Sec in Southwest Asia: Indo-Pak Relations - Essay Example

?Indo-Pak Relations Introduction India and Pakistan have not had good relations since their independence in 1947. The two neighboring countries have persistently engaged in dangerous wars, three of them most prominent. The hostility between the two countries has hugely threatened the stability of South Asia based on their strong influence in the region. McLeod (2008, p.1) notes that the conflict between India and Pakistan is thought to be the most dangerous and unpredictable antagonism in international politics since the end of the Cold war. The conflict is dangerous for the two countries and its neighbors because the two warring countries have nuclear weapons capable of causing mass destruction. This requires an urgent ceasefire between the two countries to restore good relations. As earlier stated, the conflict between India and Pakistan has impacted on the entire South Asian region. The United States is one of the many countries that have been concerned with the war making it a priority agenda (Lamb 1966, p.12). For instance, during the handing over of the presidency from Clinton to George Walker Bush, the former advised Bush that the persistent antagonism between India and Pakistan needed to prioritized because of the dangers posed by the nuclear capabilities of the two countries (Misra 2010, p.32). The objective of this paper is to explore the reasons for the continued hostility between India and Pakistan relations. It will also discuss steps that can be taken to develop and sustain cordial relations between the two countries. Indo-Pak conflict has been a long-standing political conflict that began in 1947 immediately after independence (Brines 1968, p.35). The war has since persisted with the two countries being suspicious of each other. Report indicates that the two countries have fought three deadly wars since independent because of the continued friction between the two countries (Raja 2013). However, the current hostility between India and Pakistan revolves around Kashmir dispute. The war over Kashmir was fought in 1947 following a territorial dispute with both sides claiming the rightful ownership of Kashmir, a tiny populated province at the border between the two countries. The saw many people from both countries including the military lose their lives. The war ended in 1949 following a ceasefire leaving the state of Kashmir split into two with India being handed two-thirds of the eastern side of Kashmir (Sareen 2012). Pakistan, on the other hand, gained control of the remaining third of the western Kashmir. However, due to continued hostility over Kashmir, the two countries again engaged each other in war in 1965, with the war ending in a military stalemate with the division of Kashmir remaining unchanged. Ever since, there has been a disagreement over which county owns Kashmir, with both countries claiming rightful ownership. According to Pakistan, Kashmir is the “K” in Pakistan- a Muslim dominated territory that according to the two-nation theory should rightfully belong to Islam (Sareen 2012). In this regard, Pakistan claims that, as a Muslim majority in Kashmir, the territory should have rightfully formed part of Pakistan at the time of partition in 1947. Therefore, merging Kashmir with Pakistan, according to Pakistanis is termed as “unfinished business of Partition,” which they intend to ensure, becomes fulfilled (Karim 1996, p.22). Indians, on the other hand, opposes this claim arguing that their possession of Kashmir province is a clear demonstration that Muslim dominated state can exist in India. This according to Indians is a good example of how India embraces people from different faiths. As a result, Indians believe that relinquishing Kashmir territory to Pakistan will threaten Indian unity. Some Indians also believe that additional partitioning of Kashmir according to religion would not do any good, but reopen the status of Muslim as Indian citizens and remind people of the wounds caused by the partition. This struggle has been persistent with both countries claiming stress pass into Kashmir territory. India has persistently claimed that Pakistan is inducting armed mercenaries at the border. This according to India is a provocation and amounts to external aggression (Karim 1996, p.22). Pakistan, on the other hand, has constantly been claiming that Indian forces are oppressing the Muslims of Kashmir with a view of driving them away from their rightful territory. This has resulted in persistent wrangling between the two countries that threaten cause tension in South Asia. The long-standing hostility between India and Pakistan is also attributed to the growth and influence the two countries have as far as military capability is concerned (Ganguli 2009, p.8). It is noted that both India and Pakistan have build up large armies since independence. For example, the two countries are among the few South Asian countries that have developed nuclear weapons mainly for defensive purposes. For example, the military capability of Pakistan has grown that it has governed the nation for almost half of its existence, wielding enormous influence even under the civilian rule. Reports indicate that the continued arms race between the two countries has increased tension between the two countries with the potential of triggering a war (Ganguli 2009, p.8). This became apparent when both countries conducted a nuclear test in an attempt to show their military capabilities. Even though Kashmir is the main cause of the continued tension between India and Pakistan, other significant fronts of this antagonism has also been established. Most notable is the fact that Pakistanis have held that India was responsible for the loss of East Pakistan in 1971 (Altaf 2012, p.54). Reports indicate that despite there being a long-standing friction between the East and West wings of Pakistan for several decades, the conflict reached its peak in 1970 following the promulgation of a new Pakistan Constitution, which marked the first democratic election in the country. At the time, Rahman the leader of East Pakistan and Zulfikar Bhutto engaged each other on the power struggle for Prime Minister's position, leading to the declaration of independence of Easter Bengali region of the country by Rahman (Altaf 2012, p.54). India reportedly entered the conflict, supporting the creation of an Independent Bangladesh. Additionally, India went further allowing the establishment of a government in exile, in the Indian city of Calcutta as the war continued between East and West Pakistani forces. This triggered a third Indo-Pakistani civil war, which resulted in a resounding defeat of West Pakistan (Ajithkumar 2006, p.40). As a result, this kind of friction has remained as Pakistan still blame India for the establishment of an independent Bangladesh something that did not go well with Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan has continued fighting India in revenge for its involvement in the East and West power struggle and its role in the creation of Bangladesh. The continued hostility between India and Pakistan is also attributed to the hostility between Muslim league and the Indian National Congress (INC) prior to independence that has since been carried into the post-independent period. Reports indicate that the persistent friction between Muslims leaders and Indian movement is what led to the division of the nations into two for the sake of having self-rule (Ganguli 2009, p.11). In this regard, it is reported that the Muslim League was of the view that Muslims had no capacity to live in a country dominated by Hindu. As a result, it proposed Muslims of the northeast India, and the Indians, who were the majority of British India, should not be compelled to live together in one country, rather should each be given their own country. This suggestion by the Muslim League was strongly opposed by the INC, which argued that religion should not be used as a basis for creating either Hindu India or Islamic Pakistan (Altaf 2012, p.56). This form of argument has continued to exist at the minds of both Muslims and Indians. Pakistanis believe that Pakistan is a sovereign country that should remain so without interference from India leading to the conflicts being witnessed between the two nations. The continued tension between India and Pakistan is also attributed to the struggle for regional influence in South Asia, especially in Pakistan. Afghanistan is located at a strategic place for both Pakistan and India. This is particularly with regard to Indo-Pakistani conflict, where an Indo-Afghani alliance would amount to encirclement of Pakistan by hostile neighbors, making it difficult for Pakistan to defend itself. Report indicates that the creation of the Taliban power in 1996 made Pakistan have the feeling that it has acquired a neighboring Muslim ally with which to work with in establishing an Islamic regime until the terrorist attacks in September 11 on the World trade center, which forced Pakistan to switch its allegiance to Western powers. Immediately after the invasion of Afghanistan by the US-NATO alliance, India and Pakistan began competing to influence the rebuilding of the country. This has magnified the existing tension between the two countries. As a result, Pakistan is determined to prevent any Indo-Afghan cooperation. Best ways of solving the conflict The conflict between India and Pakistan is not only affecting the two countries, but also regional stability. Therefore, a peaceful solution to the problem is the way to go, according to Ajithkumar (2006, p.41). This calls for dialogue between the two countries to end wrangles between the two countries that might result in a war. The two countries should also avoid interfering with the affairs of each other as this raises tension between the two independent nations. The two countries should also avoid conducting nuclear tests as this raises tension with the potential of causing war. It is also possible that the Kashmir territorial dispute can be resolved by encouraging the residents of this province to leave in peace (Ajithkumar 2006, p.41). However, this requires the commitment of both countries to ensure that their citizens preach peace. In addition, the international community also has a responsibility of negotiating a ceasefire between the two nations, as this will help end tension between the India and Pakistan. Conclusion The Indo-Pak war threatens the stability of South area in a big way. As a result, an amicable solution is required to end the tensions between the two countries. This is because the two countries have nuclear weapons that may cause mass destruction in case of war. References Ajithkumar, M. P 2006, India-Pakistan relations: the story of a fractured fraternity. Gyan Books, Oxford, UK. Altaf, U 2012, Pakistan India relations need of CBMS and the peace process: Berkeley Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 2, Issue 5. P. 1-12. Brines, R 1968, The Indo-Pakistan Conflict, London, Pall Mall Press. Ganguli, R 2009, India, Pakistan and the Kashmir Dispute. Asian Studies Institute & Centre for Strategic Studies. P. 1-14. Karim, A 1996, Indo-Pak relations: viewpoints, 1989-1996. Lancer Publishers, New York. Lamb, A 1966, Crisis in Kashmir: 1947 to 1966. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, UK. McLeod, D 2008, India and Pakistan: friends, rivals or enemies. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, London, UK. Misra, A 2010, India-Pakistan: coming to terms. Palgrave Macmillan, London, UK. Raja, A.H 2013, “India’s history of hostility against Pakistan.” Viewed 8 May 2013 http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/03/12/indias-history-of-hostility-against-pakistan/. Sareen, S 2012, “Indo-Pak ties: Lessons of history, perils in the present.” Viewed 8 May 2013 http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-indo-pak-ties-lessons-of-history-perils-in-the-present/20120914.htm. Read More