PAKISTAN TRAPPED IN A WEB OF COMPULSIONS.
The seeds for partition of India were sown almost 800 years ago when Muslim invaders entered India and started destroying its political, cultural and religious landmarks.( How much they did can be argued upon but they did do it, is agreed by all) .
The animosity and bitterness that was thus generated during those 800 years of muslim rule due to forcible conversions, destruction of places of worship, imposition of jaziya, etc was further intensified during Brits rule which finally led to the bloodshed and partition.
The bitterness and hatred that reached its peak during partition did not end with the separation, but it further led to some stereotype mindset and numerous political compulsions. These compulsions and mindsets have woven such a web around Pakistan’s polity and its leaders that how much they may try they can never come out of it and if they do make an attempt to do so they will do it at their own peril.
The influence of Wahabi movement of 19th century, Tableegh and Tanzeem movements of early 20th century encouraging a revivalist movement that focuses on urging Muslims to return to primary Sunni Islam, led to bitter animosity and large scale communal riots in the undivided India, commencing from early part of 19th century. The Simon commission prepared a list of 112 riots which occurred between 1923 and 1927.
Despite Bapu placing his personal leadership at stake by supporting the Khilafat movement with a sole purpose of bringing about unity between the two communities, he could not achieve much, but rather had to concede his incompetency in bridging about unity. At the same time he did understand how important was that unity for the freedom struggle. He while conceding his incompetence said ; I have failed in bringing about unity between the Hindus and Muslims but the sooner they finish shedding each other’s blood the better it would be for country’s freedom and unity.
Also, the gradual realisation by the muslim population particularly by their Aligarh Muslim University and English educated leaders that a representative form of govt and open competitions for govt jobs will make Hindu majority as rulers and muslims who had ruled for over 8 centuries will then be subjects led them to coin the idea of having a separate nation for the muslims.
The century old strife and tensions between the two communities along with this worry disturbed many a Muslim educated youth. It was not in 1940 at Lahore that the idea of creation of Pakistan been mooted as being popularly believed by the Indians. As early as Jan 1933 the Punjabi muslims studying in England established the Pak movement Chaudhary Rehmat Ali wrote in his book ; Now or Never that India was neither a single country nor the home of a single nation. He demanded a separate muslim federation comprising of Punjab, NWFP , SINDH, BALUCHISTAN AND KASHMIR and had also started a publication of a weekly called Pakistan.
In 1923 Sardar Gul Khan President of Provincial Islamic Anjuman said ; Hindu Muslim unity will never become a fact, we would very much rather see the separation of Hindus and Muslims. Hindus to the South and 8 crore Muslims in North, give Hindus whole portion from Kanyakumari to Agra and Agra to Peshawar to Muslims. Finally came Jinnahs presidential address on the occasion of Muslim league session of 1940 attended by over One lakh muslims that created more tension. He said ;
Islam and Hindus are two different social orders and they could never live together..........................................the artificial unity has been brought about by British bayonet and muslims will never accept a constitution which would produce a Hindu govt. The muslims are not a minority but a nation.
The Islamic republic of Pakistan that consequently came into existence through a declared civil war by Jinnah leading to hatred and rioting between the two communities was thus based on popular anti Hindu sentiments which were not so intense in NWFP and Sindh.
There is a difference, one needs to understand, between an Islamic nation coming into existence and the creation of a nation whose Basic foundations were laid on anti Hindu sentiments, that is why even after so many years Pakistan Govt is so apprehensive of importing vegetables like potatoes and onions from India and in 90s while facing crisis had requested the Indian govt not to publicise the deal.
This amply indicates that the muslim leaders and the people of that generation who were responsible to create so much of animosity and bitterness between two communities continued doing the same even after attaining their political objective. The bitterness and hatred towards Hindus and India has been passed from one Generation to another by the Govt agencies deliberately. It has affected not only the political but also cultural, educational and social dimensions of the Pakistani life .
The strings of animosity and hatred have been strongly woven around the Pakistan’s polity by their own leaders and govt agencies out of sheer compulsions. These strings of compulsions, as enumerated below after 70 years have now become so powerful and have given rise to destructive forces which may not destroy India but certainly will strangulate Pakistan.
Identity crisis and Islamisation.
Thus, for the muslims of Pakistan and their leaders two nations were born in 1947. One was Hindu India and other Muslim Pakistan. Indians had no problems about their identity, they were one of the oldest civilisations and had a recorded history of almost 5000 years old, but what about Paksitan’s history. What would the Pakistan’s future generation- what would they be told about its history and origin. How would it be possible to generate patriotic fervour amongst the people, although they are all muslims but of different ethnic stock ; Sindhis, Baluchis, Pakhtoons, Punjabis, Bengalis and Mohajirs. There was never an empire or kingdom called Pakistan on that piece of land nor for that matter a political entity ever centred in that area. Although it was an important part of many. There were no or few heroes of the past from which the people of Pakistan could derive inspiration and therefore greatness had to be conferred upon Jinnah, Ghazni, Ghori. The known history of that land commences from the Indus valley civilisation i.e 2500BC and till 8th century AD it was under Hindu kings and thereafter in 18th / 19th century a major portion of it was under Sikhs. But all this is the history of Hindu India, how could this history generate patriotic sentiments amongst the muslims and keep Punjabis, Sindhis united.
The identity crisis led to the Islamisation of the Pakistan society. The very basis of creation of Pakistan was Islam and their leaders realised that to keep people of various ethnic stock unified and also generate patriotism, Islamisation of the society is very essential. Subsequently, it became Islamic Republic of Pakistan with Allah acquiring sovereign powers who has delegated the oath to the state of Pakistan through people for being within the limits as prescribed by him. The history was fabricated for the consumption of future generations which makes it interesting reading. It depicts the entire thousands of years of civilisation as a dark period for this subcontinent. Hindus ; Brahmins being hegemonistic and devils and islam as the saviour of mankind which brought happiness and prosperity in this subcontinent. Thus just for the sake of establishing its identity the govt and its agencies were compelled to islamisize and encourage anti India sentiments and depict India as its enemy.
Kashmir.
The intent of Jinnah to grab all lands that were Muslim dominated compelled him to enter into conspiracies. So, Kashmir was the first State that he conspired to grab by using force. That same intent in these last 70 years has now become the most compelling factor deciding not only the relations between the two nations but also to enter into conspiracies. The Pakistan leaders and successive Govts have allowed Kashmir issue to play such an important role in their domestic and international politics that now no govt can afford to soft peddle this issue. The public sentiments run so high that it is virtually impossible to compromise with India. Many Indians on the other hand for the sake of attaining peace may accept existing LOC to be designated as International Border but Pak cannot do so.
Further, Pakistan army after its ignominious defeat in 1971 and its image sunk wants to avenge that defeat and also dismember India and Kashmir provides that opportunity. The army’s dictat and public sentiments will ensure that no govt in future can ever afford to compromise over this issue. This evil intent of taking revenge of its defeat and dismemberment has led to the creation of several destructive forces i.e TERROR ORGANISTAIONS supported and aided by the govt agencies and political parties .
Islamic superiority
The muslim political leaders of the pre-partition era nurtured and exploited this myth of Muslim superiority to arose muslim national consciousness and subsequently after partition it was carefully nurtured to defeat and dismember India. Pak have a mindset that they are anytime superior to Indians. Although this myth has been exploded many a times but muslims of Pakistan firmly believe in this. Peacemaking and compromising for attaining peace is a sign of cowardice for Pak leaders And masses. At all India khilafat conference held at Delhi in 1926, Abdul Rehman said ; Muslims should have no compassion or respect for a kafir, it would be construed as a sign of weakness on the part of muslims. If the muslims of india comeout in field with force the Lalas and Baniyas would come forward with folded hands and make peace within two days.
In the same strain even after a humiliating defeat in 1971, ZA Bhutto wrote to Chief of army staff GEN TIKKA KHAN “Neither a few years of arranged peace nor the present situation can possibly permit us to ignore the reality that there must inevitably sooner or later come another war. In a new war the enemies around us will be depending largely upon material superiority and not the human factor upon technique and not the force of an ideal. In this there may lie there weakness and our strength recent history had amply proved in China in Korea , in Israel and in Vietnam that a people war can withstand innumerable ups and downs but no force can succeed in altering its general march towards inevitable triumph. In the remotest of our villages the humblest fo our people possesses a self confidence a ready willingness to march forward into India , a spirit the equivalent of which can not be found on the other side. Great and terrible scourges have come to India from this side every invasion from this side has defeated India. Thus the terror fear and habit of defeat can not be wiped out of their national memory over night and we ourselves have ruled them for 8 centuries. All this is not ancient history , it is current history and the Indian masses are just now still struggling against the legacy of superstitions, religious intolerance , caste system, regional animosities, poverty backwardness, ignorance, deceit and the unconquerable habit of submission and servility”.
With this sense of moral and physical ascendency over the Hindus , Pakistan now in possession of a nuclear weapon is not likely to compromise over Kashmir issue.
They also believe firmly that Kashmir is the lid of Pandora box, if India is made to bend over Kashmir issue it will open that lid and India will disintegrate within no time. Consequently Pak will emerge as the most powerful and homogeneus nation of this region. This view is often mooted in various mil circles. The various separatist movements taking place in India also encourage Pakistan to actively participate in fulfilling its political objectives. It is this attitude that Pakistan refuses to give up. The issue out here is not relenting or compromising over Kashmir but of superiority over India and disintegrating India. Hence, even if India compromises over Kashmir, this will only further embolden Pakistan.
External assistance.
The only imp factor that has always compelled Pak to woo west has been the Kashmir issue. With an aim to improve its bargaining power and applying pressure on India to give away Kashmir. The intent of Jinnah to grab Kashmir(who was not satisfied with the moth eaten and truncated pak) compelled him to engage in conspiracies and may be with the Brits. Consequently, Right from the time of independence the external forces have been dominant in shaping the relations between Pak and India. The fate of Gilgit due to Maj Brown’s conspiracy , he was mere pawn in the greater conspiracy to give Gilgit to Pakistan. The surprise attack on Kashmir by the tribes men of NWFP controlled by Pak General whose office was located in the same block as that of C IN C PAK ARMY ; then Gen Masservy a Britisher who was always in contact through tele/ radio with the Indian army C IN C Gen Lockhart . The Britishers claim of total ignorance of the surprise move of 10000 tribes men from NWFP to Kashmir, when C IN C Of both armies were Britishers and the Supreme Commander was Fd Marshall Auchinleck can not be swallowed, as Gilgit, Kashmir was also planned to go to Pakistan, but unfortunately for Britishers it did not happen. Lt Gen LP Sen, in his book SLENDER WAS THE THREAD has mentioned ; “the only conclusion one can draw is that the rout of the men in battle of SHALATENG shattered not only the tribesmen but other quarters as well. When Bramulla fell within 24 hrs of Shalateng , and the brigade set off to Uri, its advance had to be arrested and so one Battallion was withdrawn with out relief. When this also failed to prevent the capture of Uri, something else had to be thought of. Hence the change of axis towards Poonch. It is little wonder that the Govt of India began to sense something wrong and decioded that Gen Lockhart who had been appointed as C IN C of Indian army in August 47 for a 4 yr tenure be replaced after 6 months by Gen Roy Bucher but the change made no difference to higher decision of operations in Kashmir. This external factor gained further dominance once Indian Govt decided to refer Kashmir issue to UN, due to the insistence of Mountbatten again a Britisher when Indian forces could have captured entire Kashmir”. Thereafter, in 50s Pakistan signed a def pact with the US and joined US sponsored alliance in the mid east and SE asia, the pressure on India to compromise on Kashmir issue further increased.
Mr JN Dixit the erstwhile Foreign Secretary in his Book THE FLAWED INHERITANCE wrote “Right from Attlee to Blair and Truman to Bush the West has been speaking in the same tone, compromise with Pakistan on Kashmir issue irrespective of your security interests”. Pak derives encouragement from this support which do impinge on bilateral relations. In future also Pak will pose itself a moderate Islamic nation and play china card to derive max benefits from US; Like the Brown amendment , which had literally legitimised the Pakistan’s nuc capability. The policies of western powers towards India and Pak regarding Kashmir will always be the same because this also provides them opportunity to twist India’s arms. The Kalshnilov’s culture in Pak is an outcome of the role it played during cold war and Afghan war. The US always perceived Pak as important because
ONE, A Manageable state which does not have the capability to emerge as regional power and impinge on its interests in the region.
TWO, A moderate Islamic nation which can check spread of Islamic fundamentalism and good relations with it will enable the west an easy access to Islamic nations of West Asia.
The US Policy therefore towards Pakistan has been largely dedicated by these factors. The Americans have also been trying to wean away Pak from Chinese fold, but Pak realising its importance has played the Islamic and Chinese cards well to exploit US Strategic interests in Pakistan to its advantage. Even now, USA, depite being aware that Taliban is a terror organisation and is supported by Pakistan establishement, which if comes to power in Afghanistan will help Pakistan in fomenting trouble in the entire region , has gone ahead signing an agreement with the terror organisation, vindicates my point.
Outcome
These aforesaid compulsions have affected the political, cultural, educational, economical and social dimensions of Pak polity. The Govt institutions were compelled to carry out nefarious activities and raise scores of fundamentalist/ terrorists organisations and use drug money to arm these organisations, anti India stance and Kashmir issue gradually, brought military in the fore front and today it is the army and ISI which is calling the shots. The shia- sunni riots, the mohajir problem, the AK 47 culture is the result of islamisation of society, external influence in internal affairs and active involvement of govt agencies, in illegal and destructive activities . The statement of erstwhile Pak foreign minister that there are likely to be approx 15 lakh AK47s in the country speaks about the law and order situation there.
On the other hand India after 90s economic reforms has gained a better status in the comity of nations, and this has led to frustration and feeling of jealousness against Indians . Louis D Hayes in his Book-“Politics In Pak” says ; the continuous failure of various constitutions, the failure of political system which even after 70 years of independence, democracy is in a nascent stage and basically derives support from military, failure on Kashmir issue, failure on economic front, decisive defeat in 1971 and its dismemberment, failure to establish its identity, failure in establishing a social order and harmony will certainly lead to deep frustration and agony.
Had Pakistan not highlighted the differences, not manipulated its history and cultivated a sense of hatred and enmity through its text books and madrasa its society been much happier and contended. Shri JN Dixit who had spent many years as a diplomat in Pak also articulated similar feelings in his Book ; THE FLAWED INHERITANCE.
These failures and frustrations will always haunt their society because of an artificially nurtured myth of Islamic superiority .
The future was aptly described by former PM Mr NARSIMHA RAO. He on the issue of anti India propaganda carried out by Pak after the demolition of Babri structure said ;
“What Pak is doing today is not unexpected that there would be an adversary attitude and hostility towards Indians on the part of Pak in the foreseeable future is something we have to live with. India has the resilience to meet this predicament of subcontnental tension generated by Pak , it is for the Pak to judge how long can it survive if it goes on nurturing such irrational hostility”. (Flawed Inheritance)
When we see in totality its various political compulsions and their effect on Pak society and along with it ; its poor eco condition, the incompatibility amongst its various political and administrative institutions, rampant corruption, population growth, rise in ethnic sentiments and army being supreme decision making body we find that that the adverse impact of all this on its polity cannot be wished away . And hence it would be very difficult for the army Generals and Political leadership to break these strings woven by these compulsions.
In future, due to the changes in geo-political situation, if the Pak Govt is forced to take measures inorder to adapt to the changing geo-political situation or may be demanded by the changed world order, then, it will find itself in a catch 22 situation because Religious fundamentalism does not provide a society an inherent flexibility and so one should not be surprised to find an ethnically divided society, strangulated in this web of compulsions may destroy that very string which has been binding the multi ethnic society of Pak together for past 7 decades and therefore it may implode.
If at all it happens, it would still be better for India for its security. Although we have no dearth of these arm chair scholars who keep reminding us about improving relations with Pakistan, but we must be watchful because Pakistan will always be a wolf in the sheep’s skin.
The two nations in 1947 were born with absolutely different set of VALUES. One i.e Bharat a secular democracy where all, irrespective of gender , caste and creed are allowed to grow and practice their religion and culture and the second i.e Pakistan , was born with hatred against Hindus and where Islam will be predominant.
Given the fact, that a conflict based on different values can never be easily resolved, we must just give up this idea of attaining peace with Pakistan. And if at all we help Pakistan in its resurgence, that will surely be detrimental to our SECURITY.
Its history and its value system will always keep it on a war path against India. Pakistan will always be for its own existence be inimical to India's interests.
We must keep this in mind ; A weak and unstable Pakistan will always be better for India’s security rather than a resurgent and stable Pakistan
Author. Col N Bhatnagar is an alumnus of NDA, Prestigious Def Services Staff College and XLRI. He served in Indian army as an Infantry Officer in all parts of the country and also in Srilanka and has also worked with Reputed Companies - Power, Hospitality and Health Care sector . He has also worked as a National Assesssor of CII for its CII-EXIM Bank Award and HR Excellence award. He has also authored Three Books.
Disclaimer. The views expressed are of Author.