07-20-2012, 12:20 AM
It is a known fact that certain elements within the Pakistan establishment was, has and will continue to be inimical to India. This will remain true whether there is a military government or a civilian government in Pakistan.
In the past India has taken a path of confrontation with Pakistan to force it to change its ways, but that did not bring any change in the situation. Time and again, India has tried to put in place confidence building measures but the end result has always been the same.
Cross border terrorism has not been eliminated and neither can it be eliminated in totality in the present day situation. Even if the entire establishment in Pakistan tries its best, it cannot bring all the Jihad elements fully under its control. The world knows that in the past there had been periods when the Pakistan establishment was actively engaged in planning subversive and other terrorist activities against India. The situation may have changed to a great extent today, when the Pakistan establishment itself has fallen victim to violence by these elements.
In the present situation, no useful purpose will be served by taking a tough attitude towards Pakistan and stop all exchanges. Person to person contact should be intensified and India should encourage Pakistan to increase its interaction with India. This would bring more goodwill and strengthen the hands of the pro India elements within the Pakistan establishment.
Even if the BJP comes to power in India after the next general election; it is most unlikely that it will shut down all exchanges between India and Pakistan. It fully realises that the channels of communication between the two countries should remain open and none of the bilateral problems can get resolved through confrontation in the present day world. Therefore, we need not criticise the BCCI or its functionaries for taking a decision which will allow India and Pakistan to play cricket.
In the past India has taken a path of confrontation with Pakistan to force it to change its ways, but that did not bring any change in the situation. Time and again, India has tried to put in place confidence building measures but the end result has always been the same.
Cross border terrorism has not been eliminated and neither can it be eliminated in totality in the present day situation. Even if the entire establishment in Pakistan tries its best, it cannot bring all the Jihad elements fully under its control. The world knows that in the past there had been periods when the Pakistan establishment was actively engaged in planning subversive and other terrorist activities against India. The situation may have changed to a great extent today, when the Pakistan establishment itself has fallen victim to violence by these elements.
In the present situation, no useful purpose will be served by taking a tough attitude towards Pakistan and stop all exchanges. Person to person contact should be intensified and India should encourage Pakistan to increase its interaction with India. This would bring more goodwill and strengthen the hands of the pro India elements within the Pakistan establishment.
Even if the BJP comes to power in India after the next general election; it is most unlikely that it will shut down all exchanges between India and Pakistan. It fully realises that the channels of communication between the two countries should remain open and none of the bilateral problems can get resolved through confrontation in the present day world. Therefore, we need not criticise the BCCI or its functionaries for taking a decision which will allow India and Pakistan to play cricket.