As the world at large celebrated Peace day, the populace on either side of the Pakistan-India border geared up for a nuclear war. Army personnel and ministers from Modi’s own government took to media and demanded a military attack on Pakistan. Raheel Shareef reiterated that the army was fully capable to withstand any attack and would protect every inch of the country. The PAF conducted a very unusual exercise of landing jet fighters on its Motorway.
Alas though, to the utmost disappointment of some war-hawks, especially those across the border, the war will not come. The two countries have nuclear arsenal and neither side will take this fact lightly. And then there is the world at large, everyone we have a habit of hating: the US, Russia, the European countries, who all seem okay with Kashmir’s not having rights, but would leave no stone unturned to defuse a nuclear war.
However, the nuclear arsenal alone is not the only deterrent. The proofs provided by the Indian authorities fall short of putting any blame on Pakistan. Weaponry carried by the assailants are said to be same used by the Pakistani army. Either ISI has become very bad at hiding its tracks by supplying terrorists local souvenirs or the weapons were simply bought on the black market and their resemblance is trademark to the locality of where the said market exists. The sane amongst the many would lean towards the latter explanation. Is the state of Pakistan responsible for an existing blackmarket? Of course not. And the Indians know that, which is why, besides loud-mouthed rhetoric that would help them in the next elections, they won’t attack.
However, the loud-mouthed rhetoric does indeed hold other advantages. The Indian representatives have been very vocal about the supposed support of Pakistan to anti-Indian elements in the disputed geography of Kashmir on the international stage of the UN. This comes in after a series of tug-of-wars between the two countries, each highlighting human atrocities across the border. Sadly, enough, each attempts to justify its local misgivings in favor of the same happening across the border. So, there will be no war no matter how much the Indian media outlets shout about it. The decision makers who give the final nods are sensible people. So are, and this is said with much confidence, the common Indian and Pakistani.
The enmity at the individual level seems heavily restricted to the geography of the countries, literally. As the hot heads from either countries fly away from their countries to international settings of their universities, professions or adventures, the hatred seems to wither away; at least for the most part. There are many examples of young blood mingling with a one from across the border and having countless wonderful stories to tell later on. Somehow, the differences infused deep into our psyche seem to fade away. The other person is not only a human but also shares similarities in sentiments we treasure and very often romanticise. In this setting, hatred is not an option (unless of course it’s cricket!).
India insists on hushing away the protests by Pakistan on the many human right violations routinely seen in the Indian administered part of Kashmir. In usual circumstances such advances would have fallen short of their goals. However, India seems to be gaining momentum with its ‘Pakistan is a terrorist state’ rhetoric. Pakistan needs to take these allegations seriously before it plays its card against India. To dispel the notion that Pakistan supports terrorist elements across the border, it must get rid of groups that attack locally to be seen as “terrorist” free. We are doing this with Zarb-e-Azb, but we have a long way to go to till total elimination.
The war-mongering segments within each country are hard at work making the rest believe a tale that helps their agenda. It helps win elections and of course works as chess moves in the diplomatic infrastructure. To put it simply, these measures are games by a few; games that sweep away with them a whole world of gullible and naïve individuals who themselves need other distractions from the hardships of their lives.