Saturday, January 17, 2009

SUCH ARE THE TIMES…

(Editorial by ParamPoojya Aniruddha Bapu (Dr. Aniruddha D. Joshi) in Daily Pratyaksha dated December 24, 2008)
Every single nation in the world, right from the United States to any small nation is fully convinced that Pakistan is the chief supporting structure of the terrorist network in the world.

Owing to the terrorist activity in the region near its border, China too would rather stay away from 'this nuisance'. However, owing to the gigantic ambition in every field on the part of both China and North Korea, they feel compelled to be one up on the United States, India, Russia and the European Union. In order to achieve this China also finds it essential that the United States, India, Japan and the European nations be subjected to constant uncertainty and this is precisely what binds the devious triad China-North Korea-Pakistan together.

China wants to become the topmost military and economic power in the world. North Korea wants to gulp down South Korea and then top up, if possible, this satisfying meal with morsels of the neighboring nations as well. As for Pakistan, it nurses a wish to banish the superiority and the authority of Saudi Arabia and grab sway at a different and more comprehensive level.

The ambitions of all of these three nations thus converge in the same direction. Besides one does not stand in the way of the other, which is the one main reason that keeps them together. It is in fact their need.

Moreover, that India ought to attack and put Pakistan in its place is not only India's need but also that of the United States, of Saudi Arabia and the European Union. Owing to the fact that both Russia and Japan have a very clear idea of China's plans, not to mention the fruits of terrorism that Russia has had to taste, they are very keen on thwarting China's ally.

In order to conserve its position on the political scene, Saudi Arabia has to mutely toe the line that India and the United States adopt.
....and it is precisely these circumstances or rather the fact that the pieces have fallen in these respective places at this particular moment, that all of these nations not only give consent to the 'surgical strike' by India but are even willing to co-operate in the matter.
....and this is precisely why Pakistan's nuclear equipment need not at all intimidate India. Also, one single nuclear weapon launched by the rash military officers of Pakistan against India will activate all nations possessing nuclear weapons, except China, in India's favour.
....and this is precisely what the Pakistan government fears as much as the senior military officers and the I.S.I. Therefore this kind of an act is what only the terrorists, who do not foresee this fact, could do. However, the irony of the present situation is that it has become a must for the Pakistan military to see to it that such an act does not happen.

Although experts comply with this opinion, we cannot be ignoring the fact that a number of terrorist have spread their limbs in various regions of Pakistan which causes the United States and Saudi Arabia to exert enormous pressure on Pakistan in India's favour until the end of war.

Although destroying terrorist camps, bases in Pakistan and in Pakistan occupied Kashmir remains the prime objective of this 'surgical strike', it is very much the desire of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the European Union that India should go ahead and liberate Baluchistan and not restrict itself to it.

Actually speaking the liberation of Baluchistan could work in favour of the rest of Pakistan and in other words in favour of the democratic government as well because Baluchistan has proved to be nothing but a nuisance for Pakistan over the past so many years. But then, should Baluchistan be liberated, the boundaries of Pakistan would change in such a way that the equations relating to the intimacy of the terrorists with Pakistan would be upset and as a result it would not be as easy for Pakistan to give shelter and support to terrorists as it is now.

Moreover, both Pakistan and the Pakistan media are very much aware that no nation in the world will so much as take note of the uproar that they have stirred up. But then they have to keep making crude remarks against India just to boost the morale of the people of Pakistan or in other words, to win their support.

The Indian Airforce is going to play a major role in this war and so Pakistan too is looking to ready its airforce. Pakistan cannot hope to procure extra fighter planes and allied weapons from any nation except for China and if at all China has the guts to do so, it will be inviting infinite trouble on the economic front. Should India, the United States and the European nations decide to ban entry of Chinese goods even for three months, there could be tremendous upheaval in China. And China obviously does not want to invite this hassle, at least not now. But China will for sure, extend as much help as it can through the back door merely in order to maintain friendship with Pakistan; but again only until it gains strong ground in the economic field. The moment China gains total economic independence with the help of the South American countries and Africa, China can turn extremely mean and that is what it is going to be. If it so happens that China encounters no obstacle in its path, it can attain this position in a mere five year period and in that case, curbing China's ambitions will prove an extremely difficult task.

Therefore as India immobilizes China's bosom pal, it becomes imperative for the United States and the allies to take Russia into confidence and wipe out the authority of China as also the terrorist impact in the South American countries and in Africa. But then here again India needs to act the mediator as neither the Latin American nations nor the African nations would want to put complete trust in the United States and that is precisely where India and Russia could prove useful.

The meet of Indian ambassadors to 122 nations that the Indian minister for foreign affairs called, was not merely to hand over proof pointing to Pakistan's terrorism; it was definitely for exploring various ways of co-operating with the nations, who pledge to support India. This meet is a fruit of the prudence exhibited by the Indian government, the ruling and the opposition parties and the senior government officials of India. Further, it is also proof that India has now mastered the skill of making use of an available opportunity. Now what India needs to urgently master, is to create an opportunity where it does not exist i.e. promote goodwill and cooperation in its favour in the Latin American and the African countries.

As all of these events unfold, 'Parvez Musharraf' is the name we cannot lose sight of because this person's political ambitions are boundless and they can take flight at any moment. But for the present moment at least, the democratic government of Pakistan, the Pakistan military and the I.S.I. are in no mood to shake hands with Mr. Parvez Musharraf and the United States can make good use of this.

There now remains just the one person, who can save Pakistan from destruction and that is Mr. Nawaz Sherif. Had Mrs. Benazir Bhutto been alive, this would have been easier. the politicians and the military officers of Pakistan, wanting to save their country, will have to call in Mr. Nawaz Sherif or if need be, even Mrs. Bhutto's son (Bilawal Bhutto) and then plan the future line of action. The only fear that looms large is, that if this does not happen, the power in Pakistan will pass over once again to the reckless and hot-headed militant leaders. But then all said and done, it is for Pakistan to decide.

There is absolutely no doubt that the war will happen. Therefore friends, in the following article, let us study the effects of war. Every true Indian citizen must indeed be aware of his responsibility, what good is it to merely shout slogans that 'we want war' and rejoice when war begins?


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ALERT

Excerpts of the Editorial by ParamPoojya Aniruddha Bapu (Dr. Aniruddha D. Joshi) in Daily Pratyaksha dated December 25, 2008.



‘War, be it of any kind, is best avoided as far as possible’. However, when the destruction resulting from the avoidance of war is far more horrific than that resulting from the aftermath of war, ‘war’ is the inevitable option.

Diplomacy, mediation, dialogue, Bhagvan Shreekrishna did it all in the Mahabharat as Mahaprabhu Hanumant did in the Ramayan, in order to avoid war. Both Shreekrishna and Shreehanumant were well aware that the enemy they were faced with was extremely devious and heartless and did not have the slightest repentance over any wrong and yet these two great beings, epitomes of morality and value, offered to Duryodhan and to Ravan respectively, a chance to avoid the war.
....and this precisely is the tradition of the Indian culture. The Indian culture is basically not the war-hungry or the aggressive kind, it considers ‘non-violence’ to be a venerable principle in every way. However, submitting to those, who trample the principles of morality and non-violence, is not the mindset of the Indian civilization either. On the contrary, history tells us time and again that firm and strict action has been taken against those, who kick around the principles of morality and non-violence.

Lord Shreekrishna, who seemed inclined to mediate, later, on the failure of mediation, went on to instruct Arjuna in no uncertain terms, "तस्मात् उत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः" (‘So then rise Arjun, O son of Kunti, be determined and with a firm resolve, prepare for war’)

In the present situation too, India is standing by its ancient culture and its values in making its moves. Pakistan imposed four wars on India, in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Apart from these, Pakistan has brought about terrorist attacks in various places in India and thus since 1980, i.e. over 28 years, kept fanning the embers of unrest and uncertainty to keep them alive. The attack on Mumbai just cracked the threshold of the Indian’s tolerance. Many are under the wrong impression that it is the attack on ‘Mumbai’ that has triggered this talk of war against Pakistan. Kashmir sees these sort of episodes day in and day out but India never talked of war. So then why talk of war only now?

The issue that India is faced with, is not just Kashmir or Mumbai, it is that of Pakistan’s continual policy of impeding India’s progress and for the purpose, of constantly causing damage to India. One might well say, ‘it has indeed been Pakistan’s policy to do so ever since its birth i.e. since 14th August 1947.’ Then why does India feel the need to go to war now?

The answer is straightforward and simple - every single field in Pakistan is passing over to the hands of terrorist groups.

The destructive terrorist activity not just in India but all over the world thrives on energy sources that can be traced to Pakistan. What else can one infer from the Taliban’s clear proclamation -- ‘we are with Pakistan’! So then Pakistan is no more a mere nation, it is a training school for international terrorism. And India is going to bear the maximum brunt of this. And so it is extremely essential that India takes action against it.

Is it really possible that Pakistan would on its own, give up causing bomb blasts and terrorist attacks all over India like it did in Mumbai? Not at all. Therefore it would be relatively easier and advisable to face ‘the known devil - the danger of war’. Or else, these products of the terrorist schools of Pakistan will keep causing bomb blasts and other destruction and then no Indian would be sure that a fellow Indian leaving home in the morning will return home safe in the evening. …

The United States never wants war on its own soil and that is a fact in history. However, terrorist activity has long since scrapped this norm of the United States. So then statements like the United States are imposing its own war on to India, reducing it to a mere puppet’ only go to imply political immaturity. The India of today is by no means young and so incompetent and helpless like it was in 1962, India’s military and economic strength does not at all depend on American favour, thanks to its position in the international political and the economic scene, the United States just cannot tie down India like they tied down Pakistan.

The capacities of the politicians of Pakistan and that of its officials stand no comparison at all with the democratic politics in India and the prudence of government officials belonging here. Therefore, any step that India takes counting on the backing by the United States, cannot amount to fetters for India.

If India did launch the ‘surgical attack’ as stated in yesterday’s article, it would become essential for every Indian citizen to extend support to the Indian government and to the Indian army. India has indeed done it during the wars that happened in the past. However, the wars of the past and the war in the times to come, differ greatly in their technique and principles. …
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The complete editorial is available at pdf.

For more details on modern warfare, refer to the book The Third World War by Dr. Aniruddha D. Joshi.