Tuesday, November 17, 2015

India’s foreign policy with Pakistan: A case from history


Kashif Zaheer Kamboh (Writer did his M Phil in public policies and currently working as a research and Policy Analyst in an Islamabad based think tank)

On 28th October 1947 Chief of Indian Army Field Marshall Auchinkleck explicitly stated that, “I have no hesitation whatsoever in affirming that the present Indian cabinet is implacably determined to do all in their power to prevent the establishment of the dominion of Pakistan on a firm basis”.
Indian foreign policy is highly influenced with the single agenda to re-unite Indian and de-stable Pakistan on whatever cost. Clear policy statement by Auchinkleck approximately two and half months after the division of British India demonstrates ridiculous intentions. A foundation stone and guiding slot of India’s foreign policy was to de-stable Pakistan. An open aggression, ridiculous attitude, hypocritical gesture and substantial negation to the Pakistan’s assistance always served Akhand Bharat (Greater India) cause. Leaders of ruling party in India started a campaign to reunite two newly born states. Nehru-Beaton nexus went successful in creating fragile, delicate and mouth eaten Pakistan. This was propagated by ruling party leaders in India and analysts that, Pakistan will beg for reunion but surprisingly this could never  happened. There is an  open threat and worse intention to uphold monopoly in the foreign policy of India to conspire and undo partition. Obviously an encounter policy to defend motherland after the sacrifice of millions of lives was mandatory. Was not it ?
Contrary to this Foreign policy of Pakistan was laid down by the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah . He bench-marked a peaceful way foreword for foreign policy in following lines,
“Our foreign policy is one of the friendliness and goodwill towards the nations of the world.We don’t cherish aggressive designs against any country or nation. We believe the principle of honesty, and fair play in national and international dealings and are prepared to make our utmost contribution to the peace and promotion among the nations of the world. Pakistan will never be found lacking in extending its material and moral support to the oppressed and suppressed people of the world, and in upholding the principles of the united nations charter”
This is one of the best outlay for any foreign policy laid down by the creator of any nation. There is no hostility, materialistic approach or prejudice for any nation including India.Clearly speaking, eastern neighbor always remained with cryptic mind and politically obscure towards newly established state Pakistan. There were number of factors in Indian policy which compelled Pakistani policy makers to craft a defensive foreign policy with an encounter effect and legitimate resistant. Chain of events happened which pulled Pakistan’s foreign policy in the existing shape. Indian government and political leadership was hostile to Pakistan since its birth. After partition they withheld all assets and funds by refusing to act upon partition plan.  Mr Gandhi intervened and used his influence for the release of Pakistani funds and assets by accepting Pakistan as sovereign state. This was totally parting of ways. Here government of India lead by Mr. Nehru and Mr. Gandhi does have heir own and opposite directions. Indian social and political environment was too aggressive and poisonous that, Mr Gandhi was assassinated just due to his soft attitude and rational acceptance to Pakistan. Congress and other extremists organizations like Rashtiriya Saviyk Singh, BajrangDil were openly chanting slogans against Pakistan, partition and Muslims.
After partition in 1947 Pakistan faced an uphill task as compared to India. Pakistan was to rise form the scratch. British India was partitioned into two new states Hindustan and Pakistan. But here Hindustani leaders played a evil trick. Pakistani leaders tried to beat this trick but went unable to get success. Hindustan declared herself as India  and kept all the international affiliations, assets, links and associations. As a part of foreign policy India captured all the embassies, their assets and staff working abroad. One of the big association India kept was association of league of nations and United nations. Pakistan had to start afresh and they started to open its embassies across globe.  More than 20 million people migrated across the newly established international border. According to Pande more than 10 million Muslims migrated from India to Pakistan whereas 8 million Hindu fled to Hindustan. Here one must remember Hindustan was 10 times greater than Pakistan and they received more assets and less migrants. Strategically Muslims were pushed towards Pakistani border in order to create chaos and disorder for newly established state. Pushing Muslims towards newly established estate was a part of whole game played by congress to de-stable new born country.
On 15th August 1947 Junagardh acceded to Pakistan  as a part and parcel. Nawab of Junahgurdh sent a formal proposal to Governor General of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah. After consulting with Liaquat Ali Khan and other elders of Muslim League proposal was accepted. But Indian military forces intervened and captured Junagardh. Pakistan took the case to UNO and still pending. Another state Hyderabad was one of the richest state in India. Nawab was thinking to declare independence but later he decided to join Pakistan and sent proposal. Again here Indian forces intervened and captured whole business of state. Thirdly Indian army intervened and landed on Srinagar airport and other important places of Kashmir. But this was not Junagardg or Hyderabad. Kashmir proved a hard nut to crack and local Kashmirs revolted against this genocidal intervention and liberated a part of Kashmir. Nehru took the case to UNO and requested for plebiscite. If Pakistan is pleading the cause of an oppressed nation then it doesn’t mean Pakistan is hostile to India. Father of the nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, Kashmir is unfinished agenda and jugular vain of Pakistan. This was not only about Jinnah but other leaders like Liaquat Ali Khan said Kashmir as cardinal belief of every Pakistani. Later on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto raised voice for Kashmir as an integral part of Pakistan. Encroaching these states put Pakistani policy makers to enhance their relations with those countries who can support their agenda at UNO.
Hostile, xenophobic and Chankya’s vision based Indian foreign policy always tried to put Pakistan under its influence by using every sort of tact, no matter  bad or worse. In September 1949 India devalued rupee and asked Pakistan to devalue her currency.  Pakistan decided not to  follow this episode by declaring herself an independent and sovereign state. Indians got aggressive and cut down supply of coal to Pakistan. This ceased most important and mandatory icon of communication and transportation. At that time Pakistan railways was the major source of transportation and trade. They not only cut down the most important coal supply but also trade between India and Pakistan.This ultimately activated Pakistani foreign policy makers to keep in eye this sort of action while crafting policy and relations with eastern neighbor.
In 1950 Indian military moved towards Punjab borders with an alarming situation and threat to capture Punjab. Whole situation was recapped in 1965 more intensity and pressure. This lead Pakistani foreign policy stakeholders to go for new option to defend country form any intervention from India as happened in the case of Junagardh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. In September 1965 Indian army crossed international boundary line and attacked on Pakistan. Some writers put the onus of starting 1965 war on Bhutto, unmindful of the fact that they are branding Pakistan as the aggressor. However, the matter of the fact is, that the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war did not begin with Operation Gibraltar. It began much earlier when India occupied Kargil in 16-17 May 1965. Operation Gibraltar was launched three months after that on 5 August 1965.
Later on 1971 was another big intervention and violation of international rules by Indians across border based on their Arthshaster based guide line. They trained, weaponized and launched terrorist groups like  Mukti Bahni ( Militant Groups) in order to create violence and anarchy in eastern Pakistan. In running year while visiting Bangladesh Modi himself admitted that India was behind this conspiracy. During his visits to China, UAE, and USA, anti-Pakistan sentiment and aggressive tune was indicating foot prints of attitude of Indian establishment towards Pakistan. Even in their local and provincial election campaigns in Bihar, Uterpardaish, and Delhi where BJP’s Modi poisoned the whole environment by repeating his open intentions. A practical substantial intervention is rising day by day due to rigid, extremist and non cooperative stance in Indian tune.
Here I would like to mention about history that, it can’t be totally erased. One can alter, modify, articulate any event in his favor but reality shouts louder to show its presence. There is no full stop in Indian interventions in Pakistan since its inception. Pakistan always come up with defensive and conciliation policy whereas eastern neighbor renamed offensive, recently cold start doctrine was replied with the advent of short range, technical nuclear weapons.  Based upon the above discussed facts and figures one is free to create his own real opinion. One thing about Pakistan’s foreign policy is true that, it is defensive to Indian intervention and legitimate resistance to their foreign policy  in the region and globe. It seems Indian policy makers are completely unaware about ground realities. They ought to realize the unfolding of 21st century and Pakistan’s sovereign status. Regarding reunion of India Jinnah said, there is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.

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