Monday, June 10 2002
War vs. Peace - Which One to Opt For?
- Zahra JamshedZahra is working as a project manager with a consulting firm in NY City. Zahra says, "I am forced to pen a few thoughts in the wake of the current tension between India and Pakistan. Fortunately, I never saw a war between these two countries in my lifetime. The current picture is too bleak for an optimist like me. So, here are some ramblings."
"
|
|
First of all, each war has to have a definitive objective. In the current fiasco between India and Pakistan, that objective is somewhere lost. Putting Lahore or Karachi in jeopardy for Kashmir which is in a disputed territory makes no sense to me. Similarly, having Dilli or Bombay, nuked for Jammu Kashmir, is absurd.
Ok, next stage is, what's the criteria for winning ? Whoever wins(whatever it means)will have dead/mutilated bodies or remains all over the place. The governments on both sides will end up spending more money in burying those bodies and cleaning up afterwards. Should not both countries invest that money on their respective infrastructure for the good of their people? Isn't that what South Asia needs at the moment?
The armed forces on both sides are on high alert and ready to give up their lives. Their families are on equal high emotional alert. Well, that's part of being human, you are linked to other human beings. The wives of the soldiers on both sides must have accepted the notion of widowhood. The parents of those soldiers must have accepted the loss of their sons. The children of those soldiers must have worn the orphan caps. They all must have accepted something that can be stopped from happening. Who will support these families going forward? Is this fair to deprive those families of their breadwinners? For what?
War is madness. Look at Afghanistan, what happened there ? How many people died by mistake? What is left there? Ruins. I would hate to see Pakistan rot like Afghanistan. I would hate to see my hometown, Lahore and its infrastructure disturbed in anyway or shape.
How Can the International Community Assist?
Kashmir has always been an issue. Despite all the wisdom, knowledge and technological advancement, South Asia could not resolve the Kashmir Issue. It's like a mathematical problem with multiple answers. In my view, the world ought to advertise an award for the resolution of this hovering issue. A committee should be created with a good representation from all over the world, including both India and Pakistan. The committee should select the five best recommendations and run them by the leaders from both sides. The team must spend equal amount of time both in Chitral, Pakistan and Poona, India to select the best option out of the five suggestions. At the end of the decision, the international community must get a signed agreement from both sides.
 View and Post comment on this article
The contents of the article are Copyright © of the author and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the author.
|
