Giving the process a chance

ONE major factor militating against normalization of relations between Pakistan and India is the bitter truth that Kashmir has become hostage to domestic politics in the two countries. Governments and the opposition in both countries often appear interested less in a genuine solution of the Kashmir issue and more in pedalling a hard line to prove their patriotism and secure electoral support. Often, voices of sanity are drowned in the cacophony of super-patriotic rhetoric. On Friday, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali denied that a formula for a division of Kashmir was being discussed as part of a solution. He reiterated that there was no change in Pakistan’s “principled position” on Kashmir. The prime minister’s denial came in the wake of the concerns being voiced in some sections of opinion about the possible outcome of the current diplomatic moves for talks between India and Pakistan. Also on Friday, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Chairman of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, said that the recent diplomatic moves by the US had “exposed” the government’s foreign policy. He said the statement by Mr Richard Armitage, the American deputy secretary of state, that Washington was not mediating between Pakistan and India and that Kashmir was a bilateral issue had underlined “the failure” of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy. This is a typically Pakistani scenario.

What one is witnessing these days in Islamabad and New Delhi is a quiet, careful and low-key movement towards normalization of relations. A dialogue between the two is not yet on the cards. Nevertheless, if the US is not “mediating”, it is very much “engaged” in South Asia. Both Pakistan and India may deny that the normalization move is a result of American pressure or prodding. But there are, in any case, welcome moves at various levels to set the ball rolling towards normalization to start with. The two countries are likely to have high commissioners back in the two capitals, and travel links restored. A delegation of Pakistan parliamentarians is currently in India, and more such goodwill missions are in the offing. The two prime ministers have also talked on the telephone, and even though Mr Vajpayee has not yet accepted Mr Jamali’s invitation or the latter’s offer to visit New Delhi himself, the two governments, nevertheless, are making some moves to break the impasse. At such a critical juncture, it is the duty of both the government and the opposition to exercise restraint.

Often, governments in Pakistan tend to give an impressions as if they hold the monopoly of patriotism. For this reason, any genuine criticism of the government’s Kashmir policy by the opposition is considered mala fide or unpatriotic. The opposition, too, tends to queer the pitch by insinuation and speculative remarks whenever there are some peace moves. Often, even those involved in “track two” diplomacy are viewed with suspicion. It is time both the government and the opposition realized the delicate nature of the current peace moves. Given the history of wars and distrust between the two countries, Pakistan and India cannot achieve a breakthrough in their relations speedily. It is an uphill task and will take a lot of time, efforts and patience on both sides to achieve a degree of normalization. This calls for quiet diplomacy away from the glare of the media and political crystal gazing. Kashmir is a sensitive issue for both sides, but the government deserves to be given a fair chance to negotiate and explore all possibilities that could lead to a peaceful solution acceptable, above all else, to the people of Kashmir.

What’s Israel up to?

ISRAEL’S latest decree requiring all foreigners entering the occupied territories to sign a waiver absolving the Jewish state of all responsibility in case any harm comes to them, has been widely condemned by rights groups and international relief workers. The measure is aimed at discouraging foreign journalists and relief workers, who are the world’s only window on the occupied territories where Israel’s reign of terror continues. Repressive actions involving killing and maiming of Palestinian civilians are routine in Gaza and the West Bank. The latest move follows the deaths of several foreigners, including journalists and peace activists, in recent weeks, whose graphic accounts appearing in international media seem to have caused discomfiture to the Israeli government.

The measure in question comes at a time when a new roadmap aimed at resolving the Middle East crisis has just been unveiled and broadly accepted by the two sides. While the Palestinians have been fulfilling the conditions set forth in the roadmap, Israel, by continuing its highhanded policy of repression, seems bent on frustrating the new peace initiative.

According to Amnesty International, the latest measure with regard to the foreigners entering Palestinian areas is tantamount to a gross human rights violation. Israeli forces deployed in Gaza and the West Bank cannot be absolved of their responsibility to respect human rights under international law. The Palestinian areas cannot be unilaterally declared or treated as a war zone when neither side has declared a war on the other. If anything, measures like these do not augur well for peace and normalization in the Middle East. The sponsoring parties of the peace plan — the US, UN, EU and Russia — must ensure that Israel fulfils its part of the obligations if the latest peace plan is to be saved from being aborted.

Police highhandedness

THE rough treatment meted out by the police to three shopkeepers at Karachi’s main electronics market on Friday was shocking beyond belief. Investigating a case of stolen property allegedly being sold by some shops, a group of policemen dressed in plainclothes raided some shops at the market and dragged the three men into the waiting van like petty criminals. According to eyewitnesses, the men were pushed around, abused, kicked and even hit by rifle butts as they were taken away in a scene reminiscent of a police state. In protest, the market went into a strike, making it known that the shutdown would continue until the three shopkeepers have been released. The president of the Karachi Electronics Dealer Association later said at a press conference that the association had known about the case and had in fact invited the police officials to the market so that the matter could be sorted out in an amicable manner.

What was then the need or provocation for the police to go berserk and subject the three shopkeepers to this kind of brutality and humiliation? Unfortunately, such police methods have become the norm everywhere in the country and countless similar cases are reported every now and then. There are several compelling reasons for the police department to avoid indulging in such highhanded methods and to punish all those who carry out gestapo-style raids. The first is that such conduct is illegal and goes against the very norms and principles of civil society where a suspect is to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty. Second, such ‘investigative’ methods are likely to prove extremely counter-productive when solving a case. Third, the police has a terrible public image and such incidents only reinforce that perception. At any rate, a prompt and thorough inquiry into Friday’s police excesses is called for and those found guilty of highhanded conduct suitably dealt with.