Kashmir problem? Which Kashmir?

The ‘Kashmir problem’ is not complicated. Unfortunately a solution now is made out to be complex. The diagnosis is simple and known. The therapy is also known.  Any doctor will tell you that for any therapy the cooperation of the patient is a must. Probably that is the missing element here as by his own indiscretion the patient is not in control of himself.

Pakistan was conceived illogically from 'hatred' and the 'British handled' Indian Independence. The people (read Quaide Aazam Jinnah … et al) who fought for the creation of Pakistan surely never intended it to become what it is now. Immediately on partition the control of Pakistan was taken over by its army with economic backing from wealthy feudal lords (read Bhuttos, Shariffs… et al). Once the feudal lords and the army tasted power they would never let it go (75% of Pakistan business is controlled by its army).The Pakistan army became all powerful and to their consternation found, once hatred is taken out of the equation between Pakistan and India, Pakistan will cease to exist in its present form.  

Hence the ‘problem’ persists; which is NOT Kashmir as much as it is that cultivated HATRED, so very essential for the existence of Pakistan as required by the Pakistan army and a small section of its people.  Kashmir is just a ready made medium. 

 With peaceful borders between the countries the two Nations will be somewhat like England and Scotland. Mind you, there is no love lost between those two Nations but Scotland has to forever live in the shadow of England. Pakistan army does not want to lose control of that country and cede de facto dominance of its economy, society, entertainment et al … to India, with or without Kashmir.

Along the way, the Pakistan army, desperate for sustenance, brought in other players like China, US, Jihadis, militants and terrorists (initially unintentionally but subsequently acquiesced).

 Now that the problem being cultivated hatred, what is the solution?  

 Money is a great leveler! We see that in the every day scams. So if the USA, China and India become indispensable to each other mutually for economic growth, all else will fade away.

Of words and deeds

Much has been spoken and written on President Obama’s recent visit to India. Let me too say my piece. Here it is…in the lighter vein.

Recent visit by Barack Obama, President of the USA and Michelle Obama, the first lady, has caused a flutter in India, US and some other parts of the world for varied reasons. Every player and spectator had their own individual agenda. For India and US it was all about money and power.

For the TV news channels it was a four day reality show where most of the participants did not have to be paid. Each word the leaders spoke, each step (pun intended) Michelle took and each ‘indication’ received from the ‘sources’ of television news channels were analysed by a relay of panels of experts. Obviously the favourite lines of the various anchors were ‘why he did what he did’ or ‘why he did not do what he did not?’ That, I suppose is what is meant by analysis.

So, for most of first two days it was why he did not utter ‘Pak’ – the perennial obsession with some of us Indians and the Indian media. Would, not uttering the “P” word during the visit, have made any difference to what actions will be taken by various players? What ever were to happen would have happened any way. We kept at it, the media put pressure and, like it or not, to the world the word “Pak” in a way dominated the visit. The Pakistan press, as is wont to, largely opposed the US support for India’s permanent seat in the UNSC – and expectedly mentioned nothing about anything else. There is an old Arabian proverb that goes “When you have spoken the word, it reigns over you. When it is unspoken you reign over it”.

When all was said the experts were on the lines of “No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous”. --Henry B. Adam.

It was fun alright.

So what about this that I have said; well it could be “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.” – Plato