Third world war omens!

Ali Sukhanver

Speaking at the end of a day-long visit to Pakistan in the first week of December, former US presidential candidate John McCain pointed out that the devastating attacks in Mumbai must not be allowed to hinder the peace process between India and Pakistan. He said; a worsening of relations between the two nuclear armed neighbours would be a victory for the perpetrators of the attacks. He was of the view that one of the major goals of the outrageous attacks was to reverse the trend and the progress that has been made in the Indian and Pakistani relations. The statement of John McCain clearly reveals his fears regarding the future of Indo-Pak relations. It seems he was very much unambiguous about the forthcoming aftermaths of the Mumbai blasts. The question arises here; who are the perpetrators of the attacks referred to by John McCain: who is not in favour of friendly relations between India and Pakistan?

The increasing number of anti-aircraft guns at Pak-India borders, violation of Pakistan’s airspace and the statements of the Indian politicians, joining hands with their media; all these are nothing but deliberate attempts to create a war-like situation in the region. The Indian desire for a war with Pakistan is not a new one. Since long, it has been trying to drag Pakistan into the battlefield of its own interests by instigating Pakistan in different ways, different manners, behaving like a stubborn child.

How strange; for its personal evil designs and desires, India is selfishly eager to throw the whole South Asia to the burning hell of war. If there is a war between the two countries, it will not remain restricted to the borders of India and Pakistan. It would spread like the jungle fire engulfing the whole region, including Afghanistan, China, Sri Lanka, Iran and other countries. This war could be an omen to the third world war. If this war starts, the whole credit of all the devastation and destruction will go to India. The new world after this war will refer to India as the worst enemy of humanity.

It is very strange; why India fails to understand that its projected third world war will be a great loss to the US war on terror, a war which has been started just to prove the US supremacy in Asian countries, particularly among the Muslim states. The Asian countries are a good battlefield for this purpose from the US point of view and the US would never let its efforts go waste. India is mistakenly taking things very non-seriously. All its assumptions are based on misjudgments and miscalculations. Firstly, it is expecting a very strong support from the US in case it attacks Pakistan. Secondly, it is underestimating the skill and courage of the Pakistan armed forces. These two misunderstandings are compelling India to wage a war against Pakistan. India should make it clear that the Pakistan of 2008 is not the Pakistan of 1971. The situation in 1971 was altogether different from that of today. In 1971, the Pakistani nation was not in favour of war, but now Pakistanis are eager to pay back India in the same coin. For the last so many years they are bearing the Indian atrocities with a heavy heart. From the brutal incident of demolishing the Babri Mosque to the mass scale slaughtering of the helpless Muslims in Gujarat, from the custodial killings of the countless innocent Kashmiris to the reduction in the water flow of Chenab River, the Pakistani nation has been bearing a lot. Now it is the time to stop all this with an iron hand.

Pakistan considers war in itself a terrorist activity. Being a peace loving country, it has always tried to avoid confrontation with its neighbouring countries. It has always been a well-wisher even of its unfriendly neighbours like Afghanistan and India. It does not mean that Pakistan has no ability of being harsh and rash. Everyone has its own boiling point, some boil early and some take more time. The Pakistani nation is now at the verge of its patience. The people of Pakistan are no doubt ready to hug the menace of war because war has been made inevitable for them. Their existence has been made a challenge and they are now enthusiastic to accept this challenge.

If the war is imminent, it is certainly going to give India a tough time. It won’t be easy to swallow pill. According to various statements made by the Indian Muslims in the international media, the Indian Muslims are not in favour of war. They strongly intend to support Pakistan in case of any war. It is because they are always maltreated by the Hindu extremists and the government of India is never ready to lend them a sympathetic hand. They feel that India is a country meant only for the Hindus and the Muslims there are nothing but an unwanted burden. They are leading a life of slaves in India. The leaders of the Hindu extremist parties have so many times demanded that the Muslims in India should leave the country because their proper place is Pakistan. It is something very painful that the Muslims are meted out all sorts of humiliation and subjected to worst kind of discrimination in a country that boasts to be the leader of the civilised and democratic world. So in case of war, the Muslim minority would be providing a strong support to Pakistan. Same would be the attitude of other minorities, including the Christians and the Buddhists.

The fact is that this war is not the desire of the whole India; it is the dream of the Hindu extremist groups. They just want to root out, crush and curb the Muslims wherever they are, either in Pakistan or in India. The recent statement of Bal Thackeray that Pakistan should be attacked without any delay; very truly reflects the Hindu mindset. Unfortunately, Sonia Gandhi has also tried to exploit the situation in her own political benefits by emphasising the urgent need of war with Pakistan.

Still there is time to think over things. The international forces should review the situation in a sympathetic way and try to realise the gravity of the situation, not for the sake of Pakistan, but for the peace and prosperity of the whole world. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the people of Pakistan, the government and its armed forces know very well how to protect their motherland. Pakistan has always tried to avoid any unpleasant situation with India in a very careful and calculated way. It is very well aware of the fact that war is the last solution to any confrontation. But now, when the traditional horrid face of Indian conspiracy and cruelty has started unveiling itself, the song of peace and friendship seems quite out of place. Why do not we honour the Indian desire of war like a caring neighbour?