Why Indian public is delusional on Pakistan
By M.K. Bhadrakumar
[Ambassador MK Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for over 29 years, with postings including India’s ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-1998) and to Turkey (1998-2001). He writes the “Indian Punchline” blog and has written regularly for Asia Times since 2001.]
While watching various Delhi TV channels tonight on issues surrounding Sunday’s attack on Uri base, one gets the depressing feeling that we are being delusional. What is lacking is an ethical standard that the media should not incite the public opinion by feeding it with such patent falsehoods.
We are living in a fool’s paradise, being led up the garden path by a bombastic leadership and led to believe falsely that the international community is rooting for India, that thanks to our prime minister’s vigorous efforts, the country’s prestige is soaring sky-high, etc. and, therefore, Pakistan stands ‘isolated’.
In reality, though, the readout of the US State Department on the meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on September 20 should come as an eye-opener. The full text of the readout is reproduced below:
Nonetheless, such manifestly effusive sentiments and fulsome praise for Pakistan have been attributed to Kerry.
See the expressions that have been used in the document with great deliberation – “strong, long-term bilateral partnership”; “commended the Prime Minister”; “expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation”; “commending recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence”; “praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for over 40 years”, et al.
Most significantly, the reference to J&K is framed as the shared opinion of Sharif and Kerry – “The Prime Minister and Secretary Kerry expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir — particularly the army base attack — and the need for all sides to reduce tensions.” (US readout)
What does the above single sentence imply in plain language, shorn of diplomatic idiom?
This is all nothing but Goebbelsian lies that we are being fed. The result is that apparently almost two-thirds Indians are reportedly clamouring for military action against Pakistan. The ruling elites know they are riding a tiger and if they dismount at this juncture, the public opinion will devour them for not living up to the myths the credulous public has been led to believe all this while.
Alas, the Indian public does not know that the realities of the security environment surrounding India today are pretty grim and we desperately need an exit strategy. But then, our strategic choices are virtually nil today, thanks to the nuclear stalemate and Pakistan’s stockpile of tactical weapons that can neutralize us (on their territory) without even giving cause to provoke (or justify) a nuclear counter-strike by us.
These are theatre weapons which have limited and focused usage in a specific area, but will annihilate the enemy in real time. Our public should realize that hot pursuit, etc. has become sheer figment of imagination good for only TV debates.
Read an insightful perspective by the well-known US pundit George Perkovich on the strategic dilemma India faces today vis-à-vis Pakistan – Perkovich candidly says that India has run out of options and has no way of addressing the challenge of terrorism on an enduring basis except by engaging the people of the Valley politically, and the alternative will be a seamless asymmetric war. (here)
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/09/21/why-indian-public-is-delusional-on-pakistan/
By M.K. Bhadrakumar
[Ambassador MK Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for over 29 years, with postings including India’s ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-1998) and to Turkey (1998-2001). He writes the “Indian Punchline” blog and has written regularly for Asia Times since 2001.]
While watching various Delhi TV channels tonight on issues surrounding Sunday’s attack on Uri base, one gets the depressing feeling that we are being delusional. What is lacking is an ethical standard that the media should not incite the public opinion by feeding it with such patent falsehoods.
We are living in a fool’s paradise, being led up the garden path by a bombastic leadership and led to believe falsely that the international community is rooting for India, that thanks to our prime minister’s vigorous efforts, the country’s prestige is soaring sky-high, etc. and, therefore, Pakistan stands ‘isolated’.
In reality, though, the readout of the US State Department on the meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on September 20 should come as an eye-opener. The full text of the readout is reproduced below:
- Secretary Kerry met Monday with Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif to discuss our strong, long-term bilateral partnership and to build upon the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. The Secretary commended the Prime Minister for restoring macroeconomic stability to Pakistan over the last three years and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation on climate change priorities.
- The Secretary reiterated the need for Pakistan to prevent all terrorists from using Pakistani territory as safe havens, while commending recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence. They also spoke about regional issues, including recent developments with regard to Afghanistan. The Prime Minister and Secretary Kerry expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir — particularly the army base attack — and the need for all sides to reduce tensions.
- Secretary Kerry also stressed the need for restraint in nuclear weapons programs. The Secretary praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for over 40 years and highlighted the importance of continued respect for humanitarian principles.
Nonetheless, such manifestly effusive sentiments and fulsome praise for Pakistan have been attributed to Kerry.
See the expressions that have been used in the document with great deliberation – “strong, long-term bilateral partnership”; “commended the Prime Minister”; “expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s cooperation”; “commending recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence”; “praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for over 40 years”, et al.
Most significantly, the reference to J&K is framed as the shared opinion of Sharif and Kerry – “The Prime Minister and Secretary Kerry expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir — particularly the army base attack — and the need for all sides to reduce tensions.” (US readout)
What does the above single sentence imply in plain language, shorn of diplomatic idiom?
- One, US is not willing to censure Pakistan;
- Two, US shares Pakistan’s “strong concern over recent violence in Kashmir”;
- Three, the Uri base attack is to be seen in the context of the 2-month old upheaval in Kashmir Valley; and,
- Four, US agrees with Pakistan on the need to reduce tensions (read on the imperative need of India-Pakistan talks).
This is all nothing but Goebbelsian lies that we are being fed. The result is that apparently almost two-thirds Indians are reportedly clamouring for military action against Pakistan. The ruling elites know they are riding a tiger and if they dismount at this juncture, the public opinion will devour them for not living up to the myths the credulous public has been led to believe all this while.
Alas, the Indian public does not know that the realities of the security environment surrounding India today are pretty grim and we desperately need an exit strategy. But then, our strategic choices are virtually nil today, thanks to the nuclear stalemate and Pakistan’s stockpile of tactical weapons that can neutralize us (on their territory) without even giving cause to provoke (or justify) a nuclear counter-strike by us.
These are theatre weapons which have limited and focused usage in a specific area, but will annihilate the enemy in real time. Our public should realize that hot pursuit, etc. has become sheer figment of imagination good for only TV debates.
Read an insightful perspective by the well-known US pundit George Perkovich on the strategic dilemma India faces today vis-à-vis Pakistan – Perkovich candidly says that India has run out of options and has no way of addressing the challenge of terrorism on an enduring basis except by engaging the people of the Valley politically, and the alternative will be a seamless asymmetric war. (here)
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/09/21/why-indian-public-is-delusional-on-pakistan/
