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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Narotham Reddy who wrote (42658)	5/23/2002 8:42:53 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

INDO-PAK WAR HAS BEEN AVERTED! Kashmiri freedom-fighters now being termed as “terrorists” under new Pakistani policy Iqbal Latif, 23 May 2002 Pakistan has decided to embark on a new policy where Islamic militancy in Kashmir will be considered as “terrorist” activity and not a fight for freedom. This is a major turnabout for a posture that Pakistan has represented since General Zia-ul-Haq’s ascendancy as President of the country. Since the last 23 years, Pakistan had become the hotbed and safe haven for “global Islamic terrorists incorporated.” Now, Pakistan is making a complete reversal of policy to pacify its key ally, the United States, who is demanding such a reversal, to further pressure India to withdraw its one million troops from Pakistani borders. The US has made it clear to Pakistan that until they receive iron-clad guarantees from President Pervez Musharraf himself that all Islamic militancy in Kashmir will stop and there shall be a major crackdown, they are not in a position to give counter-guarantees to India. Of course, in the same vein, Americans have agreed that, in case of watertight guarantees and huge stamp-down efforts on terrorist activities in Kashmir, they will ensure that India withdraws and brings India and Pakistan back to the negotiating table. President Pervez Musharraf had a detailed meeting with the Pakistani intelligentsia and selected news editors of the country to discuss the prevalent grim situation on the borders. According to inside reports from those attending the very frank exchange of discussions, President Musharraf seemed to have indicated that Pakistan could not continue with its policy of supporting Islamic militants in Kashmir as freedom fighters. He told the very select group of participants that, once again, Pakistan is at a crossroads like it was after the 11th September attacks, and cannot afford to take a wrong decision. He asserted that either Pakistan should go along with the route of making the country a progressive and liberal state or it chooses the path of doomed theocracy, like Afghanistan. He reminded the participants that Muslim nations have rarely taken the right decision when countered with the threat of extinction and Pakistan was at such kind of a crossroads today. President Musharraf, who spoke in a very relaxed and candid manner, was asked by a pro-extremist editor why he could not continue with the policy of hide-and-seek and hoodwinking India by carrying on the support of Islamic militants in Kashmir adding that these were freedom fighters. Musharraf firmly retorted that this policy of training the Islamic militants as freedom fighters could not continue. It may have worked with India but the Americans were not ready to buy it. The Americans have demanded ironclad guarantees from Pakistan that these camp activities should be completely stopped. The visit of British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, will contain solid steps to reduce the tension. Pakistan has agreed to stamp down hard on these Islamic militants who are playing with the fate of the country, and Pakistan is much more closer to war than it was in the immediate aftermath of the 13th December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament. One of the participants prodded Musharraf that “we would carry guns with you to fight the Indians,” which President Musharraf brusquely rebuffed. For the global Islamic militant network, Pakistan’s policy turnaround is a major loss, as Kashmir was a front for training Muslim militants, who would seize every opportunity to destabilize western democracies and modern Islamic states. As the US proposes, the purpose of the militants is to destabilize the fine balance between India and Pakistan by engaging in these across-the-border activities; they want the war to break out. Such a war can have far-reaching consequences, as it will not be limited; if Pakistan’s crushing defeat becomes inevitable after initially taking India on for not more than ten days, the possibility of using nukes is very high. In such an event, there will be new chaos in the Islamic world of one billion. The economic and defence preparedness of Pakistan is only based on short-term deterrence, but a wide war will economically destroy Pakistan. In such a case, it would create a huge destabilizing effect on the entire Islamic world. The Indian and US strategists realize this and they have found a person in Musharraf who is ready to reciprocate and not to repeat the kind of mistakes that many of the Arab and Muslim leaders have made – of never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Pakistan will be given three months to show its sincerity towards its cause of stamping down on terrorism, and their actions will be closely monitored. General Pervez Musharraf, in his private meeting, has candidly and very clearly indicated that he will not and cannot afford to ignore the US. He sees a point in the Americans’ demands that Islamic militants in Kashmir today can tomorrow be Al-Qaeda global operatives. For the world, it is good news that the last haven in Kashmir is being closed and that India and Pakistan may once again avert a very lethal situation. Wendy Chamberlain, in a private meeting yesterday, commented to some senior members of the Pakistani intelligentsia asking what Pakistan had gained in 23 years of insurgency and being a leader of a global network of terrorists. It had become isolated and nearing a ‘pariah’ state. According to Chamberlain, the strategy of Pakistan to pursue how much damage they do to India is wrong. They should take account of how much damage such a strategy has done to the country. Some victories are pyrrhic victories, which are disproportionate to the benefits accrued. For India too, victory against Pakistan would be the same. It is most likely agreed between President Musharraf and President Bush that the best course would be of mutual peace and co-existence. President Musharraf was asked if he trusted the United States to deliver its promise to let India withdraw and bring them to the negotiating table to which General Musharraf responded with an assuring laugh stating the Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations with the US and communication was not a barrier. He said that he talks 4-5 times a week with General Colin Powell and has no problems in speaking freely and openly with him. Privately, he told one of my friends that his discussions with General Powell and Tony Frank are quite honest and frank and that their trust is worth it. Once he gives the US solid guarantees, they will have the means to make India see reason. Pakistan has also told the US that they will further deploy forces in the western borders to search for Osama bin Laden and Zahrabi. It may be remembered that just yesterday Pakistan was demanding its withdrawal of some 40,000-manned troops from the Afghanistan border back to the Indian border. But America has its own interests in making sure that this does not happen. Hence diplomatic efforts on very high levels are going on so that America’s war on terrorism may not become real due to this huge conflict. In case of a war on Pakistan, the entire Afghan border will be vacant and all the Islamic militants will be in the frontline fighting the Indians. The last thing anyone wants to see is this kind of new alliance between militants and the Pakistan army, which has recently been broken. Who wants to see Bin Laden on the Kashmiri front with the Mujahideens. Such a possibility would be the ideal dream for Bin Laden, but a bad day for the world in terms of war and global terrorism.

To: Narotham Reddy who wrote (42658)	5/23/2002 9:30:45 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Under immense diplomatic activity in sub-continent some signs of thaw are clearly visible, in London it is reported that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee have said late Thursday that President Pervez Musharraf must match his words with deeds in clamping down on cross-border terrorism, adding he was "disappointed" that this had not yet happened. From a cautious statement of 'decisive war' against Islamic militancy to this new escape clause, behind the scenes global pressures are yielding results. Although Richard Armitrage and Jack Straw may not bring a precooked ‘new menu’ for peace accord but will convince India to back down from strategic posturing so as to achieve a political face saving formula for both nations. Where mutual trust is a rare commodity this is the beginning of end of a serious threat to regional peace. <yielded under threat to the American pressures to abandon the suicidal path of supporting Al-Quaida and Taliban. Under the same gun> You may call it a gun; we have been with Americans since 47 when you were with Russians, for us it is pleasure to listen to them, what they tell us we do it, if it was gun remember 1979 Afghan invasion by Russians, a nuclear power, you were in their laps we resisted it to the hilt with American help so for us with our land, sea, and naval areas all at their disposal it is constructive engagement and that is what it is all about. We have seen the results of that positive and n ice in our own country as extremism is eradicated, what others could not do in 1400 years we are on the path to handle it, one day you will face a similar path the extremists in Gujarat are just a small symptom, when you are face with many of them you listen to reason and logic not to gun pressure, we know where our interest lies, it is not in war with the Indians and we don't need to do that for sake of doing it, we will not play in the hands of extremist, that is a national realisation. It is only brave people who make right decisions to save nations from annihilation, in just last decade Salobodan Milosivic learned it hard, Saddam sodomised his nations on altar of ego, Arafat screwed up big time, why should we, this is what distinguishes a nation from failed state. This way Pakistan also portrays itself as sensible nuclear power that is a huge plus, the propaganda that we are failed version of Somalia goes out of window so does all that huge media effort that is going across the border thanks Sahara and Star that we are butter fingers, but brave people realise their mistakes and correct them, that’s we did post 11th Sept. That is the point rest is irrelevant..