TO OWN PERIL
| Date :09-Aug-2019 |
THAT Pakistan has expelled Indian High Commissioner Mr. Ajay Bisaria and has chosen to downgrade its diplomatic ties with New Delhi shows the extraordinary and absurd interest it has in India’s internal affairs. But even as Islamabad makes the decision, it is doing so to its own peril, further demonstrating to the world the uncouth vested interests it has developed in Kashmir issue.
The effort is obvious that Islamabad wants to push itself into contention as a stake-holder in Kashmir, for which it has neither a locus standii nor a constitutional sanction. Such a demonstration of an unauthorised interest in India’s internal affairs makes it clear to the world that Islamabad is trying to brow-beat New Delhi, an attempt that has got no meaning from India’s point of view. It is beyond common comprehension what kind of benefit Islamabad would ever garner by downgrading diplomatic ties with India. But common sense also indicates another reality that Islamabad is further isolating itself in regional realpolitik against all norms of international conduct among countries.
It is worthy of recall here that Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan had threatened a Pulwama-type terror strike following the Government of India’s decision to withdraw Article 370 of the Constitution of India in Kashmir and split the State into two Union Territories. That kind of threat can come only from a Rogue State, which Pakistan is. Even a rogue may have some culture of his own, but Pakistan lacks even that. For, entire domestic politics of Pakistan is revolving around what India does or does not do in its own sphere. In the past few months, the Pakistani media has been issuing serious words of caution to Islamabad against any misadventures.
It has been praising almost every achievement of India, including growing economic prowess, expanding military capabilities, increasing diplomatic clout in the world, improving levels of scientific achievements -- such as the Chandrayaan-2 mission, heightened sense of better governance etc. It has been warning Islamabad against any uncalled for overtures in military or diplomatic terms. It is obvious that a big section of the Pakistani media is representing sane voices in that country. Yet, the powers that be in Islamabad are in no mood to listen to any wise counsel.
Hence this latest overture of downgrading of diplomatic ties with New Delhi. From New Delhi’s point of view, such a decision by Islamabad would be disastrous for Pakistan. Yet, Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan does not seem to be in a position to make his own decision, thanks to the pressure exerted on him by the military junta in Islamabad. There are reasons to suspect that Pakistan may be thinking of launching some or the other armed action against India. Hence the decision to start blocking diplomatic channels right from the start of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Following the development in Kashmir, China, too, tried to offer India an advice against its decision about Ladakh’s new status as a Union Territory. Undaunted, New Delhi has asked Beijing to mind its own business rather than taking an undue interest in India’s internal affairs. China is a separate issue by itself and so cannot be clubbed with the Pakistani overtures. What is crucial and also pleasurable is India’s response to the shenanigans by China and Pakistan. Both the countries are playing out stupid games in the theatre of the absurd that will lead them nowhere. Much to the contrary, the more they indulge in dirty games, the better it may prove to be for New Delhi. For, when the two countries isolate themselves deliberately from India, they will lose on many fronts. For India, the loss may only be marginal, which at least Islamabad does not seem to realise. What can India do when Pakistan is on a suicidal course?