THIS refers to the news report ‘COAS General Bajwa says LoC situation will improve soon’ (Nov 29) Javed Bajwa gives the looks of a competent, confident, composed and relaxed person who can handle matters in a calm, cool and decent manner. His announcement that the situation along the Line of Control will improve soon, without being laced with threats, demonstrates the same spirit.

Such people are a pleasure to deal with and can be expected to sort things out in a peaceful manner, instead of escalating tensions with their unnecessary and unproductive bravado.

One of our senior ministers recently made a statement that India would pick three bodies for one Pakistani martyred.

At least he should have realised that with the Indian population being over sixfold of Pakistan’s, in case of a conflict which could go nuclear, his ratio could see Pakistani population wiped out while half of the Indian population would still be there.

Obviously, if one side is demonstrating utmost stupidity, like India is doing at the moment, there is not much point in trying to beat it on that.

It is about time India and Pakistan realised that they are both here to stay and being poor countries, they and their people would be better off solving their disputes in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill.

The praise for Gen Bajwa, coming from an adversary, the former Indian army chief, only supports the widely-held favourable opinion about the new army chief.

Riazul Hakeem Hashmi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016