The Musharraf missile
Never soft on hard issues
Gen Musharraf once shocked audiences, at the height of his power, by saying that Pakistan would pursue a first-use policy in case of nuclear war. That, he said, was what deterrence meant – considering we are the smaller country with the smaller army and more limited resources. Then there was some talk of whether the general had all government institutions on board when he made the remark or just presented his own line. Then Asif Zardari, during his presidency, said Pakistan had a clear no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons. Then there was more talk of how far he had cleared the position with the security establishment.
Now Gen Musharraf has again created tension by raising the N-word. Talking to an Indian news channel, the former president said “Pakistan will never shy of using the nuclear weapon… if the need arises”. And again it has triggered much debate, more so on the Indian side this time. However, whatever the pros and cons of first- and second-use policy for either side, the only certainty about such statements is that they do not help de-escalate from an already heated position.
Gen Musharraf should know better than most former heads of state what it takes to normalise the eastern front. It was his government that made the most ambitious advances on some of the most sensitive issues. And he – along with former foreign minister, Khurshid Kasuri – has often said it took years of backdoor diplomacy before the political atmosphere became conducive. As we urge the Indian side to tone down its rhetoric, there is also a need for Pakistan to tread carefully. With the LoC strain stretching to the working boundary, it is hoped that the DGMO interaction will restore normalcy. But it is even more important to contain the political front. That is where not only politicians, but also the media, will play a crucial role. Both countries must clearly identify what they wish the new Pak-India relationship to be like, and then take rational and proactive steps to achieve it.
No comments:
Post a Comment