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| Enemies of Islam & Pakistan (Left) |
India and Pakistan don’t have to be enemies forever. The real question is: Will they ever become friends? Before I dive into this question, let me make a quick mention of Hillary Clinton’s visit to the region. While speaking in Kabul, last Thursday, she warned Pakistani leaders to crack down on the Afghan insurgents based in Pakistan or pay "a very big price.” While Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that America “will have to think ten times” before launching a unilateral action in North Waziristan, because “Pakistan is not Iraq or Afghanistan.” And then in Islamabad Madam Clinton said that the United States expected to see concrete operations in a matter of “days and weeks.” In a separate interview, she said: “Pakistan has to be part of the solution, or they will continue to be part of the problem.” Strongest words used by both sides during this ongoing disagreement.
Differences, interests, and aspirations of countries like Iran, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, make this the most complicated regional dynamics known to modern history, and Pakistan is right in the middle of it. Pakistan’s geographical position, and its great asset has become its greatest liability. There are countries fighting and funding proxy wars on our streets, while others are trying to get access to our routes to warm waters. A violent tussle to take control of its assets by various countries has divided the people of Pakistan to the point of a civil war. Drained its resources, almost triggering financial collapse. Weakened a nation with great potential to the extent that it is being openly called a “failed State” ready to split into political or tribal fiefdoms.
But what does all this have to do with India and Pakistan becoming friends? Quite a lot. The Indian leaders have on many occasions predicted and wished for Pakistan’s collapse. We keep hearing across the border voices demanding the re-inclusion of Pakistan into India. It is no secret that India has not only engineered trouble in Pakistan, but also instigated USA to hurt us whenever possible. Right after the Osama incident, the Indian leaders also aired their desire to take unilateral actions into Pakistan. India’s intentions are not a secret. The rhetoric, which originates from various Indian politicians and leaders, are indicative of a hidden common sentiment of most Indians; Pakistan as an independent State is not acceptable to them, and they want it to be re-assimilated into India.
Maps change, boundaries are redrawn. India needs to come to terms with the fact that Pakistan is now a sovereign State, and will stay that way. We too had to bite the bullet with East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh. Since partition, India, in alliance with England, gave Pakistan an unfair deal in the division of money, assets, industry, land, etc. The gap has only deepened with every blow, hidden and apparent, that has come our way from India. In 1947, England favoured Hindus against Muslims, and now United States is openly helping India gain regional supremacy at the cost of Pakistan’s annihilation. In return, America will get a bully in the region, and India’s Chanakyan spirit will get schadenfreude.
Conspiracy theorists believe that India is interested in an unstable Pakistan. However, I believe that is far from true. An unstable and untamed Pakistan doesn’t suit anyone’s interest, especially not India’s! What India really wants is a subservient Pakistan, which can only be achieved through its division or complete economic collapse. India knows very well that it is almost impossible to conquer Pakistan as long as it stands united, under one purpose, and under one flag. But a divided and shattered Pakistan would pose no opposition to occupation on ground, through mind, and in pocket.
Just the other day, Pakistan was forced to give India “the most favoured nation” status, which would work as a first step to more open trade between the two countries. A step that I believe would be disastrous for Pakistan, even though the policy’s proponents keep trying to sell its benefits. Even India had its imports shut tight till very recently, until their own industry had been strengthened to the point where it faced no threat. An open trade policy with an industrial giant like India would decimate Pakistan’s economy overnight. It will take away the already dwindling job opportunities from millions of people. This is exactly what India wants.
Simultaneously, the American backed governments of Pakistan have successfully destroyed the country’s industrial base. Be it through law and order crisis, or pathetic policies, industry has been categorically pushed out of Pakistan to countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. What’s left has been crippled by energy, gas or other infrastructure shortages. Even most of our top politicians have huge industrial investments out of Pakistan. The very same politicians have also been dividing the nation on basis of language, sectarianism, provinces, and anything else they can come up with.
At the same time, campaigns spending huge amounts of money from unknown sources have been claiming to bring India and Pakistan closer through art and music. If only it was that simple. I get into these arguments every time and I’m told that our real roots lie in India; that genetically and historically, we are closest to them, thus, an alliance of homogeneity is but natural. Again, I believe that this is impossible because of differences and interests that go much deeper than a song or a dance.
If America had any real interest in settling this region, it would force a settlement of the Kashmir dispute through a plebiscite. If America was sincere with Pakistan, it would stop manipulating our downfall through leaders who are really just agents of disaster planted through the NRO or other deals brokered in (or by) Washington. America claims they give us billions of dollars in aid; if it really wanted to help Pakistan, it would invest directly in infrastructure, hospitals, power generation, and things that matter, instead of greasing palms of corrupt leaders, who are loyal not to the people of Pakistan, but to their personal investments and children in the West.
Failing to do so poses a real problem not just for Pakistan, but also for those meddling in its affairs. Pakistan may be small, militarily ill equipped, led by weaklings intimidated by the US, but it has a unique ability to form some very key alliances, which are capable of becoming a formidable power, if the need ever arises. India and Pakistan may have the same history, but definitely not the same interests, nor direction. Given India’s lack of acceptance of Pakistan as a reality, the best one can hope for is a cautious calm. Individuals from both sides may become friends, sing a few songs, or even do business together; but as nations, I believe, India and Pakistan will never be friends.
(Written by Faisal Qureshi [faisalqureshi.com] )
Pakistan Cyber Force
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