Brutal and inhuman killings continue in Kashmir

I find it extremely reprehensible that while the Pakistan army and Kashmiri separatists continue to kill or behead our brothers in Kashmir and other border areas on a daily basis, we not only don't feel the pain but continue to play cricket with them as if nothing has happened. Will I play cricket with my neighbor if he has just killed my brother. Why do our armed forces and the police have to put their lives on the line and bear the brunt of an unjust proxy war far away from home, family and friends while Bollywood stars are busy inviting and partying with Pakistani actors. At the same time, the whole nation itself seems to be enjoying the game of cricket far from the killing fields in Kashmir.

For seventy years now, Pakistan has been waging a proxy war against India. Almost every day 2 or 3 policemen, jawans, or civilians are killed by Pakis or Paki-sponspored terrorists and/or Kashmiri separatists. What are you doing Mr. Modi? Why did you invite Nawaz Sharif to your innauguration three years ago? Why did you drop in uninvited at Lahore on your way back from Kabul? Did you think that Pakistani mindset will change by making such gestures? Or, did you think that their unending hostility towards India will simply end. No Sir, Pakistan cannot be reformed and its stated policy of wresting Kashmir from India by fomenting trouble in the valley will never end. Pakistanis are like a dog whose tail you can put in a straight pipe for 10 years, but when you remove the pipe the tail will immediately go back to its curve. Even if you give them Kashmir on a platter, they will come back again and ask for Agra, Meerut, Moradabad, and so on. Don't kid yourself Mr. Modi, you should know better. Don't just show your teeth. Use them for what they are intended.

The BJP's inaction against Pakistan, contrary to the image of strength projected by the party, gave us Kargil during Mr. Vajpayee's tenure. Your inaction, Mr. Modi, is dragging us into a situation from which it would be almost impossible to extricate ourselves. Your overtures and gestures only make us look weak, and our inaction in response to daily nonstop provocations only emboldens the despicable Pakistani regime to further broaden the scope of their attacks. Pakistan is a failed state, and the hub of terrorism. India needs to learn from Israel--its policy of "if you kill one of us, we will kill one hundred" seems to work in the Middle East. Our nonviolence and restraint will only beget us greater violence, for these people do not understand the language of peace, in spite of Islam being the so-called "religion of peace".

Pakistan, our Neighbour

Since yesterday, the television news channels in India have been full of visuals of the return of five Indian soldiers from Kashmir, massacred by Pakistani troops. One can see throngs of people who went to receive them, and to accompany them on their final journey. There is a real anger among Indians that is directed at the Pakistanis for their unending, relentless and unprovoked killings of Indian soldiers, as well as at our own pro-Pak government for continuing to take this nonsense from a rogue, despicable, and terrorist country.

Pakistan is a failed state, and given its past conduct vis-à-vis India during the last sixty years, there is absolutely no reason for India to engage with Pakistan. In fact, it is most surprising that India should even wish for improved relations with Pakistan.

As everybody knows, Pakistan has been waging a proxy war against India ever since Independence. Its war against India is not based on any principle or a justifiable belief in something higher—such as democracy vs. dictatorship, liberal vs. reactionary, or free market vs. communist. In fact, Pakistan itself is the epitome of all that is evil and abhorrent. Instead of being thankful or grateful to India for having had the opportunity of being exposed to a higher culture and ancient civilization, it just wants to continue to belittle India, kill as many Indians as it can without any provocation, foment trouble between India and its minorities, and grab whatever land it can by its regular military incursions. At best, Pakistan’s conduct can only be described as disgusting.

It suits Pakistan perfectly well to wage a proxy war against India. Proxies are the acts of cowards, it enables them to breach borders surreptitiously, attack from behind, kill and kidnap, and escape under the cover of darkness. According to government figures, this has happened more that 180 times in the last three years.

Like a true coward, Pakistan denies any involvement in these crimes when protests are lodged by the Indian government. It is not possible to win against an enemy when it is waging a proxy war, and when the enemy state has given a free reign to its armed forces to bomb, kill or kidnap without being accountable to anybody. If the Indian government is serious about defending its territory and people it must give a free hand to its military to respond in whatever way it sees fit. We cannot defeat terrorism by ignoring terrorist acts. We cannot wish it away.