Let a new beginning be made
With heightened tension among the two arch rivals and nuclear powers rising with every passing day, the world leaders have now stepped in and are trying to create an atmosphere so that de-escalation between the two neighbors takes place and an initiative is generated that can lead to final resolution of the issues that confront the region.
With UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirming that discussions at different levels with different parties about the tense India-Pakistan situation, a message coming out of those discussions is that there is a need for both countries to do whatever they can to de-escalate the situation.
The fears of a full fledged war grew more shrill on Wednesday when India said that its Air Force chased away intruding Pakistani fighter jets in Kashmir, shooting down an F-16 that fell on the Pakistani-controlled side, while an Indian MiG-21 was lost in action.
Pakistan said it had shot down the plane, which crashed in its territory, and displayed an Indian Air Force pilot it had captured. The developments went a further step as both the nations announced cancellation of civilian air traffic and even blocking the air space.
On Thursday however, some more positive news was doing the rounds when President Donald Trumph also pointed out to some breakthrough confirming that some good news is coming from India and Pakistan to solve the decades old infighting among the two.
To begin with the alarming new standoff between India and Pakistan could end in any number of ways, from talks and a quick truce, to a series of military escalations that risk ending in a nuclear exchange.
At such a perilous moment, the need for calm and dialogue is plain – but more than this is required. The longtime South Asian rivals need to recognize that when tensions flare, the spiral of escalation is unforgiving and hard to control. They should help each other to avoid it.
India is presently blaming Pakistan for the gruesome attack in Pulwama alleging that it is sheltering militant groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, which took credit for the attack that prompted this latest confrontation.
No doubt the breeding of extremist elements in Pakistanis has made it to suffer as well. Yet their military and civilian leaders have let these groups operate in their country and attack its neighbors, whenever a situation arises. This needs to be put an end to by the present Pakistan regime.
India also has cause to reflect. Kashmir is burning and the unrest has been gruesome during the past few years now. Post the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani a new generation of Kashmiris has grown radicalized partly because successive governments have clamped down on dissent and treated Kashmiris like second-class citizens. Police and other forces deployed in the valley have responded to recent protests with excessive force.
There is a general feel among the masses in mainland India that Kashmiris should be punished for disloyalty. However, the repressive measures have proven counter-productive to quell the rising dissent.
The issue of Pakistan taking some decisive action against extremist elements and starting a meaningful dialogue with Kashmiri leadership can be the two points from where a new beginning can be made.
But all this needs to be time bound and strictly monitored by various friendly nations and world bodies so that the exercise proves a success rather than a mere rhetoric.
