Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Pakistan needs a benevolent dictator to bring about Indo-Pak peace' that was published in Newsband

Pakistan needs a benevolent dictator to bring about Indo-Pak peace

In spite of the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan there has been much damage to life and livelihood along the border. There is a need of high-level political intervention to save the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

2017 has turned out to be the worst year since the agreement brought calm to the border 15 years ago. The two countries are caught in a spiral of almost daily exchanges of fire along the border. At least 860 incidents of ceasefire violations was recorded on the LoC alone in 2017. In 2015 there had been 152 incidents, and in 2016 there were 228. January 2018 recorded the highest number of ceasefire violations in a month since 2003,

It cannot be a one side act to implement ceasefire. The heinous acts like killing Indian soldiers now and then, innumerable terrorist attacks mostly after every trial of starting talk in peaceful manner by government continue. Pakistan is not willing to punish 26/11 convicts.

The talks will bear fruits only when there is any willingness from Pakistan side to resolve the issue. At least the civilian government in Pakistan should have real power in hand to implement talks. As long as the dictatorship of Army and ISI prevails, there cannot be a solution, unless the Pakistan army comes up with a benevolent dictator.

Both countries’ governments need to talk, because both countries cannot go for war and they are not in position to go for it. The main problem is lack of communication. Both the governments need to keep their vibrant, aggressive behaviour out of this and talk and think calmly.

The frequent ceasefire violations on LoC and IB in J&K are taking a very heavy toll in terms of deaths and injuries to army and civilian population on both sides of the fence apart from dislocating thousands of civilian population. The ceasefire violations have increased many fold after Uri attack and retaliatory surgical strikes by Indian Army across the border.

The ceasefire agreement in 2003 was due to bold diplomatic initiatives of Vajpayee which brought durable peace on borders. His bold political initiatives also ushered in peace in valley and other disturbed areas in state. Agreed that Pakistan is hell bent to perpetuate disturbance in J&K but the sincere efforts to bring peace in J&K are also missing. Unless and until PM takes some Vajpayee like bold initiatives the peace on borders and elsewhere in the state will remain elusive and people will continue to suffer. Pakistan must also cease to foment disturbance in J&K for the sake of its own people on borders and elsewhere.