The latest attack on one of India-Pakistan border checkpoints killing five and seriously injuring one Indian soldiers in being blamed on the third force that intends to put a spanner in an already stalled peace process between the two feuding neighbors. If one has to really find the third force in Pakistan, he/she should just drive around Karachi and other major urban centers in the country to see wall graffiti calling for jihad as the only way to punish India. Well-known religious and sectarian parties and outfits carry out these hatred campaigns to fan anti-India feelings in the country. Unfortunately, the activities of these hate mongers are not just limited to defacing the city’s walls, their comrades are active near and across the border, waiting for a green signal to start the derailment of the peace process between these two neighbors.
This dastardly attack has come at a time when both Indian and Pakistani prime ministers were scheduled to meet in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting. Obviously, all these developments are not acceptable to hawks on either side of the border. Last weekend, the attack on the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, was blamed on terrorists holed up in the lawless tribal areas. However, if the political leadership drifts, as was evident in Delhi the other day when Congress’ youth wing tried to storm the Pakistan High Commission building, then the outcome is obvious. It will be a victory for those whose sole aim is witten on Karachi’s walls — no to peace.
This is a test case for the Indian and Pakistani leadership, media and political parties as how do they deal with this third force. They need to rise above their mutual suspicion in order to nail down the third force. I hope that some better sense will prevail and both sides will not allow the peace process to be derailed. I also hope that both Nawaz Sharif and Manmohan Singh are able to rein the hostile elements preventing peace deal between India and Pakistan. — Masood Khan, Jubail
Anti-peace forces
