There is an old saying: If someone deceives you, it is his fault. If he deceives youagain, it is your fault. Our government should bear this in mind while dealing withPakistan.
This column has repeatedly stressed two points. First, that inside Pakistan there is aconflict of interest between America and China. This view is reinforced by Gen Musharraf'srecent interview with Kuldip Nayar. Discussing a ceasefire, the general said that"all militants are not under the control of Pakistan". But all militants dooperate from Pakistan. Why can't Pakistan control them? If Pakistan curbed them,would China stop arming Pakistan?
China's Foreign Minister Tang confirmed during his recent visit to New Delhi thatChina would continue arming Pakistan. From Delhi he went to Islamabad. A Chinese defencedelegation will follow his visit. Announcing it, Islamabad crowed: "Both countriesshare a common perspective on regional issues."
Secondly, this column had warned the government against trusting Pakistan until itrenounced terrorism, or trusting China until it stopped arming Pakistan. Neitherprecondition was met, but the government started talking with the Hizbul Mujahideen. TheHizbul was not asked to renounce violence permanently. Instead, the unrealisticprecondition to discuss within the framework of the Indian Constitution was repeated.Mercifully, the PM restored realism by invoking humanism instead of the Constitution.
The Hizbul threatened to end talks unless Pakistan participated. The prime ministerinsisted that Pakistan must first stop cross-border terrorism. The ceasefire collapsed.All other militant outfits had rejected the ceasefire. Innocents were massacred afterannouncement of the ceasefire. The ceasefire was worthless therefore unless it had splitthe militants. That in turn could have polarised Pakistan into American and Chineseproxies in conflict. That did not happen. One day it will. But only if our governmentlearns to play a cool hand.
The ceasefire badly exposed the Hurriyat's nervousness about the Hizbul'sentry into political negotiations. But power flows from the barrel of a gun. Both Hizbuland Hurriyat received Pakistani aid. The Hizbul fought. The Hurriyat leaders talked. Theybuilt palatial mansions for themselves.
Despite obvious risks, our government plunged into this dialogue. Perhaps it hadinformation we lacked. Perhaps it was advised by America. But the present lame-duck USadministration seems incapable of protecting America's own interests against China.How could it have protected India's interests?
How safe it seems
In my dreams
When I pray to Ram
And to Uncle Sam!
