Responding to a very angry Indian public over the attack on Uri by militants, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched another invective against Pakistan, and declared that India would “leave no stone unturned to isolate Pakistan in the world.” Needles to say, India is far from realising this objective, but the level of virulence in India over Pakistan after the attack in Uri is something that needs to be closely examined. As a big part of the Indian media continues its vilification campaign against Pakistan, it is important to understand the position from where all this is coming from so that Pakistan can respond in a manner that would solve the crisis rather than exacerbate it.
It would be naïve to believe that India’s response in the aftermath of Uri was not predictable, as India has for long alleged Pakistani involvement in cross border terrorism, and has always raised its finger towards Pakistan for any attack that happens on its soil. In this particular attack 18 Indian soldiers were killed, and the degree of anger over it should not be underestimated. As a comparison, Pakistan was willing to endanger its relations with the United States in 2011 over the accidental killings of 24 Pakistani soldiers by NATO helicopters, and that amidst a heated public sentiment over the loss of lives of Pakistani soldiers. In light of all of this, it was bad analysis on the part of Pakistani decision makers to not preempt this response and not issue an immediate condemnation of the Uri attack. It is true that India’s reaction was knee jerk, without evidence, and one based on jingoism rather than reason. However, Pakistan should have deprived India of the grounds to do all of this by putting on an accommodative posture, and appeared willing to cooperate with India on clamping down on any banned outfits that use Pakistani soil to engage in terrorist activities.
India’s churlish belligerence on the issue, its pandering to jingoistic chest thumping, and its patronisation of the Hindu right wing are all things that do not befit a country that aspires to be a regional power. It is all too clear to anyone observing the crisis in South Asia that war between the two nuclear armed states would only lead to mutual destruction, but nevertheless, India is providing increasing space to a narrative that is nudging it towards confrontation with Pakistan. While most of this is in response to loud voices demanding vengeance, India is playing a dangerous card by pandering to them because it does not take long for things to spiral out of control. If India is truly sincere in achieving peace in the region and wants to compete with Pakistan over human development rather military strength, like it claims to, then perhaps it could begin by not issuing statements that make that eventuality all the less likely. Pakistan and India both need to realise that the only way they could achieve lasting peace is through initiating dialogue. And for that to happen, they need to give each other some ground to begin it. http://dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/26-Sep-16/as-pakistan-india-hostility-deepens
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