Violence creates uncertainty and promotes instability -- it is unfortunate, but that is exactly what is happening right now in the bordering regions between Pakistan and India. Radicalism and terrorism are creating ripples in the territory of Pakistan’s neighbouring Iran.
The future of South Asia and its contiguous territories is at stake.
The final session of India’s outgoing 16th Lok Sabha came through on February 13. It created its own priorities among political circles and electoral politics was in full play on that day. What happened the following day, however, shifted the attention of the Indian population to a different horizon.
The devastating suicide bombing at Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir inflicted the largest fatalities on the Indian Security Forces in a single incident across 30 years of insurgency in that state. It also raised critical questions and new challenges for India.
Apparently, 2,548 members of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force armed personnel were travelling in a convoy of 70 vehicles towards Qazigund on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Near milestone 272 it was attacked by an SUV vehicle that contained improvised explosive devices driven by a suicide bomber associated with the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), known to have close links with different quarters inside Pakistan.
With India’s general election mere months away, Modi has, quite understandably, come under heavy pressure from his supporters to punish Pakistan for the attack. India has placed the blame for the bombing squarely on Pakistan, which India accuses of supporting rebels in Kashmir, a charge that Islamabad denies. New Delhi, on the other hand, is insisting that “incontrovertible evidence is available of Pakistan having a direct hand in this gruesome terrorist incident.”
Modi has warned that those behind the attack would pay a heavy price and that security forces have been given a free hand to act against violence.
As expected, India’s Foreign Ministry, immediately after the attack, briefed New Delhi-based diplomats from key countries about the incident. The ministry has also demanded that Pakistan take “immediate and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from territories under its control to create a conducive atmosphere in the region free of terror.”
On February 16, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua not only rejected allegations about Pakistan’s involvement in the attack but also noted that it was part of New Delhi’s “known rhetoric and tactics” to divert global attention from human rights violations.
The US has singled out Pakistan and condemned the attack and reiterated its resolve to bolster counter-terrorism cooperation with India. Certain human rights groups have noted that India has been responding to public protests within their territory of Kashmir with disproportionate force while treating the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination as Islamabad’s proxy war against New Delhi.
Whatever the reason, no one can endorse or agree on terrorism, fundamentalism, or suicide bombing as a way out for resolving political issues.
Unfortunately, this suicide attack has triggered a wave of hate and revenge against Kashmiris residing in various parts of Kashmir, as well as mainland India. Mobs in certain parts of the sub-region have attacked Muslim neighbourhoods.
One of the reasons behind this has been the misuse of the social media by right-wing fanatics. This needs to stop. One needs to thank here the pro-active and positive role being played in this context by India’s Central Reserve Police Force. While offering assistance to Kashmiri people who felt threatened, they have also pointed out that “fake news is being propagated by various miscreants on social media.”
In the meantime, India has scrapped the Most Favoured Nation status of Pakistan. It is anticipated that such a measure would affect the export of Pakistani goods worth nearly $500 million to India. In South Asia, we have seen violence and terror acts more than once in different parts of this region. This has created instability and confusion.
There are different dimensions pertaining to conflicts. All of them need to be addressed. Public discussion in this context is important and better than muzzling voices.
It is the only way to move forward. Any conflict that remains frozen in time robs millions of their basic human rights and takes away the opportunity for creating connectivity within that region or sub-region, eradicating poverty, and ushering in development through good governance.
This constructive approach needs to be undertaken by both India and Pakistan. China, Russia, and the United States also need to facilitate this paradigm. National security agencies and other relevant authorities from both these countries need to sit down and work together.
Muhammad Zamir, a former ambassador, is an analyst specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance. He can be reached at muhammadzamir0@gmail.com.