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ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT
Peace is very important for the growth and development of the Pakistani government and economy. Pakistan needs time and proper planning to rebuild and strengthen its institutions, and to put its economic plans into effect. Economic cooperation over such issues as Iran’s gas pipeline should be able to create an environment of mutual understanding. Without peace with India, the development of Pakistan will be greatly hindered. Pakistan, therefore, must concentrate on the next phase of the composite dialogue: on building up mutual trust and commitment.
Provoking Pakistan now over the allegations regarding the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks would be both needless and counterproductive. The peace process is extremely fragile, and must be handled delicately.
The ideological divide between Muslims and Hindus is vast, and a long history of enmity is not easily reversible. But taking the lingering economic and social problems of the two countries into account, there should be a greater desire for peace simply to be able to divert valuable energy and resources to solve the issue of poverty. The scarce resources of both countries are being squandered on the construction of larger and larger defense initiatives. If peace is established, the areas of domestic politics concerning human development can be given the attention and resources that they so direly need.
SUPPORT FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT
Pakistan needs help from abroad. The people of South Asia must send a clear message of their desire for peace to the entire world. The support and resources of the international community will be invaluable in forging strong relations between Pakistan and India, and in beginning a global movement for peace.
The governments of both nations have failed in bringing peace to their people so far. They have ignored pressing social and economic issues in order to bolster their defense budgets. General Musharraf has hidden behind the facade of democracy, whose economic gains have failed to reach down to the masses.
Peace will not be easy in South Asia. The process is long, and an environment of patience, trust, credibility, and goodwill is essential for progress to be made. The stakes are high, but times are changing. General elections in Pakistan are going to be held next year, so it is time for the people to rise up and send a clear message to their country. By organizing themselves massively using the Internet, and other modern tools of communication, their message will not be ignored: We, the people, yearn for peace and justice for all.
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Sohail Mahmood
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Comments
AK | Feb 26th, 2007
While the message propogated by the author can be appreciated, the article has a large number of errors.
1) It was the BJP-led NDA government that revived the peace process with Pakistan in January 2004, when Prime Minister Vajpayee attended the SAARC summit in Islamabad. The Congress-led coaltion came to power only in May 2004.
2) By terming the Lakshar-E-Tayaba as a "so-called terrorist group", which used to be based in Pakistan, the author shows bias. Both the United States and the UN has designated the group as a terrorist group and linked it with the Al Qaeda. The group is still active in Pakistan with the support of the state-run intelligence agencey, the ISI.
3)The author cites the death of 80,000 civlians in the Kashmir insurgency and entirely blames the Indian Army, while ignoring the role played by terrorists in killing civilians. The same can be said about human rights violations, which terrorist groups have been responsible for in Kashmir.
4) The author talks of peace and normalisation of realtions between India and Pakistan but forgets to mention that the Pakistani Government links all improvement in relations to Kashmir.
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