KARACHI, May 28: The governments of both Pakistan and India have been urged to desist from aggravating military tensions by jingoistic rhetoric and posturing, already initiated by the forces of religious chauvinism on both sides.
This call was made through a consensus resolution adopted at the seminar on “Impact of nuclearization on South Asia” held on Tuesday at Sidco Centre.
The seminar was organized by Pakistan Peace Coalition on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the six nuclear test explosions by Pakistan in the Chagai Mountains after India had done the same in Pokhran, Rajasthan, a fortnight back.
Presided at by Dr Haroon Ahmad, speakers at the seminar included journalist and PPC President, M.B. Naqvi; writer Zahida Hina, Prof Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed and Faraz Ehmad. The resolution was moved by intellectual, B.M. Kutty.
Deploring gungho militarism on either side, along with irresponsible threats of a nuclear war, the resolution said: “No cause can justify the use of nuclear weapons as the lives of millions of ordinary people on either side are involved.”
Calling upon both the governments to order mutual de- escalation of war-like deployment of their armies and back to peace-time stations, the resolution said that they should resume comprehensive dialogue between themselves and restore all communication links by rail, road and air immediately, and relax visa regimes to encourage people-to-people contacts.
“Disputed and contentious issues between the two countries need to be tackled under relaxed, peaceful conditions, for the creation of which both governments and civil society leaders from either side need to strive hard. All issues should be seen afresh from the perspective of their impact on the lives of the common people. The perspective should naturally be based on the values of democracy, humanism and scientific outlook on life. Popular wishes, welfare and improvement in the conditions of life of common citizens must reign supreme,” the resolution added and pointed out that mass-destruction weapons of the two countries were too de-establishing and offer a standing provocation to Pakistan and India against each other.
“As long as these weapons are in their arsenals, there can be no normalization of relations, let alone reconciliation, which is the only solution of the problems plaguing South Asia. These weapons have been justified on the bogus doctrine of deterrence, but the fact is that they have neither deterred either side nor can their number remain limited. Otherwise, the continuing arms race between Pakistan and India could be capped. This, however, is not possible and the continuing expenditure on such weapons that cannot be used is, therefore, ruinous for both countries.
“These MDWs are of no use to Pakistan’s security. Pakistan must revert to its old and moral stance of keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons. Pakistan should also resists the temptation to flex its armed muscles through acts such as launching various missiles,” the resolution added.
Dr Haroon Ahmad stressed the need to mobilize civil society against nuclear arms race in the subcontinent and the horror of its destruction, as nuclear war would not be a limited war and would decimate both countries.
M.B. Naqvi said that policies on Kashmir had to change substantially in order to prevent a ruinous war.
Zahida Hina, in her paper, called upon intellectuals to create awareness among the people about the destructive power of nuclear weapons and the importance of peace.
Dr Jaffar called upon the Pakistan government to change its policy on Kashmir, along with initiatives to withdraw its army from the borders unilaterally. He asked the UN to send its observers to supervize the borders.
He said that armed build up on either side had been weakening democratic forces in both the countries.