Every once a while some starry eyed Indians and some Pakistanis (mostly in denial) come together to discuss peace. This happens often amongst the bored celebrities. The fact is that the perceptions even amongst the educated and those who have resisted blatant brain-washing amongst the Pakistanis (which may probably be just 1% of the population \u2013 at least thats the sample that I have from my interactions) \u2013 are totally skewed. Their idea of where the world is and where they are is just so different and the hiatus so huge that its tough to get over it.<\/p>\n
This is an interview with Asma Jahangir, a Human Rights activist in Pakistan. Not that she is loved there for many \u201cpatriotic\u201d Pakistanis find her to be selling Pak pride out everytime she takes up an issue. But even her perception seems so out of whack! To a question on where India and Pak are on peace intiatives, she starts:<\/p>\n
There are understandably very confusing, very negative feelings from the Indian side.<\/em><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know, but there is nothing confusing about the feelings in India. We want the Islamist Jehadis to be behind the bars and 26\/11 perpetrators be hanged or sent to us. No confusion there.<\/p>\n To another question on whether this is a good time for peace initiative, given the Indian insistence on 26\/11 action, she comes up with another one:<\/p>\n To make Pakistan action over 26\/11 a condition for peace initiatives is a mistake.<\/em><\/p>\n Honestly, what does it mean \u201cto have peace\u201d? What is peace? Is it some arbitrary and artifically created scenario? The truth is that Pacifist \u2013 pseudo and well meaning alike \u2013 do more harm to the Peace in this world than the violent. \u201cPeace\u201d by numbing minds, logic and common sense is no peace! It is a compromise and usually ends up in trash bins sooner or later. The ONLY reason why Peace has NOT happened in the Middle East is because the world leaders are dancing around the main and central reason \u2013 religiousity that borders on madness and the acceptance that historical hurt is a valid position to take. I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that REAL Peace in Middle East can ONLY happen after a wide scale and bloody war. Before that we are merely lookng at sustained and regular killing of the poor. I am not against Peace, but I am making a statement that will stand its test in time.<\/p>\n Simply because the so-called leaders have been after a totally screwed up concept of peace, we are in a situation where no peace deal is even worth the paper its written on. We need better ways to do things.<\/p>\n Peace is not created in board rooms or drawing rooms or in conference halls or seminars or boder vigils. Peace is created in people\u2019s minds and hearts. Peace is first EARNED for ones ownself and then shared with other. If I am inherently in massive and giant conflict, then my relationship with the other is merely an extension of that conflict. Peace with other, similarly, is an extension of my internal peace.<\/p>\n Peace between Pakistan and India will be created when Pakistan gets its historic quirk straightened out. It is a statement of fact that all conflict between India and Pakistan is a result of Pakistani aggression from 1947 Kashmir invasion to Kargil. 1971 was perhaps one of those times, when Indira Gandhi saw an opening to end the mess of Pakistan\u2019s constant fingering once and for all but failed to complete her mission.<\/p>\n From Khalistan to Kashmir to Terrorist strikes within India, Pakistani aggression has not stalled at any time.<\/p>\n Pakistan has to move to an understanding that Pakistan is in existence FOR itself.. not because of some religious historic agenda like a \u201cTwo Nation Theory\u201d. They still behave as if defending their \u201creligion nation\u201d from imaginary and self made threats (even in far off lands as Jerusalem) is their god-given-agenda and duty. That, if they are not speaking in someone\u2019s favor or fighting in someone\u2019s favor amongst the \u201cTwo nations\u201d of Jinnah (or now many nations \u2013 including Jewish and Christian), they are committing blasphemy.<\/p>\n Pakistanis need to live for themselves FOREMOST. Forget the rest of the world. Rest of the world is not important. Whether a Hindu flourishes in a near by country or a Jew runs the financial system 3000 miles from them is NOT important. What is important is what are YOU doing to live better and to prosper?? How many factories did you create in the last 5 years? How many new world class schools and colleges did you create in the last 5 years? Did you create an environment of trust, peace and innovation where the young artists and scientific minds would love to contribute?<\/p>\n If all that is not happening\u2026 then how is peace possible? Not all that is happening in India.. but some of that is happening.. and what do we get from Pakistan? Some Jehadis and ISI combined force decides to target Indian Institute of Science or our Scientists or our financial capital! Why?<\/p>\n Why can\u2019t we rejoice in other\u2019s success at creating such things? Why can\u2019t we take that as an inspiration to do something similar ourselves?<\/p>\n Our issue, Ms. Jahangir, is just that.. that instead of striving to create a \u201cPakistan Institute of Science\u201d which is far better than \u201cIndian Institute of Science\u201d, Pakistani establishment (and don\u2019t give me that shpeel about establishment is not engaged with the Jehadis!) and Jehadis find it kosher to bomb the institute across the border!!<\/p>\n When the Pakistanis demand opening up their own institutes instead of bombing others\u2019 and rejoicing in that scenario\u2026 peace will have quietly but surely tip-toed into our sub continent\u2026 unbeknownst to all the conference halls and celebrity parties. You will be part of it but not the creator of it. Like they say, Love Happens. Peace will Happen!<\/p>\n