Unnecessary aggression
18 July 2015 10:27 PM GMT
Temperatures on the Line of Control are running high after the Pakistan military claimed it had shot down an Indian “spy drone”. The incident crowned days of ceasefire violations on the LoC and the International Border in Jammu, in which both sides suffered casualties. In Pakistan, the Indian envoy was perplexingly summoned to hear a “strong protest over airspace violation”. Pakistan continues its foreign policy strategy of bait and switch. Pakistan has most recently lodged a complaint against India in UN for ‘ceasefire violations’. This is pretty ironical considering that it is Pakistan which has been committing the ceasefire violations. India Pakistan ties were back to normal or so the MEA contingent at the Russian city of Ufa would have thought. Things have changed considerably though in the few days since the Indian Prime Minister met his Pakistani counterpart in Ufa, Russia after more than a year.
This meeting was followed by a optimistic joint statement made by Foreign Secretaries of two countries which included a meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs to discuss all issues connected to terrorism. True to form, a few days later, Pakistan committed its first ceasefire violation.Both sides had also agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples. With these latest incursions that initiative will likely be put on hold.Relations with Pakistan have seen several ups and downs in the short span of new Indian government. A fresh start was made by PM Modi by inviting Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony but this followed cancelling of talks between Foreign Secretaries on issue of Pakistan High Commissioner’s meeting with Kashmir separatist Hurriyat Leaders.
This was followed by fierce ceasefire violations from Pakistan, which was handled well by BSF. New low came when Indian operation ‘Hot Pursuit’ on India-Myanmar border irked Pakistani leadership, prompting them to give irresponsible statements. Given all this, latest engagements appear as a blatant about turn, which smacks of a cohesive foreign Policy.However, experts disagree and feel that the only permanent foreign policy possible with Pakistan is of ‘constant maneuver’ and adjusting to the changes in larger system. Constituents of this ‘larger system’ are almost all countries strategically important for India – U.S., China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan etc.When we are dealing with Pakistan we are also dealing with wide array of diplomatic combination and permutations.
Pakistan due to its strategic location punches much above its weight.Having said this India Pakistan relation will most likely remain as it was in past. Pakistan wants parity with India. Being well aware that it can’t match the grandeur of India, it wants to bring India down. This irrational animosity is the unwavering ideology of Pakistan.There is a huge symbiotic convergence between Pakistan’s and China’s postures towards India right now. Both are marauding powers that want the territorial status quo with India altered irrevocably without any concessions on their part. Pakistan wants to keep PoK and wrest a bit of Muslim Kashmir, and China wants to keep China-occupied Kashmir and grab a piece of Arunachal, especially Tawang. These ceasefire violations are just part of that long term game plan. India must steadfastly resist these tactics and put up a resolute front, whether it be on the border or on the foreign policy front.
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