The India-China relationship ╚►The two neighbours have enjoyed a checkered past Long ago during my college days in early sixties we were groomed to recite, ‘Hindi Chini Bhaai Bhai’ symbolizing strong bonds between two great nations- India and China. Unfortunately this short-lived courtship was followed by a forceful intervention by Chinese Red army on our borders pushing Indian troops with a humiliating return deep downat ‘Daulat Beg’ in Ladakh sector. In fact there had been some border skirmishes and China reacted to Pt. Nehru’s statement, when he underestimating Chinese ferocity hadsaid that he had ordered Indian forces to push back the red brigade. Now that India has matured and is cautious to deal with Chinese psyche, there have been scores of incursions on Sino- Indian borders on the pretext that boundaries of the two countries are not defined properly. Thus India has no choice but to behave a lame duck. That is not the end of the story. The recent trouble in Auronachal, Chatisgarh and the adjacent areas in southern India too is said to be instigated by the communist doctrine imported from the resolute neighboring country. At the same time India is jittery on China’s involvement on the developments in Pakistan and its classical style of dealing with people of J&K origin holding an Indian passport. All these hiccups are a result of undefined relations based on self-deceit and political adventure.India and China are sovereign countries having earned their independence for more than sixty years now and are expected to have defined their borders since long. Similarly Kashmir is hanging between India and Pakistan with the result all the elements with vested interests are fanning all sorts of trouble in the state resulting in to an unending ambiguity, orchestrated stone pelting, recurrent episodes of militancy and devised encounters. Hence the need for AFPSA and other draconian laws! Politics is not to confuse the masses or to score on your opponents through fair or foul means. Politics is to address the problem and to catch the bull by its horn. It by no means is to show a red rag to the bull. Since we have a case for the final settlement of Kashmir dispute pending in the United Nations we ought to fight through democratic means in the internationally recognized institutions. No doubt ourelected institutions are meant to address our day to day affairs and developments in the state yet we have a right to raise the issues that have a bearing for the needed peace in the democratic forums like our state assembly or the parliament through our elected representatives. Politics is not to brace the bullets andget killed by unbridled gunmen in ourstreets. At the same time politics by no means is to confuse people through cheap slogans or juvenile jingles offering bubble gums time and again. There was a time when Chinese were a nation of opium eaters but today it is a different story. Chinese goods are spread all over the world and it is ruling the world market. In order to strengthen its grip on the international market itneeded an access through Gawadra port for its goods to reach their destinations at cheaper rates and Pakistan has willingly provided that access. This relationship is bound to be two way and to reciprocate China is helping to construct a nuclear power plant at Cheshma to boost Pakistan’s power supply. Hence Chinaseems heading to play a major role insouth East Asia and friendly relations between China and Pakistan are bound to increase in the coming future causing a great eye sore for their neighbors. With the installation of a democratic government Pakistanseems to have come out of the cog- mire of army rule giving India a greatopportunity to extend a friendly hand. India needs to understand and implement Mr.Vajpayee’s doctrine that we cannot change our neighbors, so deal with them on equal footings. Especially when Pakistan too is a nuclear power howsoever small country it may be geographically. We also need to remember the two neighboring countries came to the brink of a nuclear war a couple of times in the past and a minor skirmish can result in to a disaster. Apparently Kashmir once again on its way to peaceful future and is reconsidering its relations with both India and Pakistan in the changing political scenario in the subcontinent. Any experimental politics to destabilize the hard earned peace is bound to have an adverse effect on the much needed peace for developments and permanent solution of Kashmir problem. At the same time it will be childish to think that solution to Kashmir problem lies in the mockery of installing interlocutors to diffuse the situation. Political Pundits need to recollect even ‘Jeshni Kashmir’ could not do the trick. Hence it is time saner elements from India, Pakistan and divided parts of J&K jointheir heads for a lasting peace in the subcontinent. We better sing the songs of Hind-Pak baai baai and buildour nations through Mehjoor’s poetryof visionary secularism rather chanting Modhi’s Hindvata of catastrophe. (The columnist is the writer of the book, ‘Kashmir in search of peace.’ The book is available on amazon) Now that India has matured and is cautious to deal with Chinese psyche, there have been scores of incursions on Sino-Indian borders on the pretext that boundaries of the two countries are not defined properly.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 02:55:10 +0000
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