It’s time to wake up
India’s neighbours are in a state of political turmoil and their so called democracy is in a state of chaos. India must chalk-out foreign policies in order to cushion the unforseen ramifications that the neighbouring unrest may have on us.
General Musharraf did his very best to counter Taliban-like government which was germinating at the Lal Masjid, Islamabad by ordering a military strike. But, unfortunately, this has not got down well with the radical Islamists who now regard the General as infidel and have vowed to avenge the ‘apostate’. Storming of Lal Masjid has led to a civil-war of sorts in Pakistan. General’s adamant attitude of going to elections in uniform, which he has accepted to shed only under political pressure, I reckon, has only added to his woes. ‘In the Line of Fire’, the General has made his intentions clear - he wants to steer Pakistan to democracy but only after he has done the necessary ground work. Now eight years down the line, the General claims to have laid the foundation but, unfortunately, it is now being inundated by the subverting jehadists.
General is opposed to the return of Sharif and Bhutto to Pakistan whom he has tagged as ‘corrupt’. With General himself in the ‘Line of Fire’, he is ready to contest Presidential elections and hopes to continue his ground work. Who will win the general elections to be held in November ‘07 remains a mystery; though the speculations are that PPP leader Benazir Bhutto has struck a deal with the General and she is to return to Pakistan on the 18th of October, 2007. Let’ wait and watch how the drama unfolds.
Meanwhile the radical Islamists are all set to create the necessary furore to hamper the democratic process. With violence at his hideous peak at NWFP between the Pakistan army and Taliban’s troops, restoration of democracy in Pakistan is a distant dream. Even with the General as President and PPP at the helm of state affairs, political stability cannot be assured in the country if the radical forces are not dealt with, strongly.
What I fear is, in this political mess, the jehadists may find enough room to shape their ulterior motives against US, Iran, Israel, North Africa and even India. Indian borders have proved to be porous in the past and with rising agitation in the neighbouring Pakistan infiltration may be hard to check. The government with intelligence inputs, has even declared that western coasts are unsafe and the coast guards need to exercise extra caution to thwart potential infiltration.
Neighbouring Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is also ringing chimes of trouble after Maoist leaders staged a walk-out in Parliament opposing the government’s decision not to abolish monarchy. Five Nepalese politicians were abducted yesterday and the speculations are that Maoists are involved in these kidnappings. Before the Maoists go on rampage, it is advisable that the government declares truce with the prospective perpetrators. If Nepalese government does the least to counter-act then India must frame some preventive foreign polices to thwart the Maoists from spilling over to India. The best thing to do is to seal the Indian borders to Nepal.
Bangladesh has also been in a state of political unrest of late. The government has been toppled over by the army and both the ex-prime ministers have been detained under charges of corruption. Military rule in neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh are not very good signs for India, because the military regimes may give impetus to strategic infiltration which may result in the formation of another PoK. I’ve taken this lesson from Kargil war said to be the brainchild of General Pervez Musharraf.
Maldives and Sri Lanka have also become safe havens for terrorists keen to mastermind attacks on South India. The nation is surrounded by countries which are gojng through a phase of political unrest and turmoil and are the possible breeding grounds of radicals. India needs to keep it’s ears and eyes open to potential threats if it wants to thwart another Hyderabad-like-blast in any part of India.
My advice to the government is, apart from cuddling over the 123 agreement it also needs to review it’s foreign policy in relation to it’s neighbours. After all, as a common man I’m concerned about my security; because the only valuable I posses is my family!!!
