Nagrota and Samba attacks show Pakistan can never be trusted
Despite all the positive sounds being made since the retirement of Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif was announced, the country's policy vis-a-vis India is not going to change anytime soon. The recent Nagrota attacks just confirmed this ominous portent.
I shall not go so far as to term Nagrota as new Pakistan army chief General Qamar Bajwa's introductory gift to India - not today but maybe soon. If the new chief agrees on most issues with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, then it would certainly provide the PM with some breathing space - domestically at least. But to term it as positive for India would be a huge mistake.
When Kargil happened, everybody, including defence experts in India, blamed a supposedly rogue General Parvez Musharraf. Most were convinced somehow that then PM Nawaz Sharif was not part of the decision-making. Years down the line, Musharraf claimed that PM Sharif had all along known about the Kargil ventures.
Who was speaking the truth? Musharraf or Sharif? Decide wisely. My guess is nobody was telling the whole truth - only half truths that suited them. A general who usurped power had a nice excuse, a PM who was toppled and barely escaped with his life had an equally good excuse to peddle.
The largely unnecessary hype over Raheel Sharif is the reason why some experts will be looking forward to better relations along the border. Much of the supposed theory that General Sharif was an India hater and baiter has to do with the martyrdom of two of his close relatives during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India.
Well it may be true to a certain extent, but it cannot be the whole truth. A professional soldier will not hold a nation hostage to his personal angst and General Sharif was no exception. Similarly, the supposed bonhomie that General Bajwa shared with General Vikram Singh is held to be the premise of a better cross-border scenario.
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| General Qamar Bajwa has taken over as Pakistan army chief from General Raheel Sharif. |
Nothing can be further from the truth. Changes occur in every organsation - including the Pakistan army. People with divergent political views and aspirations come to office. That is normal. But no officer - including the army chief - can alter a laid-down policy that has been in place for what? Some 70 years.
Grandstanding apart, no professional soldier or general aspires or plans to fight a war he cannot control. So there is only one way left for the new Pakistan army chief - stick to the mujahideens. They are cost-effective, they do the job, do not ask questions and are expendable.
India is key to the Pakistan army's survival - yes survival. The fear of India nurtures and empowers the nation's army, provides funds, motivation, fan following and clout.
As long as the big bogeyman India stays its neighbour, it will nurture the Pakistan army and hatemongers. Actually a day may come when the army loses control over the militants it funds, as the civilian government already has.
Nagrota and Samba just showed us what to expect - status quo.