted by S K Nair at 01/20/2013 13:00 Reply to this Report abuse

Rightly put across Mr. George TJS but sadly the main focus is getting messed up like the Indian curry. First and foremost why does the Media do the JOB of the administrative,Judiciary.netas...its simply because the respective depts are taking national duty as surrogate play.. The solution to Indian mess is likewise simple...the minute the Media exposes the anti-national activities of the respective state/national depts. there should be a task force to take swift action against the guilty specially those who shy away from taking responsibility and accountability..this should be swift and drastic...there are hell lot of political appointees nationwide who are nothing but dark spots these guys just do not justify their post,position or honor..these scums try to do national duty only whenever the media exposes their shame... shame to live under such conditions..I am yet to see an road anywhere in India just 1 km without any potholes since 40 yrs.

Posted by varghese at 01/21/2013 10:54 Reply to this Report abuse

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