by Brig Arun Bajpai
Just about 15 days back, Pakistani Army Chief General Bajwa had said that he is of the view that all long pending disputes between India and Pakistan should be resolved peacefully, sitting across the table. very recently Indian Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman also made an statement that India will take any Pakistani proposal for peace between the two countries very seriously. This gives an indication that Indian political masters are once again falling for Pakistani ruse for peace and they just do not want to learn from the past history of Pakistan and its propensity to speak lies. We give an impression that if Pakistan dangles an olive branch in front of us we will just jump to grab it.Till this Sunday afternoon the 20th of May, the BSF deployed in Jammu and Sambha sectors of J&K were thumping their chests and telling all and sundry prepared to listen to them, that how they by their accurate firing they had sorted out Pakistani Rangers who were crying and shouting for our great BSF to stop firing and have peace. Come night of Sunday, same Pakistani Rangers who were begging for cease fire and peace, let BSF have it. Whole night they bombed and shelled Sambha and Jammu Sectors. More than a dozen BSF posts and civilian villages were targeted. One child got killed and 9 people were wounded. This is what happens when you make the mistake of believing Pakistan and its Army.
It is true that off late Pakistani Army is cooing the tune of peace with India. Their Army Chief General Qomar Javed Bajwa has come out with a Bajwa doctrine, basis of which is that Pakistan read Pakistani Army wants peace with its neighbours. Recently when some South Asia journalists visited Pakistan, Pakistani army officers were openly telling them that Pakistan wants peace talks with India. This sudden desire of peace with India has come to Pakistani Army because elections are due in Pakistan in the month of June-July. Pakistani army along with their Supreme Court are currently at logger heads with the ruling Pakistani party Muslim league Nawaz. This combo has already disqualified the most popular leader of Pakistan and their EX PM Nawaz Sharif from being Prime Minster or holding any other political post. Lot of disturbances are expected in Pakistan due to these Pakistani general elections and the shenanigans of this Mil-SC Combo. US has stopped 2 billion dollar worth of aid to Pakistan and relations between US and Pakistan are strained. China which is investing 47 billion dollars in Pakistan CPEC project, mostly passing through Baluchistan province of Pakistan, has told China to keep these revolting Baloch quiet. Pakistani Army is convinced that key to keeping quiet these rebel Baloch lies with India.
In other words Pakistani army at this juncture does not want a hostile India on its 2200 km long border and 778 km Long LOC with India when it has got so many things happening within Pakistan, so all these peace overtures. In truth Pakistani Army has not changed it colours or its hate India policy. It is this hate India policy which enables Pakistan to run a 20 billion dollar business in Pakistan. Read Pakistani author Ayesha Siddiqa's book Military Incorporation. Pakistani Army will never give up a policy which enables them to lord over Pakistan and its polity. India must not talk of any peace at this juncture but let Pakistani Army have it. For last 70 years our political masters have been striving for peace with Pakistan but only got rebuffed from it. It is time we learn our lesson and strike when the iron is hot. We must tell them by our deeds and actions that it takes two to tango.
Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same