Saturday, July 22, 2006

Communal response to terror? A trap

Israel, the world's most vengeful nation, is in the thick of yet another war. The irony is that it has incidentally thrown light on
(a) the intransigence of communal forces within our country and
(b) India's isolation in the world.

A demonstrator's placard in Bombay said all there was to be said about the communal lobby's game of divisiveness. Addressing the visiting Dr.Abdul Kalam directly, it said: "Mr. President, we have been silent for 58 years. We can't be silent now. Use your missiles."

Against whom? Certainly not against the terrorists holed up in Mahim or Hyderabad. The demonstrator meant that India should fire missiles against Pakistan. Just as Israel is doing against Palestinians. For many patriots among us Israel is the model to follow.

In fact nothing will be more self-destructive for India. Israel gets away with slaughter because America fully supports it. Bush justified even the latest attack with the refrain "Israel has the right to defend itself."

America will never concede that India has the right to defend itself against terror bases in Pakistan. In fact, America will not allow India even to criticise Pakistan. See what its reaction was to poor Manmohan Singh's spirited appeals in St. Petersburg. "Show us the evidence that Pakistan is involved," the Americans told him. One US ambassadorial flunkey even said that India should cooperate with Pakistan in the fight against terror!

The message is clear: The same America that enables Israel to kill and destroy with immunity will not let India fire a gun against Pakistan. India is not Israel and Pakistan is not Palestine. America supports Israel not because its enemies are Muslim, but because Israel is Jewish.

Pakistan, quite adroitly, has led the easily fooled Americans into believing that it is a "frontline state" in America's war against terror. Actually, it is in Pakistan's interest that al-Quaida and Osama bin Laden remain alive and kicking in their mountain fortresses. As long as they are there, Pakistan is assured of the "frontline state" status and all the military and diplomatic privileges ensuing from it. Musharraff is too smart for the Americans. And, it may now seem, for Indians.

For argument's sake, let us say a tough and patriotic party is in power in Delhi and it fires off a missile at a Pakistani target. The finger on the button in that country belongs to a general who had put nuclear warheads on the ready against India in an undeclared skirmish like Kargill. If and when an Indian missile flies in the direction of Pakistan, he will not hesitate to do the worst with an air of injured innocence. Then?

Don't forget that it is not just America that will stand by Pakistan in a moment of crisis. China is a close ally of Pakistan. The European Union is no friend of India's nuclear programmes. Russia is a friend, but it is also a friend of Pakistan. In a showdown India will find itself splendidly isolated.

Manmohan Singh's attempts to please America in everything from nuclear deals to wheat imports will not help India meet the Pakistani terror challenge.This is a war India must fight on its own, by building up an intelligence network that is the best in the world and by adopting tough methods that have helped other countries facing similar challenges. It cannot be fought by polarising Indians along religious lines. That's a trap that will help Pakistan.


TJS George
newindpress.com