[The News International
March 21, 2005 ]
Moving towards a durable peace
by Sandeep Pandey
Why should the Prime Minister of Pakistan be interested in talking to an Indian activist about a proposed peace march?
My friend Karamat Ali, a peace activist and co-organizer from Pakistan of the proposed Delhi to Multan India-Pakistan Peace March (March 23 to May 11, 2005), was trying to include me in a delegation of Pakistan Peace Coalition, which had got an appointment to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 12, to discuss the organization of the march and specifically request visas for the marchers from India, who would cross over into Pakistan at Wagah on April 18. I was amazed when got the invitation, just 48 hours before the appointment. I had to literally rush to Islamabad after getting my visa and ticket.
That the office of Prime Minister decided to invite me to discuss the peace march along with Pakistani activists clearly indicated that the Government of Pakistan was viewing this march positively. The peace activists of India and Pakistan, independently and jointly, have been opposing the nuclearisation of the sub-continent and advocating for peace even when the relationship between the two countries was very hostile.
Peaceniks on both sides of the border are often dismissed as a bunch of idealists and accused of playing into the hands of elements working against the interests of our respective countries, and sometimes directly accused of being anti-national. The governments aren't very supportive either. Hence it was a welcome surprise that the Pakistani Prime Minister was full of praise for initiatives taken by peace activists and hoped that more such initiatives would bring about a lasting change in the situation in South Asia. He acknowledged the role of peace movements in having a decisive influence over the two governments.
Shaukat Aziz expressed the commitment of the Government of Pakistan towards building an atmosphere of peace in the sub-continent and the willingness to do whatever was necessary to achieve this objective. He said that President Musharraf shared this vision. He was quite candid about the contentious issues and hoped that through dialogue they would be resolved. He claimed that no past Government of Pakistan had been so open about this objective and for the first time there was no fear about discussing the issues.
He was happy with the way the peace process was moving forward but disappointed over the lack of progress on resolving the Kashmir dispute, resolving which in his view is key to establishing permanent peace between India and Pakistan. He was also disappointed at the postponement of the SAARC meeting and said that Pakistan was 'hurt' on the Baglihar Dam issue; water is emerging as a contentious issue between the two countries.
I was impressed by Shaukat Aziz's forthrightness. He said that unlike the past this government is not interested in merely containing problems, but is actually committed to resolving the outstanding issues. And this is obvious in his approach when addressing some of them. He spelt out the position of the Government of Pakistan on each issue and hoped that on bilateral matters India would respond positively. He was full of praise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his positive attitude towards settling differences.
Security, however, is one issue that makes the leadership of the two countries nervous. During the exchange Shaukat Aziz pointed out the necessity for Pakistan to keep arms for its security, and admitted the compulsion of Pakistan to match India's capability whenever it decides to procure any new category of arms, leading to an arms race. There exists tremendous confusion regarding more dangerous arms giving a sense of security.
If you think about the issue with a cool head, you realise the relationship between security and more dangerous arms is inverse. We become more insecure as we possess more dangerous arms.
Peace activists from Pakistan and India have been advocating the unilateral, or with bilateral agreement, renunciation of nuclear weapons and downgrading armed forces at the border. Only a border free of army and arms can provide us with a sense of true security on both sides. I hope our heads of State will eventually understand this clear logic and move towards getting rid of weapons.
That is when the common people on both sides will be the winners, as resources being diverted in the name of security today, will be freed up for real development. In times of globalisation as economic progress becomes more important than military security, the leaders of the two countries appear to have realized the futility of the arms race and pursue the road to peace. Times are changing. The concept of jingoistic nationalism is going out of date and this is a welcome development. The economic development of the people who comprise a nation is becoming centre-stage on the political agenda, as it should be.
I still find it difficult to believe that I was allowed into the office of the Prime Minister of a country that until not long ago was considered an enemy country, and got to listen to his frank opinion on pressing issues. His approach clearly reflects the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to bring about peace and normalcy in the region.
Thank you, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, for making it possible for me to meet you. If your government allows the India-Pakistan Peace March to take place, your initiative will go a long way towards opening the doors for normalising the relationship between citizens of the two countries. This will help establish a durable peace, something that appears elusive but which the people most definitely desire on both sides of the border.
