Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Pak army needs to be reformed' that was published in Newsband

Pak army needs to be reformed

How can India-Pakistan relations improve? The meetings between the political leaders of the two countries should be held regularly even if nothing comes out of them only for the reason that they convey the leadership’s commitment to peaceful engagement.

Normalisation is not going to be achieved over a single summit. Both sides have leaders with a grand vision of India-Pakistan relations, but neither has the courage or the appetite for a grand bargain. But uninterrupted dialogue at high levels might lead to improvements.

It is entirely commendable that in the recent meetings the two sides reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire. The Line of Control ceasefire has been the most dramatic achievement of India-Pakistan relations in this century.

But the unsoldierly incidents on the LoC emanating from the Pakistani side, terrorism directed against India from Pakistan, the Taliban’s ascendant in north-west Pakistan etc has been things of concern for India.

The best hope for better relations between South Asia’s two big countries lies in the strengthening of Pakistan’s democracy. The Indian Prime Minister should keep his hand of friendship toward the democratically elected government in Islamabad firmly extended. But India must send a strong signal not to take the hand of friendship as a sign of weakness. We have had numerous high profile meetings about ceasefires and terrorism. It is time to tell Pakistan that next time they come charging towards us they will be dealt sternly with.

We have fought four wars, including Kargil, and the mindset of Pak Military, if not the people, is not for reconciliation and to accept Kashmir an integral part of India. With part of Kashmir still in occupation by Pakistan, the Kashmiris, a number of them, if not all, are torn between emotional attachments and compulsions of the regions, they live in, and they are disillusioned in the matter of their loyalty to either of the Nations.

Another thing is the Pak Army is able to manipulate the disillusioned Muslim

youth to view 'terrorism' as sacred 'Jihadism'; a territorial dispute is converted into a holy movement, an emotional issue that requires a messiah to comeforth to reform.

We may keep extending arm of friendship, but Pak Army is not going to relent. It is rightly said "To kill the fire first cut the fuel". India's demand to suppress militants first is the right step; Further there are many things that can be done, like cricket diplomacy.

The back-channel meetings should take place on regular basis by both political heads which will galvanize steps towards good relations at all levels; the process will enhance our diplomatic and strategic relations.

Time and again Nawaz Sharif has reiterated his views on renewing friendly contacts with India. It was not only important for showing our good intentions to the world but also to put a moral pressure on Pakistan to deliver whatever its democratic regime could, on ground. But the problem is Pakistan army is ruling the roost there. The civil government, in spite of its best intentions, can't move forward without the Army's support.

Any negotiation can succeed only if their is an implicit trust between countries and also there is an attitude of "give and take". Once this trust and attitude are developed, the rest is easy.