Appropos to the column, I wanted to add my point of view. Since Nehru's time it has been treated with a special care. Think of article 141 etc which forbids me as an indian to buy a property in J&K while the same token these few people can buy anything anywhere in india!! That attitude towards kashmir hasnt changed even after 56yrs! isnt that pathetic?? India is the rightful owner of the whole kashmir POK Included Period. Instead of having a plebisite on Indian J & K there should be a plebisite on POK and the response will be surprising!! Instead of going at length providing with details as to why J &K is indian I think its time for shifting the gears and asking Pakistan to surrender unconditionally the POK. Along with the 2000sq miles it sold to China. No more and nothing less of that. its definitely time to show some courage
There is a very basic difference between attitudes of Pakistan and India regarding peace and friedship.
India regards good relations with Pakistan as good and desirable for the people of India.
If you examine Pakistan's statements , you will clearly see that Pakistan regards peace with India as a blessing that it will bestow on India, if it's demands on Kashmir were met !
Now Pakistan can choke on it's anti-India hostility for next thousand years if it so desires. There is not much India can do about that.
Thank you Arvind for highlighting the truth. I don't know what the problem with the Pakis is because they don't have anything...no education, no civic sense, no morals...and then they want to take Kashmir. How on earth will they manage Kashmir. They can't manage their own territory at the moment so they better forget about J&K. I have a few friends who are Pakis, and the educated ones are relatively moderate. I think we should encourage such moderate folks in our country too, and help them be the voice of Muslims in our nation.
The author has written up a really nice article. I hope to see many more such 'educative' articles in the future. The references to history rather than simply arguing that 'India need not do this or that' was really good, something many other articles lack.
I made this point in response to your piece yesterday. If the facts you have stated are known to our leaders and MEA mandarins, why do they not make big noises? Why is Paki propaganda so successful? Why is our cause so poorly articulated? Why is our cause so poorly promoted? How can the Pakis get away with malicious propaganda and violent acts? Why in the name of God do we continue to suffer these indignities? The blame lies on our side. We should have the spine to put an end to this. Which other country on the face of this earth will allow its neighbour to commit endless acts of terrorism against its citizens? Why do we not do the same thing to Pakistan? Because we know they will not take it lying down. Then why do we take it lying down??? Our authorities are thoroughly incompetent. The reason they represent us is because we are thoroughly incompetent. You must therefore focus not on the Pakis, but on our failures. We will never be safe till we rise in stature and competence as a people. Only then will we elect responsible and competent leaders who will take national interests seriously. Please do not blame the Pakis for taking advantage of us. It serves nobody's purpose.
This article "Pakistan's half-truth and lies" clearly shows wicked nature of Pakistan rulers. The author as clearly documented the facts along with proofs. Hats of Arvind Lavakare. Great Work. Please keep articles (eye openers) like this coming. I hope if not all atleast few Pakistanis will read this and know what their rulers have been doing since 1947 and the injustice done to Kashmiris and India.
Mr. Arvind Lavakare has rightly stated that peace with Pakistan is impossible to achieve as the establishment there would never change its stand on J&K. What is the option with India? International pressure,...give up its authority on J&K .. or, the ultimate-war. The last one seems to be the best solution as the durability of the effect of first two is doubtful. Some politicians will always play to the gallery but we can hope that reality is not lost on our leaders who matter.
