Disguised blessings from Lahore
25 Jun, 1999 · 213
Mallika Joseph A argues that the Lahore Declaration has been seen by political commentators as a tool of betrayal, and by strategists as a brilliant, yet deceptive, move that lulled the Indian military into complacency
The Kargil episode has brought to light many latent factors in the Indian scene. It has brought to light the Army’s preparedness despite an obvious intelligence failure and initial set backs. Amidst all predictions of a long ordeal in difficult terrain, the Army has reclaimed many strategic areas from the infiltrators. Secondly, and most importantly, the international reaction to the issue has been favourable to
India
. Commencing from the
US
reaction to the recent G-8 resolution,
New Delhi
has scored a major diplomatic victory over
Islamabad
. What is surprising is that
India
, which has bristled at the very mention of the ‘K’ word is celebrating the favourable international attention it is now getting.
Kashmir
issue, why is it tacitly accepting internationalisation of the issue now? Why is it that
India
, which took extreme offence to South African leader Mandela mentioning
Kashmir
at the
NAM
summit, is nine months later welcoming the international support on Kargil? Simple. It has a war to fight and the tide is in its favour. With the end not yet in sight, it is riding the crest of goodwill generated. The moment
India
feels the tide is turning against it, it is sure to decry international attention to this issue. But the tide is unlikely to turn, at least for some time.
India
’s reaction to the international attention is surprising, world reaction is more surprising. While
New Delhi
had tried for long to convince the world about
Islamabad
’s role in abetting terrorism within
India
, it had not achieved any tangible results. The most that the
US
has done is label Lashkar-e-Toiba, an organisation based in
Pakistan
, as a terrorist outfit. The reaction of the
US
to the present crisis has been positive on account of two developments.
Pakistan
’s involvement in Kargil beyond the shadow of doubt, it has also accentuated global disenchantment with
Pakistan
.
Islamabad
has betrayed
New Delhi
’s trust. While the latter has been talking of peace, the former has been preparing for war. The killing of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in cold blood and the return of six mutilated bodies bearing evidence of torture while they were still alive has further blackened
Pakistan
’s image.
India
has reiterated that
Kashmir
is a bilateral issue to be solved between
India
and
Pakistan
. The
US
has allayed its fears of international-attention-turning-into-intervention by stating that it was not going to mediate. Nevertheless, would it not be sensible to utilise this positive response to our advantage and convert the LoC into an international border, an idea that has been doing the rounds quietly since 1948? Or, is there any better way to resolve the
Kashmir
dispute?
Having insisted on bilateralism on the
If
• Firstly, the tapes of the conversation between Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharrf and the Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Mohammed Aziz, which were perhaps handed over to Indian Intelligence by the CIA. Whilst placing
• Secondly, and more importantly, the Lahore Declaration. Through the significant gesture of ‘bus-diplomacy’ the BJP government sent a signal to the world that it favours peace and was therefore taking the first step towards de-escalating tension between the two neighbours. With domestic reactions ranging from commendation to ridicule, Vajpayee went ahead with the trip only to return victorious his unusual diplomatic move.
That a Hindu hard-line party like the BJP could strive to do this was by itself remarkable for many western analysts. This laid the foundations for the current change in Western reactions. In the light of the present intrusion, the preparations for which must have commenced before the Lahore Declaration, many feel that
The Lahore Declaration has been seen by political commentators as a tool of betrayal, and by strategists as a brilliant, yet deceptive, move that lulled the Indian military into complacency. However, the value of the Lahore Declaration needs to be seen in the light of the positive international response it has generated to the Kargil crisis.
Basking in the glow of favourable world reaction,