The editorial analysis "Betting on this general", pertaining to proposed U.S. aid to Pakistan, to the tune of $3 billion, was pessimistic (page A14, Washington Post, June 30, 2003). But this may indeed be the right way to go especially if it truly "involves fighting vigorously against terrorism, ensuring that there is no proliferation from Pakistan of dangerous technologies, and ensuring that Pakistan moves toward a democracy." (Washington File, Department of State, June 24, 2003). Furthermore, as the aid, beginning in 2005, is to be reviewed yearly by the U.S. Congress, it assures accountability.
Accountability is essential in view of the complexity of the region’s history in the past five decades. Otherwise, valuable resources will be directed towards an arms race, with no progress made towards eradicating the dreadful disease of terrorism. Three wars fought over Kashmir, the assault on India’s parliament are but a few of the many examples of hatred and distrust in the region. Aid packages of this size must therefore have a corollary and mandatory requirement of regional cooperation with specific milestones that ultimately lead to and enhance regional stability.
Some additional background is in order. Assessments of the political and military assessments of the impasse between India and Pakistan over the past five decades appear to add up to a hopeless economic predicament for the region. This was reinforced at the summit meeting of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) held during the end of July 1998 at Colombo. A measly 3.7% of the region's total foreign trade was derived from within the region, which makes a mockery of SAARC. These countries have always looked elsewhere for trade and tryst: to China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to published reports Pakistan imported iron ore from Australia, Canada and Brazil, while India has a surplus it exports to Japan. SAARC indeed!
It was further reported that several of the leaders attending SAARC noted that the region, with a combined population of over1.3 billion people, has the world's largest concentration of poverty. According to figures quoted, at least 40 percent of the region's people live without adequate shelter, food, education, medical care or even safe drinking water. That is over 500 million human beings! It is this reality that must have prompted the plea by India’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee: " We represent great civilizations, ancient yet vibrant and alive, and yet we are among the poorest in the world, ... Enough of sterile ideology. Enough of hostile nationalism. Enough of conflict on the basis of religion and creed. Enough of poverty and backwardness. Let us grow rich together."
This charge obviously fell on deaf ears.
Pakistan’s obsession in regard to Kashmir serves as a constant excuse every time to shift focus away from the real problems pertaining to poverty, disease and hunger there. This became even more clear during a recent meeting on June 25, 2003 when the Pakistani president spoke at the Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C. During the question and answer period, the Pakistani leader posed a rhetorical question to "this august body" asking them to name "other issues" facing India and Pakistan and answered it himself: "There are no other issues." ." An attitude that once again guarantees an impasse.
With a common heritage derived from history and a common border dictated by geography, Pakistan and India have to learn to live and prosper together. For India, a stable Pakistan is an asset. The only viable resolution to the current conflict could come from a set of considerations as follows: (1) the LOC (Line of Control) in Kashmir should be sealed, (2) ALL terrorist training camps in Pakistan should be dismantled immediately and permanently under United Nations supervision, (3) a series of bilateral exchanges of cultural, educational, technological and trade delegations should pave the way to a summit meeting and a declaration of peace on New Year's eve 2003. Let the meeting held this week in Jerusalem between the Prime ministers of Palestine and Israel serve as an inspiration!
Time is of the essence. The citizens of the region have waited too long and deserve no less than to look forward to a new and peaceful millennium. In multi-lateral meetings both countries should be assisted in developing a ten-year plan with specific milestones to improve the lot of the common man in the region, the achievement of each of which can be made a cause for celebration on the subcontinent. The cheerleaders should make it a point to attend the parties. The motivation for the sponsors is that it simply makes sense to have a billion-plus grateful people as trade partners so that they can "grow rich together."
What can possibly be wrong with that?
Dr. Srinivasan lives in Glastonbury, CT. He served on the Town Council for two terms between 1997-2001 and was Vice Chairman during the second term.
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