Babel

“Babel� is the best word that describes the present situation in South Asia. My Political Science Professor Wilson at Forman Christian College Lahore used to say that “Everyone learns history to learn not to learn a lesson�. The rivalry and unity of these two titans at different instants can be traced throughout history. The two nuclear states, Pakistan and India are at high alert and war seems to be the answer to the tragedy of 26/11. Given the political and economic landscapes, however, Pakistan and India can not afford to go to any kind of war. History is repeating itself, but the two neighbors are not learning from their previous mistakes. New wine old bottle, terrorism is now the wine sold by every government everywhere including South Asia. Unfortunately, no one has come up with any measure to curb this evil. Terrorism is as old as history, but till this day we haven’t understood what it is and why it takes place. Many US policy think tanks after 9/11 have been producing excellent research on terrorism. If you ask these researchers if they have they ever been to Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, the unanimous answer is NO. How can you give policy prescriptions without actually meeting the patient? Even the great Dr. Gregory House sooner or later meets his patients to diagnose the illness and find a cure.

The Subcontinent is a blessed region having culture, spirituality, love, hospitality and traditions. It is very true what Pakistan’s President Asif Zardari said “there’s a little bit of India in every Pakistani and a little bit of Pakistan in every Indian�. Being in US, I see no conflict between Pakistanis and Indians. We study in same classes, share same apartments and celebrate each other’s cultural events with fervor and brotherhood. Isn’t it ironic that in a third country the two nations live like brothers and care for each other and as neighbors we are aiming cannons at each other? Given our shared histories, culture, and even the global financial collapse can we afford war? Have we solved issues like poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, global warming etc that we want to go to war? Is human life so cheap that we waste it in the name of God either by terrorism or war? Isn’t war another form of terrorism? Killing innocent civilians under the war cry of nationalism and patriotism, under the flag of defending one’s motherland, labeling them as ‘collateral damage’…is this not terrorism, no matter who does it? The horrors of Vietnam, Japan, Germany, Russia, Kashmir, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan arent enough to create a chill in the spine?

Parnab Mukherjee, Minister for External Affairs of India, argues that efforts of the international community (US and UK) are insufficient to put pressure on Pakistan. We are still not learning from our past and once again happily forwarding invitations for our feet to be axed. How have we forgotten British duplicity and their policy of divide and rule, a policy that made the two nations arch enemies in the first place. Again we are inviting other countries to solve our problems. Have we as a people, as nations of more than 156 million + 1.13 billion people lost all our capacity and intellect to negotiate on all diplomatic fronts?

We are giving the best bait and the perfect excuse to the US and UK to land in our home land. Pakistan is already facing multiple challenges, domestic terrorism, a weak economy and an inexperienced President. USA has a fruitless presence in Afghanistan and actively seeks to position itself in South Asia given the active rise of China, India and Iran. History has proven that no one can invade and then conquer Afghanistan, be it Alexander the great, Britain or Russia.

Every Pakistani shares and feel the pain of their Indian fellows as they are not alone in their tragic sorrow. No-one is there to wipe the tears shed in memory of so many innocent people dying everyday in Northern Areas of our country. We as two twin nations must unite to fight our common enemy (ies). We must awaken the spirits of Gandhi and Jinnah in every heart.