The Line of Fire

The recent deadly flare-up over the military Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir has not only pushed back the peace process between Pakistan and India but has also deeply affected the Indian image. India though dramatically crafted story to blame Pakistan for the whole episode of LoC infringement but it was astonishing when no country seemed interested in Indian story of ‘Pakistani soldiers beheading Indian soldiers’ at the UN Security Council session presided by Pakistan. For assertion that Pakistani troops killed two Indian soldiers, Pakistan had complained to the UN observer force that Indian troops allegedly crossed the LoC and raided a border post. United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) said it would conduct an investigation in accordance with its mandate however India rejected Pakistan’s proposal for a UN investigation into the LoC confrontation. Hence it conferred a worldwide impression that India got something to conceal that is why it is not permitting UN to hold an inquiry. Here it should be calculated that whose interests are better served by this LoC flare up? Have a glimpse on recent incidents, Pakistani hockey players were told to leave India and return to Pakistan, the visa-on-arrival facility for Pakistani citizens of 65 years and above entering India has been put on hold, Indian PM stated ‘No business as usual with Pakistan’, war hysteria was created by warning Indian occupied Kashmir to get prepare themselves for a nuclear war, water secretaries meeting of both countries over Wuller barrage/Tulbul Navigational project has been postponed, on Indian Republic Day the Indian head of the state told Pakistan that its hand of friendship should not be taken for granted! All these proceeding by Indian state clearly speak of who is derailing peace-process by using LoC shield. It speaks that overturn peace was a planned project

This Indian approach has also been criticized by Indians itself, Indian Journalist ‘Karan Thapar’ claimed in Hindustan Times - ‘Indian Army too beheads soldiers’. He mentioned various incidents when Indian Army beheaded Pakistani soldiers; he showed concern that why their media don’t show facts. In another piece of writing ‘The siege within-and without’, Jyoti Malhotra also suggested India to adopt a peaceful approach and not an eye for an eye approach; she declared it is Israeli specialty. On Indian humanitarian violation the famous Arundhati Roy bluntly said ‘India will suffer for what it did in Kashmir’.She said "Troops and paramilitary troops involved in various heinous crimes including custodial killings, disappearances, rapes and declared accused through FIRs and other reports have evaded action which has resulted in making them habitual offenders. These habitual offenders when deployed in other states will commit the same offences against innocent people. To continue its occupation in Kashmir, India has made its forces immune from every law there. If civil society of India and other human rights activist do not take appropriate steps, we will feel ashamed in future." These are Indian people vocal against Indian violence and violation. Moreover recently India’s home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed ““Reports revealed during investigation that BJP and RSS conduct terror training camps to spread terrorism; Bombs were planted in Samjhauta express, Mecca Masjid and also a blast was carried out in Malegaon.” Pakistan according to its new military doctrine is working on internal threats to eliminate extremist groups while India is working to further strengthen such groups. These are not allegations, these all are confessions. India on all fronts is breaching the line of fire and hence putting peace on fire.

Farooq uz Zaman Khan, Islamabad