[Reader-list] peace and reconciliation is allright - what about accountability?

indersalim indersalim at gmail.com
Mon Jan 26 13:51:36 IST 2009


who will deny the fact that terrorists are menace in any civil society.
but who were the first terrorists in the modern history ? I guess, Israeli
who created a fertile ground for Talibans to grow in Afganistan? if
not USA who else.

 Bamiyan Buddhas lived there for centuries, but the moment USA trained
the youth for their own agenda against USSR, they were all against
reason, Strange, they the perpetators are still reasonable, decent
looking guy, dancing on the floor when their policies were giving
death to women and children in Gaza

similarly, I guess a troubled kashmir and fall fo Swat valley still
suits the Anglo-american foregin policy,
that way, they know they have something lessons for us, some moral and
ethical lectures for us, poor us

warmly
inder salim




On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 4:53 AM, Lalit Ambardar
<lalitambardar at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> The need of the hour is for the Pakistani civil society to mobilise opinion in their own country against the jihadi terror being perpetuated from their own soil agaist India. Hobnobbing with the compulsive peaceniks on this side who have themselves facilitated the political makeover of known Kashmiri terror commnders, serves no purpose  -  it only delays the process.
>
> Ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits in the valley during 1989-90; repeated jihadi  terror attacks in J&K & rest of India & the latest 26-29/11 Mumbai massacre were executed at the behest of those who wanted to inflict 'thousand cuts' on the body of India.And it is only now when Pakistan is under international pressure & the menace of Jihadi terror has begun to target its own people that voices are being raised against it.
>
> There was no -absolutely no resistence by the so called  Civil society in Pakistan when Kashmiri Islamists were being trained ,indoctrinated & armed openly there to create mayhem in our Kashmir - a quite valley was allowed to be turned in to a  hell for Kashmiri masses.It is their own Talibanised Swat valley that is giving them jitters now.
>
> Painting 'clouds' over Kashmir in her work by visiting Salima Hashmi is  definitely provocative from Indian point of view & in no way helps assuage the sentiments here at a time when LeT responsible for the 26-29/11 Mumbai carnage has also  come forward (unchallanged....???....) representing the Kashmiri Islamists.
>
> SAFMA Secretary Gen.Imtiaz Alam during one of his last visits had the temerity to tell  TOI (Q/A column) that he found the squalid  refugee camps of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits in Jammu as breeding grounds of RSS ideology.He conveniently ignored ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits in the valley as well as the pan Islamic fervour behind 'azadi -bara -e -islam' movement during his visit to Kashmir then.
>
> If only that lone terrorist was'nt cought alive in Mumbai, the Civil society as well as the state of Pakistan would have continued to remain in the denial mode.
>
> Regards all
> LA
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:47:01 -0800> From: rahul_capri at yahoo.com> To: reader-list at sarai.net; ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> CC: kumkum at hindustantimes.com> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and reconciliation an illusion?> > Dear Yousuf,> I am not advocating war either.I admit I do not have any solutions.I agree with you that we are looking for simple solution to a complex problem.Perhaps we and others can discuss this over the course of time.> For one, USA should be recognized as an equal ally in promoting terrorism in the region since it fails to see through the diabolical game that Pak army is playing and keeps funding it.> Secondly,Pakistan should be diplomatically isolated and exposed,as India is trying to do right now.> "Yes Pak govt. is > > to be held responsible for all ills, the same way as we say> > our roads are bad because of the govt., the garbage is> > piling up on the street because of the government, and so> > on."> This analogy is disingenuous, to say the least.There are two major differences.> 1. Pak army is not negligent or inefficient,quite the contrary.Its very efficient in its multinational business of propagating terrorism.> 2.Its act of commission causes innumerable deaths including of its own citizens.> Anyway,thanks for the exchange.> Rahul> > --- On Sun, 1/25/09, Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> wrote:> > > From: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and reconciliation an illusion?> > To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>, rahul_capri at yahoo.com> > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com> > Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 5:12 PM> > If people-contact is a feel-good exercise, then even war is,> > for us. Because both will achieve nothing. Yes Pak govt. is> > to be held responsible for all ills, the same way as we say> > our roads are bad because of the govt., the garbage is> > piling up on the street because of the government, and so> > on. We are trying to find simple solutions for complex> > problems. Any way, I am not a spokesperson of the Pak or> > Indian govt. but I would prefer reconciliation rather than> > more violence.> > > > Yousuf> > > > > > --- On Sun, 1/25/09, Rahul Asthana> > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com> wrote:> > > > > From: Rahul Asthana <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and reconciliation> > an illusion?> > > To: "sarai list"> > <reader-list at sarai.net>, ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> > > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com> > > Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 12:03 PM> > > Dear Yousuf,> > > I would argue that people to people contact is just a> > feel> > > good exercise.Till Pak govt is not made to give up its> > > policy of cross border terrorism,people to people> > contact> > > would achieve diddly squat.National narratives can be> > > managed and are being managed.Anyway,if you do realize> > that> > > other means are necessary then we have sufficient> > agreement.> > > Now coming to Taha's post.I had decided earlier> > that> > > interacting with him is a waste of bandwidth and> > > everybody's time.Last time he wanted to be> > educated> > > about Pakistan.This time he wants an education in> > statistics> > > and sampling.Everybody should try to educate> > themselves> > > first.Hand holding should not be encouraged.Anyway,> > please> > > go through this link.> > >> > http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/jan/20obama-survey-india.htm> > > "As many as 17,356 adult citizens across 17> > countries> > > were interviewed in this survey conducted for the BBC> > World> > > service by the international polling firm GlobeScan> > together> > > with the Program on International Policy Attitudes at> > the> > > University of Maryland."> > > I think even Taha can do the math.> > > Yousof, now that I have responded to Taha's query> > for a> > > precedent on your request,will you please take any> > further> > > statistics and sampling related questions on my> > behalf?> > > > > > Thank you> > > Rahul> > > > > > --- On Sun, 1/25/09, Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > wrote:> > > > > > > From: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and> > reconciliation> > > an illusion?> > > > To: "sarai list"> > > <reader-list at sarai.net>, rahul_capri at yahoo.com> > > > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com> > > > Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 10:36 AM> > > > Dear Rahul> > > > I agree that we certainly cannot allow more> > Indians to> > > be> > > > killed while Pakistan is "treated". But> > > there is> > > > always a long term and short term strategy> > required. I> > > as a> > > > citizen don't have the resources to get> > involved> > > in the> > > > short term and "surgical" treatment> > (which> > > some> > > > may call war). I can only think of my involvement> > in> > > the> > > > long-term and slow healing process which is the> > > > people-to-people contact. If the people who are> > > preaching> > > > terror against the so-called kafirs> > > > (India/Hindu/America/Israel etc.) get a real> > > opportunity to> > > > meet such people and sit down and talk, they may> > > realize> > > > that not everyone is evil, they'll probably> > change> > > their> > > > approach. This is the only way situations are> > > controlled in> > > > every war and violent confrontations. Yes I agree> > > everyone> > > > needs to get realistic, including you. You> > haven't> > > > responded to Taha's findings that the Karachi> > > survey was> > > > a reflection of just a few hundred people in a> > > population of> > > > lakhs. > > > > > > > > Yousuf> > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Sun, 1/25/09, Rahul Asthana> > > > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com> wrote:> > > > > > > > > From: Rahul Asthana> > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>> > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and> > > reconciliation> > > > an illusion?> > > > > To: "sarai list"> > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>, "Peace> > > Initiative"> > > > <peace_initiative at yahoogroups.com>,> > > ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> > > > > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com,> > > edit at hindustantimes.com> > > > > Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 3:10 AM> > > > > Dear Yousuf,> > > > > > > > > > "I am sure if we do a survey in India,> > an> > > equal> > > > number> > > > > of people will say Islam and Muslims need to> > be> > > > eradicated> > > > > from the face of the earth."> > > > > I agree.> > > > > "But my point is, is a long-term> > solution to> > > > terror> > > > > possible> > > > > by simply attacking Pakistan or blaming its> > > > govt."> > > > > I agree again about the first part.I am not> > > advocating> > > > > war.But I fail to see why the Pakistan govt> > > should not> > > > be> > > > > blamed when it is continues to let LET-JUD> > > flourish> > > > and> > > > > carry out terror attacks on India.Its recent> > flip> > > > flops on> > > > > the issue of Ajmal Kasab and many other> > > statements> > > > related> > > > > to the Mumbai blasts may tell you how> > sincere> > > they are> > > > in> > > > > curbing LET-the so called non-state actors> > > flourishing> > > > with> > > > > the support of the establishment.> > > > > "If someone is sick, do you try to> > treat> > > that> > > > person,> > > > > or do you kill him so that his disease> > > doesn't> > > > afflict> > > > > you. That's the choice we have to> > make."> > > > > Thats what I asked you in the earlier> > > mail.Contrary to> > > > > anything that I can see,lets assume that the> > > person> > > > does> > > > > want to be "treated".How do you> > plan to> > > > > "treat that person"? Are you ready> > to> > > accept> > > > the> > > > > inevitable terror attacks and more dead> > Indians> > > while> > > > the> > > > > "treatment" is going on?> > > > > I do not have any reason to believe that> > majority> > > of> > > > > Pakistanis are similar to majority of> > Indians.As> > > I> > > > have> > > > > written earlier,even if that were the> > case,that> > > would> > > > not> > > > > solve anything till Pak establishment keeps> > > supporting> > > > > LET-JUD and LET-JUD has access to funds.> > > > > In my humble opinion, Pak army uses the> > state in> > > the> > > > way> > > > > that it pleases,for its own benefits.You can> > see> > > what> > > > it has> > > > > done to the people in NWFP and Swat in> > return for> > > the> > > > money> > > > > it receives from the US.It will never> > completely> > > > eradicate> > > > > Taliban because that's its cash cow.The> > poor> > > > people in> > > > > NWFP and swat are facing US bombings on one> > hand> > > and> > > > > Talibans version of brutal Islam on the> > other> > > > hand,while all> > > > > the time the Pak army is receiving more> > funds> > > from the> > > > US.> > > > > Again, in my humble opinion, the Pak> > policies of> > > > > propagating international terrorism will not> > end> > > > unless and> > > > > until there is an existential threat to the> > > army.Its> > > > just> > > > > too profitable a business for them.> > > > > I will reiterate,I am not batting for the> > > > warmongers.But> > > > > the peaceniks should at least frame the> > debate> > > > > realistically.Just ignoring the realities> > and> > > > insisting on> > > > > friendship would not stop terror attacks and> > push> > > us> > > > closer> > > > > towards war.> > > > > > > > > > Regards> > > > > Rahul> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Sat, 1/24/09, Yousuf> > > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > > > wrote:> > > > > > > > > > > From: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is peace and> > > > reconciliation> > > > > an illusion?> > > > > > To: "sarai list"> > > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>, "Peace> > > > Initiative"> > > > > <peace_initiative at yahoogroups.com>,> > > > > rahul_capri at yahoo.com> > > > > > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com,> > > > edit at hindustantimes.com> > > > > > Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 8:06> > PM> > > > > > Dear Rahul> > > > > > The result of the survey you mentioned> > must> > > be> > > > true -> > > > > I> > > > > > will not contest that. I am sure if we> > do a> > > > survey in> > > > > India,> > > > > > an equal number of people will say> > Islam and> > > > Muslims> > > > > need to> > > > > > be eradicated from the face of the> > earth.> > > Same> > > > result> > > > > may> > > > > > come up in America or elsewhere. People> > are> > > not> > > > born> > > > > with> > > > > > those answers for the surveys - they> > are> > > > brainwashed. > > > > > > > > > > > > One of the delegates that arrived from> > > Pakistan> > > > early> > > > > this> > > > > > week said, "Kasab is really a> > butcher,> > > but> > > > he> > > > > won't> > > > > > have become a terrorist if there was a> > > school in> > > > his> > > > > > village". I think that says a lot> > about> > > the> > > > > situation> > > > > > in Pakistan. But we would not> > appreciate> > > this> > > > because> > > > > for us> > > > > > they are an enemy - "to hell with> > them> > > if> > > > they> > > > > > don't have schools in their> > > village". > > > > > > > > > > > > But my point is, is a long-term> > solution to> > > > terror> > > > > possible> > > > > > by simply attacking Pakistan or blaming> > its> > > govt.> > > > Was> > > > > the> > > > > > might of America able to eradicate> > Al-Qaeda> > > by> > > > > crushing> > > > > > Afghanistan and Iraq? Hasn't the> > > situation> > > > become> > > > > worse> > > > > > now? Can we overlook the socio-cultural> > > > complexities> > > > > of our> > > > > > region. Maybe the Karachi folks that> > were> > > > interviewed> > > > > in the> > > > > > survey have never met an Indian or a> > Hindu.> > > The> > > > only> > > > > image> > > > > > that their education system has given> > them> > > of> > > > India is> > > > > that> > > > > > of an enemy. A violent confrontation> > will> > > only> > > > > strengthen> > > > > > that image for them (and for us about> > them).> > > But> > > > I> > > > > agree> > > > > > that just a people-to-people contact is> > not> > > the> > > > only> > > > > > effective solution - but it can> > probably> > > help in> > > > > improving> > > > > > the results of those surveys in each> > > other's> > > > > favour. If> > > > > > someone is sick, do you try to treat> > that> > > person,> > > > or> > > > > do you> > > > > > kill him so that his disease> > doesn't> > > afflict> > > > you.> > > > > > That's the choice we have to make.> > > > > > > > > > > > Yousuf> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Sat, 1/24/09, Rahul Asthana> > > > > > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com> wrote:> > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Rahul Asthana> > > > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>> > > > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Is> > peace and> > > > > reconciliation> > > > > > an illusion?> > > > > > > To: "sarai list"> > > > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>,> > "Peace> > > > > Initiative"> > > > > >> > <peace_initiative at yahoogroups.com>,> > > > > ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> > > > > > > Cc: kumkum at hindustantimes.com,> > > > > > editor at hindustantimes.com> > > > > > > Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009,> > 7:13> > > PM> > > > > > > Dear Yousuf,> > > > > > > Have you come across this survey> > > published> > > > in a> > > > > > Pakistani> > > > > > > newspaper?> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> > http://karachi.metblogs.com/2008/08/28/15-in-karachi-back-suicide-bombers-study/> > > > > > > "Fifteen percent of> > participants> > > in the> > > > > > Karachi-based> > > > > > > study supported suicide bombing> > and> > > said> > > > that> > > > > Islam> > > > > > and> > > > > > > other religions supported> > it."> > > > > > > "However, nearly 50 percent> > of all> > > > those> > > > > surveyed> > > > > > in> > > > > > > Karachi believed that suicide> > bombing> > > was> > > > > acceptable> > > > > > in> > > > > > > Palestine, Kashmir and> > Lebanon."> > > > > > > Mind you, this is Karachi,probably> > the> > > most> > > > > > cosmopolitan of> > > > > > > all Pak cities.> > > > > > > You probably know Pakistan better> > than> > > me,so> > > > can> > > > > you> > > > > > > comment if I am wrong in my> > assumption> > > that> > > > there> > > > > is> > > > > > > probably no other place in> > Pakistan> > > that can> > > > be> > > > > > expected to> > > > > > > have lower numbers than Karachi in> > the> > > > questions> > > > > > polled.> > > > > > > Do you think this is a significant> > > > difference?> > > > > How do> > > > > > you> > > > > > > plan to bridge this divide? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks> > > > > > > Rahul> > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Fri, 1/23/09, Yousuf> > > > > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > > > > > wrote:> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Yousuf> > > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>> > > > > > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Is> > peace> > > and> > > > > > reconciliation an> > > > > > > illusion?> > > > > > > > To: "sarai list"> > > > > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>,> > > "Peace> > > > > > Initiative"> > > > > > >> > > <peace_initiative at yahoogroups.com>> > > > > > > > Cc:> > kumkum at hindustantimes.com,> > > > > > > editor at hindustantimes.com> > > > > > > > Date: Friday, January 23,> > 2009,> > > 3:25 PM> > > > > > > > Here is a letter I wrote in> > > response to> > > > an> > > > > HT> > > > > > article> > > > > > > > (copied at bottom):> > > > > > > > -----> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Kumkum Chadha> > > > > > > > Reading the war-cry in your> > > write-up I> > > > am> > > > > > wondering if> > > > > > > this> > > > > > > > is the same country which> > produced> > > > Gandhi,> > > > > Kabir,> > > > > > > Buddha and> > > > > > > > such non-violent people.> > While you> > > find> > > > the> > > > > job> > > > > > of the> > > > > > > > "peaceniks" futile and a> > waste> > > of> > > > time,> > > > > I> > > > > > found> > > > > > > your> > > > > > > > write-up a bit confusing.> > Today, a> > > > large> > > > > number> > > > > > of> > > > > > > people on> > > > > > > > both sides of the border are> > fed> > > up> > > > with> > > > > terror> > > > > > and> > > > > > > violence> > > > > > > > and are anxious for a> > workable> > > > solution. But> > > > > much> > > > > > of> > > > > > > your> > > > > > > > essay is an extremely> > pessimistic> > > > attack on> > > > > such> > > > > > > people who> > > > > > > > try to channelize their angst> > into> > > > > productive and> > > > > > > positive> > > > > > > > use. You doubt the very> > intentions> > > of> > > > the> > > > > people> > > > > > who> > > > > > > > genuinely want peace. If you> > are> > > > proposing> > > > > that> > > > > > all> > > > > > > efforts> > > > > > > > of peace and reconciliation> > and> > > the> > > > > > people-to-people> > > > > > > contact> > > > > > > > between India and Pakistan be> > shut> > > and> > > > > replaced> > > > > > simply> > > > > > > by a> > > > > > > > cold "co-existence", how> > > exactly do> > > > you> > > > > > define> > > > > > > this> > > > > > > > co-existence? Aren't we> > > co-existing> > > > right> > > > > now?> > > > > > How> > > > > > > can a> > > > > > > > bonhomie harm this> > co-existence? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I agree that the page-3 kebab> > > parties> > > > > between> > > > > > Indian> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > Pakistani activists do not> > serve> > > any> > > > > purpose, but> > > > > > I> > > > > > > found> > > > > > > > your statement that there are> > > actually> > > > no> > > > > > > commonalities> > > > > > > > between the culture of India> > and> > > > Pakistan> > > > > rather> > > > > > > juvenile.> > > > > > > > If India and Pakistan should> > be> > > hostile> > > > to> > > > > each> > > > > > other> > > > > > > > because they are culturally> > > dissimilar,> > > > then> > > > > we> > > > > > should> > > > > > > have> > > > > > > > a million more partitions> > within> > > India> > > > due> > > > > to our> > > > > > > cultural> > > > > > > > differences.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I think the efforts of peace> > > activists> > > > of> > > > > the two> > > > > > > countries> > > > > > > > have remained less effective> > so> > > far> > > > because> > > > > their> > > > > > > reach has> > > > > > > > been limited to Delhi,> > Amritsar or> > > > Lahore> > > > > only.> > > > > > If> > > > > > > they> > > > > > > > reached smaller and remote> > places> > > such> > > > as> > > > > > Gorakhpur,> > > > > > > > Piparia, Abbotabad and> > Faisalabad,> > > and> > > > meet> > > > > the> > > > > > > ordinary> > > > > > > > people, they'll probably be> > able> > > to> > > > > understand> > > > > > each> > > > > > > other> > > > > > > > better and realize that not> > > everyone in> > > > > these> > > > > > > countries> > > > > > > > wants war. When you say that> > there> > > is> > > > "an> > > > > > > irreparable> > > > > > > > divide, and the attempts to> > bridge> > > it> > > > are> > > > > both> > > > > > > unrealistic> > > > > > > > and impossible", I think> > the> > > divide> > > > has> > > > > been> > > > > > created> > > > > > > by> > > > > > > > the governments and writers> > like> > > you.> > > > The> > > > > > ordinary> > > > > > > people of> > > > > > > > the two countries are the> > only> > > ones who> > > > can> > > > > > bridge> > > > > > > this> > > > > > > > divide, if you stop writing> > such> > > > nonsense.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yousuf Saeed> > > > > > > > New Delhi> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > (on behalf of many friends in> > > India and> > > > > Pakistan> > > > > > who> > > > > > > will> > > > > > > > continue to strive for peace,> > > dialogue> > > > and> > > > > > > reconciliation)> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We're not all in it> > together> > > > > > > > Kumkum Chadha, Hindustan> > Times> > > > > > > > January 22, 2009> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With tension between India> > and> > > Pakistan> > > > > > escalating,> > > > > > > the> > > > > > > > self-appointed ambassadors of> > > peace> > > > have> > > > > their> > > > > > hands> > > > > > > full.> > > > > > > > Irrespective of the> > > inappropriateness> > > > of> > > > > > marketing> > > > > > > peace at> > > > > > > > a time when India has yet to> > come> > > to> > > > terms> > > > > with> > > > > > 26/11,> > > > > > > > peaceniks on both sides are> > > overactive.> > > > Last> > > > > week> > > > > > a> > > > > > > > Pakistani delegation landed> > in> > > Amritsar> > > > with> > > > > a> > > > > > banner> > > > > > > of> > > > > > > > friendship; another is> > invading> > > Delhi> > > > to> > > > > talk> > > > > > peace.> > > > > > > Worse> > > > > > > > still, their Indian> > counterparts> > > held> > > > > meetings to> > > > > > > ensure> > > > > > > > that their peace mission was> > a> > > roaring> > > > > success,> > > > > > apart> > > > > > > from> > > > > > > > warmly welcoming them on> > Indian> > > soil.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Each time Indians visit> > Pakistan> > > or> > > > they us,> > > > > they> > > > > > are> > > > > > > > visibly gushing with emotion.> > Both> > > make> > > > > endless> > > > > > > comparisons> > > > > > > > and list commonalities in> > food,> > > dress,> > > > > language,> > > > > > > culture and> > > > > > > > of course history.> > Politically> > > correct,> > > > but> > > > > > untrue> > > > > > > because> > > > > > > > there are distinct> > differences in> > > the> > > > > respective> > > > > > > cuisines,> > > > > > > > languages, festivals,> > customs,> > > rituals> > > > and> > > > > > religion.> > > > > > > What> > > > > > > > are common are the scars of> > > Partition> > > > and a> > > > > > > blood-stained> > > > > > > > divide: facts which peaceniks> > > pretend> > > > do not> > > > > > exist as> > > > > > > they> > > > > > > > exchange garlands and bear> > hugs,> > > while> > > > > pining for> > > > > > a> > > > > > > no-visa> > > > > > > > regime. It's all very well> > to> > > savour> > > > > kebabs and> > > > > > > hosting> > > > > > > > lavish dinners. But scratch> > the> > > surface> > > > and> > > > > there> > > > > > is> > > > > > > > acrimony: raw wounds that> > have> > > little> > > > chance> > > > > of> > > > > > > healing.> > > > > > > > Mention Kashmir or terrorism> > and> > > > positions> > > > > > harden.> > > > > > > Then it> > > > > > > > is 'you versus us' rather> > than> > > > 'you> > > > > and> > > > > > us'.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > So even while President Asif> > Ali> > > > Zardari> > > > > tried to> > > > > > > charm> > > > > > > > Indians at the HT summit by> > saying> > > that> > > > > there is> > > > > > a> > > > > > > little> > > > > > > > bit of India in every> > Pakistani> > > and> > > > vice> > > > > versa,> > > > > > the> > > > > > > truth is> > > > > > > > that there is no love lost> > between> > > the> > > > two.> > > > > It is> > > > > > rare> > > > > > > to> > > > > > > > find an Indian warming up to> > a> > > > Pakistani.> > > > > However> > > > > > hard> > > > > > > we> > > > > > > > may try, we cannot wish away> > the> > > mutual> > > > > suspicion> > > > > > > sealed by> > > > > > > > history. There is an> > irreparable> > > divide> > > > and> > > > > > attempts> > > > > > > to> > > > > > > > bridge it are both> > unrealistic and> > > > > impossible.> > > > > > > Marching to> > > > > > > > the Wagah border to light> > candles> > > for> > > > peace> > > > > is at> > > > > > best> > > > > > > a> > > > > > > > goodwill gesture with no> > tangible> > > > results.> > > > > In> > > > > > other> > > > > > > words, a> > > > > > > > waste of time. Consequently> > when> > > an> > > > enraged> > > > > > Pranab> > > > > > > > Mukherjee, India's Foreign> > > Minister,> > > > sheds> > > > > > diplomacy> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > cries war, he cannot be> > faulted.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > This being the ground> > reality, it> > > is> > > > time to> > > > > shed> > > > > > > > superficial bonhomie and get> > real,> > > and> > > > > abandon> > > > > > the> > > > > > > song and> > > > > > > > dance about friendship. We> > need to> > > be> > > > > brutally> > > > > > honest> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > change tack from a focus on> > peace> > > to> > > > > > co-existence. It> > > > > > > is> > > > > > > > compulsions of geography and> > not> > > bonds> > > > of> > > > > history> > > > > > that> > > > > > > force> > > > > > > > us to live side by side.> > Replacing> > > > peace> > > > > with> > > > > > > co-existence> > > > > > > > will also help end the> > > > "like-mindedness"> > > > > > theory> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > reveal common meeting points> > in> > > place> > > > of> > > > > > non-workable> > > > > > > > alliances. It will end> > pretensions> > > > about> > > > > > camaraderie> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > help us face reality: however> > > hard,> > > > bitter> > > > > and> > > > > > brutal> > > > > > > it may> > > > > > > > be. Once minds are> > re-scripted, it> > > will> > > > be> > > > > much> > > > > > easier> > > > > > > to> > > > > > > > tackle the inherent acrimony> > > bordering> > > > on> > > > > > aggression.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Erase the friendship logo and> > > there> > > > could be> > > > > a> > > > > > road> > > > > > > ahead;> > > > > > > > abandon the thought of> > jointly> > > treading> > > > the> > > > > path> > > > > > and> > > > > > > > solutions could be on the> > anvil.> > > But> > > > break> > > > > bread> > > > > > > together> > > > > > > > and it is a non- starter> > because> > > > despite the> > > > > > kebabs> > > > > > > and> > > > > > > > candles, terror attacks and a> > > volatile> > > > > Indo-Pak> > > > > > border> > > > > > > are> > > > > > > > the order of the day.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The only casualty here would> > be> > > the> > > > > peaceniks.> > > > > > Not> > > > > > > only> > > > > > > > will they be out of work but> > will> > > be> > > > > unwilling to> > > > > > > accept> > > > > > > > that what they have been> > marketing> > > all> > > > these> > > > > > years is> > > > > > > an> > > > > > > > illusion.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> > http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=9e445e0d-ecff-4fe5-a9fe-79b28e821def> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > _________________________________________> > > > > > > > reader-list: an open> > discussion> > > list on> > > > > media and> > > > > > the> > > > > > > city.> > > > > > > > Critiques &> > Collaborations> > > > > > > > To subscribe: send an email> > to> > > > > > > > reader-list-request at sarai.net> > with> > > > subscribe> > > > > in> > > > > > the> > > > > > > subject> > > > > > > > header.> > > > > > > > To unsubscribe:> > > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > >> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > > > > > > > > List archive:> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>> > > > _________________________________________> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.> Critiques & Collaborations> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header.> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
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