Omar Talks Tough: Pakistan Remains Hostile After Regime Change

It is high time people of Jammu & Kashmir realize the fact that Pakistan is enemy and not a friend. In the name of ‘jehad’ for Kshmir Pakistan has harmed the people of the state by abetting terrorism in the region that has taken a heavy toll. Hundreds of civilians, army and Para military forces’ jawans and officers laid their life in the violence of terror from across the border.

National Conference Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday has come out with strong statement against ceasefire violations by Pakistan on International Border and along the Line of Control. Unprovoked firing by Pakistan army has made hundreds of people living near the LoC flee their homes. Omar who has been seen as taking critical stand against the Army and the Para Military forces for using force  to quell civilian violence in the valley has come to realize that it is Pakistan which is the real villain of the peace.

Omar has called for tough action against Pakistan and asked the Centre to give a befitting reply to the aggressor. But the UPA government appears to have taken refuse in the passive chamber where ‘no-action is the best action’. The government headed by Manmohan Singh is like an Ostrich.

It did nothing in the past nine years of its rule at the Centre so far India’s relations with Pakistan is concerned. Despite repeated provocation at the border and continued terror violence, Indian Government chose to play down every attack in the name of peace.

Nobody advocates war. But to defend our territorial and national integrity is our prime duty. Any country worth its name has to show some strength to tell the aggressor that the country exists. Here, the government is mired in defending its corrupt regime and has little time to defend the country. The government has failed to stem growing frustrations in the rank and file of the Indian Army. There are increasing number of suicide and fight between officers and jawans of the Army which is dangerous for any regimented force. The government has allowed corrupt IAS officers in the South Block to interfere and meddle into defence matters that has serious negative impact on the moral of our armed forces.

The Government has little time to expedite procurement of arms and ammunition for the Army but it has enough has time to bend the rules for facilitating select corporate and business houses to make billions at the cost of the nation. Though we have an honest Defence Minister in A K Antony but he has no free hand in takin decisions. Antony has many unsolicited advisors on policy matters that include the likes of Salman Khursheed, Kapil Sibal and some notorious bureaucrats in the PMO.

Coming back to the situation in Kashmir, the Government is dithering on taking a firm decision on the constant firing from across the border. Diplomatically, nothing could be more disturbing than Pakistan asking the US to act as a mediator to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. Though Washington has turned down the request from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it should be an eye opener for India. Sharif should not be trusted.

~ R K Sinha