Kargil: Pakistan's response to India's peace initiative
K.S. Sudarshan
Organiser
June 13, 1999
Title: Kargil: Pakistan's response to India's peace initiative
Author: K.S. Sudarshan
Publication: Organiser
Date: June 13, 1999
The RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Shri K.S. Sudarshan was recently in the
capital in connection with the annual Sangh Shiksha Varga now in
progress. In spite of his hectic schedule the veteran swayamsevak
found time to talk to Organiser Editor, Seshadri Chari. Excerpts from
his references to Kargil, the burning topic today.
The Kargil incident prima facie appears to be a sudden development.
Do you think we have been caught nap-ping?
There have been reports about infiltration all along the mountainous
terrain. Kargil has become a new flashpoint. Every year during the
heavy snowfall season both the Indian and the Pakistani armies vacate
their respective posts and return when the snow starts melting. This
year when the Indian Army arrived at their posts they were surprised
to see the extent of infiltration. This aspect needs to be probed
further. But one thing is con-firmed; this infiltration is neither
sudden nor a new development.
Is it not a failure on the part of our intelligence network?
No. I don't think so. Sometimes, even after having all the
information one may have to face a setback due to adverse
circumstances. There is no reason to believe that the Army has been
slack anywhere. Nor was the political will lacking. The fact that
the present situation is the result of certain acts of commission and
omission in the past cannot be overlooked. But then, this is not the
time to rake up old issues.
Do you think there has been a setback to the bus diplomacy? The
general feeling is that Pakistan has stabbed us in the back.
Well, the Vajpayee Government did very well in taking the initiative
to resolve the issues with Pakistan bilaterally. This was a rare
occasion since Partition, when an Indian Prime Minister went to Lahore
with the olive branch. Unlike earlier agreements with Pakistan, the
Lahore Declaration was not preceded by war. We must, however,
remember one thing. The hate-India campaign is essential grist to the
Pakistan mill. If the civilian set-up in Pakistan entertains any
peace-with-India plan, the Pakistani army and clergy are not going to
like it. Therefore they make the going tough for the civilian
government.
Do you absolve the civilian government of the sin of aggression? Has
Sharif no responsibility for the warlike situation in Kargil?
I give no cleanchit to the Pakistan government. The position is the
civilian government in Pakistan cannot disown responsibility for the
wrong-doing on the part of the Pakistan army and the clergy both of
whom are-at least in theory-under the civilian government's control.
After all, earlier, under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the country had vowed to
wage "a thou-sand-year war" against India. They are carrying on a
proxy war in Kashmir. Harboured, trained and encouraged by them the
mercenaries are wreaking havoc in our cities. The ISI has spread its
dragnet far and wide into the country. And yet the Vajpayee
Government took the bold step of launching a peace initiative. If
Pakistan disregards it, there have none else to blame.
What would he the political fall-out of the present conflict?
politics should be kept out. This is a question of the security of
the nation. The jawans are shedding their blood for the country. I
am happy that all the political parties have supported the action
taken by the Central Government. People have shown remarkable
solidarity which of course was expected. The politicians, the press
and the people in general should exercise restraint when it comes to
matters concerning the defence of the country. We may have
differences among ourselves, but when faced by the country's enemy we
are (we are a hundred and five).
There is criticism in some quarters about the way the Kashmir issue is
being handled by the present Government. How far do you agree with
the criticism?
Pakistan's intentions about Kashmir are not unknown. Pakistan's
shenanigans began with Partition. However, our handling of the
situation during the early days of Independence has not been without
blunders. The then Prime Minister obsessed with building his own
international image as a man of peace announced unilateral cease-fire,
much to the chagrin of the Indian Army which had pleaded for just a
couple of days to repulse Pakistan's aggression. Again, contrary to
the advice of his Council of Ministers and public opinion he took the
matter to the LTN. Even while veterans like Gopalaswami Iyengar were
sorting out the matter, a pliant Panditji delivered himself of some
unwarranted comments on plebiscite, which eventually grew into a
commitment on his part. Later, by his intervention the State of J&K
was accorded special status under Article 370. With this background
where is the question of mishandling in a year or so? It is a
victory-military as well as diplomatic-for the Vajpayee Government and
an act of bravery on the part of our jawans. Besides, the present
Government has proved it beyond doubt that it will neither buckle
under pressure nor let Pakistan carry out its game plan to
internationalise this purely bilateral issue.
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