It is not peace dialogue and talks but the whittling down of the Pakistan Army’s predominant position as the sole policy formulating organisation that will bring eventual peace between the two countries. Policy-makers in India need to turn the thinking of the Pakistani polity, instead of engaging in futile dialogues and discussions.

We are once again trying to do the impossible—making peace with Pakistan. This is despite the Mumbai carnage of November 26, 2008, and the recent serial blasts in Mumbai on July 13, 2011, which everyone knows is the handiwork of Pakistan and its Jihadi cohorts. The only exception seems to be our government. It seems to have its head buried in the sand, ostrich-like. The leadership is so firm on continuing the dialogue with Pakistan that it has brushed aside all opposition to these talks as well as the mounting evidence that it is contrary to the sentiments of the overwhelming number of the populace. Even in the case of the latest terrorist attack in Mumbai on July 13, the government is working overtime to somehow prove that it was neither Pakistan nor any other Jihadi outfit that did the dastardly work, so that the talks are not interrupted. How naive?

When will we learn that the ruling hierarchy in Pakistan that matters, viz. the Pakistani Army, does not want peace with India? On the contrary, it continues to nurture and train the Jihadis, who have publicly announced that as soon as the American troops are out of Afghanistan, their cadres will turn their full focus on India.

Formal Dialogue Benefits Pakistan

It suits Pakistan that we keep the dialogue going with them, as it serves a number of purposes of that country.

Firstly, it reduces the pariah image of Pakistan internationally, which has plummeted to a nadir after Osama bin Laden was found by the US Special Forces from under the very nose of the Pakistan Army. It was India’s unthought-of announcement that it will not affect the ongoing talks/dialogue that went against near-unanimous international opprobrium of Pakistan, following the Osama bin Laden killing. Pakistan fully understands that it is only a continuing dialogue with India that will somewhat retrieve its image and no amount of hobnobbing with the West, especially the United States, as also with the Islamic countries, will be able to. These countries, for their own national interests, would actually like to shore up Pakistan, for which a continuing dialogue with India would be helpful even if it produces no results.

Its second aim is to keep the Kashmir pot simmering and bring it to a boil when needed for domestic or other compulsions, to keep India and especially the Indian Army committed in costly, time-consuming and futile counter-insurgency/counter terrorist (CI/CT) operations, with the twin aim of slowing down the economic growth of India and reducing the war-waging capabilities of the Indian Army. A third important aim is to get military concessions, which it has not been able to get by force, e.g. demilitarising Siachin. Fourthly, by exerting pressures of various types through China; USA; the Islamic countries of West Asia; and the other western nations, Pakistan wants to negotiate from a position of strength. Lastly, the resumption of the dialogue with India dilutes the latest horrendous terrorist act in which a score of innocent Indians have been killed and hundreds injured. The end result is the continued destabilising of India, despite its bigger size, economy and larger and stronger military.

On the other hand, India has nothing to gain out of such a dialogue. Our experience with many past talks, dialogues and discussions that were started and then abandoned at various stages should be sufficient pointer to any government that has the interest of the country at heart. Why then does this government persist? No doubt there is pressure from the United States, but what has the US given back to us for going out of our way and against public opinion; other than meaningless verbiage. The US Secretary of State, during her recent visit to India, has again repeated the same words and assurances and our government has again gone into overdrive, through its official public relations organisation and a committed media. Meanwhile, the citizens of the country and not just those of Mumbai will wait for the next terror strike, hoping that they do not become targets and this pattern will be repeated ad nauseam.

Sole Decision-Makers

Let us first be clear about who are the decision-makers in Pakistan. It is neither the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) nor any other political party, and certainly not the civil society. The last word on decisions on security (including nuclear aspects) and foreign policy affairs in Pakistan is that of the Pakistan Army. Hence, the Pakistan Army, for all practical purposes, is the government of Pakistan. This has been so since the early 1960s, if not earlier and is continuing. President Zardari and company are mere puppets to showcase the so-called democratic face of Pakistan to the world.

It also needs to be highlighted that the Pakistan Army has always perpetuated the myth that India is out to gobble up Pakistan and it is only that they stand as a bulwark against these perfidious ambitions of India. This is such an oft-repeated statement that most Pakistanis, if not all, believe it to be true. Following the Osama bin Laden killing at Abbottabad, many well-meaning independent analysts, non-resident Pakistanis and journalists have tried to change the thinking of the Pakistani Army, urging it to abandon its support to the various jihadi outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, but to no avail.