National Defence Day and Air Force Day celebrations were observed across the country with solemnity, dignity and commitment to safeguard the geographical and ideological boundaries of Pakistan.
Three wars, which India and Pakistan fought to establish their respective military superiority over each other and to settle differences and disagreements by force came under discussion at different forums held by non-governmental organisations to find out what these wars brought to Pakistan.
At these programmes attempts were also made to establish that the ideological as well as the geographical boundaries that were tried to be defended through wars could not yield desired results. These wars, on the contrary, brought degeneration of moral values of the armed forces as well as that of the gentlefolk that a civil society would proudly preserve.
There is still an element of suspicion and mistrust that would take time to go. The generalised opinion at most of these discussion programmes was simple: "Only loss of mutual trusts continued to ruin future relationship between the peoples of the two countries who never wanted bitterness among them and were forced into futile battles by their respective leaders."
It was forcefully argued in these meetings of the NGOs that in the final analysis people of India and Pakistan have learnt that in the three major wars there was no winner. Both the sides lost their wealth, human resource and opportunities to look into the economic wellbeing of their people. Each war pushed India and Pakistan at least ten years backward - into a state of shock, confusion and uncertainties.
The cumulative effect of these three wars is that the graph of malnutrition, poverty and illiteracy has gone up in both the countries and people find it difficult to put together their broken dreams. They lost their possessions and even loved ones in the name of sacrifice for the country and in defence of their hard-won geographical boundaries. The wounded souls of those who had lost their sons in the wars never healed, as the objective for which people had laid down their lives could not be achieved.
None of the countries could add up extra land into their existing landmass and none of them could establish its military superiority over the other. Why we fought these wars is one question that only the future would explain but what exists as a plausible explanation of these trial runs, and as the only truth, is that misjudgements and adventures have never paid. This is history.
Post Run of Kutch, 1965 and 1971 wars, these three conflicts, is a period of about thirty years that both the people have lost, wasted and mourned.
Billions of dollars were pumped into building stocks of weapons by both the countries. Most of the stuff used in wars destroyed territories, properties of the poor and killed innocent people. Skirmishes that followed these wars and took place on the dividing line of Kashmir and across other border areas have never been of any help to the people of Pakistan and India.
Political thinkers are of the view that the definition of politics has now become synonymous with sanity. Governments having differences with other governments are now being encouraged to engage in dialogue with each other and sort out their differences. Though the process of dialogue is tedious and time consuming but it has no other alternative.
From 1980s onwards there has been a sea change in diplomacy. European Union emerged as a new political group providing food for thought for those who would wish to have regional economic blocks based upon the unity of approach towards mutual economic benefits among contiguous states. Countries in the European Union are not uni-lingual, uni-cultural and uni-religious but have the sagacity to realise the necessity of unity among themselves to achieve the welfare targets of their respective peoples. In the same decade Soviet Union disappeared, Berlin Wall crumbled down, and the Middle Eastern region changed its outlook toward the Jewish and Jewish supporting countries.
Meaning of Jihad in the American lexicon changed from what it was in 1980s to what it is today. Afghanistan and Iraq have been forced to change their complexion.
Israel-Palestinian relations are taking a new turn. Those Islamic/Muslim countries that were rejecting all proposals to accept Israel are now thinking to redefine their policy in the light of ground realities. The element of flexibility that the Middle Eastern region has now begun to show was simply inconceivable till only yesterday.
The new thinking among the governments of the world is now focused on peace and wellbeing of the people. They want their economy to grow and affluence to come to their people without fear of wars. There is rejection of the theory that does not let your people to become prosperous as the prosperity makes it difficult to rule.
There is also awakening among the clergy that church is not the only proper place to give sermons as to what is morally acceptable to the clergy should be acceptable to the people without questioning the rationale of the contents of a sermon.
The same kind of change is taking place in other parts of the Confucian, Hindu, and Buddhist and Muslim world where people have begun to question the validity of unscientific and illogical religious arguments that keep people cling to a faith without understanding its teachings. The broader view that now prevails that religion is to purify the soul of a human being and not to interfere with his dealing that he/she maintains with others.
In the light of the changes in the world view of inter-governmental relations and dialogue as the accepted way for resolution of disputes, people living in India and Pakistan belong to the same social and cultural background as was existing in pre-1947 undivided Indian sub-continent have realised the necessity of dialogues.
The process has begun and the warmth of feelings generated by the two sides has begun to melt the ice. There is exchange of ideas through the visits of political activists, writers, journalists and people from the performing arts. There has been exchange from the visitors from Kashmir that has kept the temperature boiling on both sides of the divide. But still a lot has to be done.
To begin with the two sides should consider relaxation in the grant of visas to people from both sides willing to visit places in India and Pakistan, liberalisation of trade, exchange of reading material including newspapers, magazines and books. Closer partnership in industrial and commercial ventures and easy money transfer and exchange system, banking facilities, exchange of students, admission facilities to the students of Pakistan in Indian institutions and vice versa are some other measures that can be considered.
There has been no joint military exercise of the two countries. Such an activity on limited scale, to begin with, would be highly appreciative.
The outcome of such exercises would bring the two forces, being trained and prepared to fight each other, would begin to defend each other and love each other. This would be the biggest step toward confidence building between the two people.
Pakistan and India, on occasions have expressed their nuclear superiority over each other. This sends negative message to the people in India and Pakistan. Political analysts also find an excuse to philosophise on such statements and add fuel to fire.
Combined military exercises would be a means to bring an end to such verboseness and the two countries would be able to know about each other's capabilities in the field of nuclear technology.
Joint military exercises would in due course of time help the two governments reduce their defence expenditure and divert the same toward the wellbeing of their people.
It would be wise if India and Pakistan use days that are sacred for them and which they commemorate with respect and reverence, are also used in taking steps toward the welfare of the people and strengthening confidence building measures.
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