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The
fact of the matter is that Pakistan “will not “ and “cannot”
end cross-border terrorism since it suits it to keep Kashmir on the front burner.
A clear insincerity is perceptible in Pakistan’s attitude when it
feigns wide eyed innocence regarding the terrorist camps operating
in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and their nefarious role in fomenting
cross-border trouble, and in the same breath demonstrates its
helplessness in controlling cross-border incursions, blaming India
for not using her resources to deal with them.
This
was communicated by Pakistan PM Zafarullah Khan Jamali. “Pakistan
has made efforts (to stop cross border incursions by terrorists) But
a movement is on which is outside our purview. We can try to rein
them, make them understand. We don’t have control over them.” he
said. We should also recall the fact that General Musharraf, despite
his protestations of exporting terror into J&K, announced a few
days back that Pakistan would continue to back the separatist
movement in Kashmir providing it moral, logistic and political
support. Viewed against this backdrop, there seems to be no
possibility that Pakistan based violence will be curbed in the near
future.
While
Pakistan has adopted a slothful attitude towards Mr Vajpayee’s
five-point peace proposal, it has opted for some absurd and unproductive confidence
building measures, to shift focus from the core issue.
It
raises serious doubts about Pakistan’s sincerity in breaking the
deadlock between the two neighbouring countries and taking positive
steps towards the resumption of a peaceful dialogue. It needs to be
mentioned here that nearly three weeks since India demanded a
clarification from Pakistan on the question of full resumption of
civil-aviation talks, there has been no suitable official response.
Also,
the Indian PM’s initiative of appointing a High Commissioner to
Islamabad has not been found any echo from the other side. It
follows that Pakistan is apparently pursuing its own brand of Jehadi
politics and is not serious about reciprocating India’s peace
overtures for a meaningful engagement.
Confusion
reigned supreme as the earlier decision of Islamabad to ban Hizbul
Mujahideen was later denied by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Faisal
Saleh Hayat who said that his government had imposed a ban on the
organisational activities of the organisation, but not on its
leaders and their activities. The groundless excuse that a ban
cannot be imposed on the terrorist outfit on the basis that it is
not a Pakistani outfit sounds hollow and pyrrhic. Even the most
optimistic among us will concede that this inconsequential effort
will fall short of creating any ripples in the Hizb rank and
file.
All
these clever by half moves indulged in by Pakistan prove that it is
not sincere in its approach and is using the weapon of talks as a
combative tactic rather than a conduit for peace. The question worth
pondering is that what prevents Pakistan from imposing a ban on
Hizbul when the much hyped peace process has just started to take
shape ? Similarly, banning the entry of Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish
leaders in PoK has proved to be a hollow gesture since Jaish Chief
Maulana Azhar was seen moving in full public view in PoK within a
day of Pakistan’s ban on his entry there. As for the Hizbul
Supremo Syed Salahudin, he more than ever reiterated his
organisation’s resolve to continue its armed struggle in the
state.
Had
Pakistan been sincere in its confidence building measures, it would
have straightaway handed over Saalaudin and Masood Azhar to India
without much hawing and humming. It goes without saying that the
cosmetic measures adopted by Islamabad are nothing more than an
eyewash which create the impression that much is being done when in
actuality nothing is being done to tone down cross-border terrorism.
While New Delhi clamours for stoppage of terrorism and dismantling
of terrorist camps in PoK and Pakistan, the vague and absurd piecemeal
efforts will not amount to much. If Pakistan is serious about the
resolution of Indo-Pak issues, it has to bridle its drifting
attitude and start taking concrete steps to fulfill its promises of
eliminating all forms of terrorism from its soil.
Sunita
Vakil
is Contributing Editor, Weekly Kashur Gazette, New Delhi | 
