By Mahjabeen Mehboob Raja
Exclusive Article
Pakistan was founded on the basis of religious nationalism. Its other two neighbors Iran and Afghanistan were never professed as hostile states. But India as non-Muslim neighbor with whom Pakistan had fought a war in beginning of its creation has become a constant threat towards the national security of Pakistan. A high degree of mistrust and insecurity had shaped the political relations between India and Pakistan.
Regarding the issue of national security, Pakistan has embarked upon the policy of arms race since its creation. 60 years of its independence are wasted in this race of national security. Pakistan priorities are defence related not development related. The ‘stated’ defence budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 is likely to be Rs495 billion, an increase of Rs53 billion or 12 per cent over the previous year’s ‘stated’ budget
Defence budgets have never been debated in Parliament and are always assumed to be a given during the presentation of the annual money bill. Why are we least concerned about debating our defense budget in Parliament?? Is there no need of discussing it?? Or this is the sacred testimonial which cannot be touched??? In the case of India, he is also doing the same. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, presenting the 2011-2012 budget to parliament, set the military budget at just over 1.64 trillion rupees ($36.28 billion), up from last year’s 1.47 trillion rupees. Last year the increase was about 4 percent in military budget. India considers China as his greatest rival. China is the real long-term challenge on the strategic horizon and India’s security planning is geared toward it. India is also worried and anxious about sino-pak relations. Pakistan is uncomfortable over India’s propinquity to Afghanistan.
So the relationship between the two neighboring and hostile countries owes a great deal of mistrust. Terrorism, Indus water treaty and Kashmir Issue are the commonly used issues which hinders in bilateral relations and stumbling peace process between the two countries. November 2008 attacks were across Mumbai, India’s largest city. The sole captured terrorist, Ajmal Kasab claimed the attackers were of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant organisation. Apart from other permanent issues including the thorny dispute of Kashmir which has always been used by India to malign and pressurize Pakistan, water of rivers has become a matter of life and death for every Pakistani as New Delhi has continuously been employing it as a tool of terrorism to blackmail Pakistan. Indian diplomacy of water terrorism could also be judged from a latest development. Reports suggest that India has secretly offered technical assistance to the Afghan government in order to construct a dam over Kabul River which is a main water contributor to Indus River. Pakistan has already been facing with a continued phenomenon of terrorism like suicide attacks, bomblasts etc., committed by the militants who enter our country from Afghanistan where Indian secret intelligence agency, RAW has established training centers for anti-Pakistan activities.
Now granting India MFN status signals a shift in Pakistani Policy towards India. Recent developments like Pakistan’s decision to grant Most Favoured Nation status to India, Islamabad’s appreciation of the Indian cooperation to secure a permanent UN seat, and releasing the Indian Army helicopter that flew across the Line of Control suggests a sense of geniality. The MFN designation means that Pakistan will not impose any special barriers on its trade with India and will treat India as it treats any other country. India has already granted Pakistan MFN status.
Residents of Kashmir are concerned that granting India MFN status will put the Kashmir problem in abeyance. But in this case, it is Pakistan who has to decide its pros and cons. Islamic ideology has to get out of Indo-Pak relations; else problems will continue for ever. What to talk of Hindus, not even a single Indian Muslim supports the so called Kashmir cause. Therefore it’s the will of 180 million Pakistanis verses 1.20 billion Indians. Critical mass of India is so large that she can withstand problems like Kashmir but not Pakistan. Similar size insurgency will rip apart Pakistan, but not India. Therefore in any Indo-Pak conflict it will Pakistan who will suffer the most. Tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems.
Exclusive Article
Pakistan was founded on the basis of religious nationalism. Its other two neighbors Iran and Afghanistan were never professed as hostile states. But India as non-Muslim neighbor with whom Pakistan had fought a war in beginning of its creation has become a constant threat towards the national security of Pakistan. A high degree of mistrust and insecurity had shaped the political relations between India and Pakistan.
Regarding the issue of national security, Pakistan has embarked upon the policy of arms race since its creation. 60 years of its independence are wasted in this race of national security. Pakistan priorities are defence related not development related. The ‘stated’ defence budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012 is likely to be Rs495 billion, an increase of Rs53 billion or 12 per cent over the previous year’s ‘stated’ budget
Defence budgets have never been debated in Parliament and are always assumed to be a given during the presentation of the annual money bill. Why are we least concerned about debating our defense budget in Parliament?? Is there no need of discussing it?? Or this is the sacred testimonial which cannot be touched??? In the case of India, he is also doing the same. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, presenting the 2011-2012 budget to parliament, set the military budget at just over 1.64 trillion rupees ($36.28 billion), up from last year’s 1.47 trillion rupees. Last year the increase was about 4 percent in military budget. India considers China as his greatest rival. China is the real long-term challenge on the strategic horizon and India’s security planning is geared toward it. India is also worried and anxious about sino-pak relations. Pakistan is uncomfortable over India’s propinquity to Afghanistan.
So the relationship between the two neighboring and hostile countries owes a great deal of mistrust. Terrorism, Indus water treaty and Kashmir Issue are the commonly used issues which hinders in bilateral relations and stumbling peace process between the two countries. November 2008 attacks were across Mumbai, India’s largest city. The sole captured terrorist, Ajmal Kasab claimed the attackers were of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant organisation. Apart from other permanent issues including the thorny dispute of Kashmir which has always been used by India to malign and pressurize Pakistan, water of rivers has become a matter of life and death for every Pakistani as New Delhi has continuously been employing it as a tool of terrorism to blackmail Pakistan. Indian diplomacy of water terrorism could also be judged from a latest development. Reports suggest that India has secretly offered technical assistance to the Afghan government in order to construct a dam over Kabul River which is a main water contributor to Indus River. Pakistan has already been facing with a continued phenomenon of terrorism like suicide attacks, bomblasts etc., committed by the militants who enter our country from Afghanistan where Indian secret intelligence agency, RAW has established training centers for anti-Pakistan activities.
Residents of Kashmir are concerned that granting India MFN status will put the Kashmir problem in abeyance. But in this case, it is Pakistan who has to decide its pros and cons. Islamic ideology has to get out of Indo-Pak relations; else problems will continue for ever. What to talk of Hindus, not even a single Indian Muslim supports the so called Kashmir cause. Therefore it’s the will of 180 million Pakistanis verses 1.20 billion Indians. Critical mass of India is so large that she can withstand problems like Kashmir but not Pakistan. Similar size insurgency will rip apart Pakistan, but not India. Therefore in any Indo-Pak conflict it will Pakistan who will suffer the most. Tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems.
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