Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India following the alleged “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control (LoC), India’s Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that the entire stretch of 3,323-kilometre-long border between the two countries would be “completely sealed” by December 2018, for which a time-bound action plan would be formulated. Indian government is all set to fend off its border at the states that border Pakistan: Indian-held Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Amid growing resentment, it is good that instead of opting for warfare, India has decided to secure its own border. It is hoped that the sealing of border would result in curtailment of tension. In the wake of recent developments that include accusations of militants’ infiltration from Pakistan to India, claims of conducting surgical strikes and Pakistan’s response to the LoC violations, it had become necessary for both states to take some tangible action. And India’s announcement about sealing its border should be taken positively. It will not only help obstruct the illegal smuggling of drugs and other items but also bring to an end constant Indian claims of cross-border movement. Fending off the border is a sensible decision as it would help eliminate many blind spots along the border.
Along with taking such measures, there is a need to ease tensions at the border through meetings between Pakistan’s Rangers and India’s Border Security Forces. The leadership of both countries should resolve all bilateral issues in a civilised manner, paying heed to each other’s opinions to address grievances and seek solutions. Serious efforts must be made for re-establishment of amicable relations between Pakistan and India. A peaceful border is the need of the hour, and to this end both countries should respect each other and hold a dialogue to resolve all issues. They should join hands for developing bilateral relations, and resolving all outstanding conflicts. There are more urgent needs of the masses in both states. Among them terrorism and poverty are the biggest challenges for Pakistan and India. They need to collaborate to tackle these challenges. Pakistan and India should formalise a strategy for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir. Both the countries need to reaffirm their resolve that they will not resort to the use of force or threat of the use of force under any circumstances. They need to focus on the causes of tension and take all possible measures to avert further escalation. Serious efforts are needed by both sides to re-engage in the dialogue process. There must be an initial point to start with. Instead of getting bogged down over big disputes, both states need to first sort out smaller issues that can be resolved by applying only a little rationality. Issues like the withdrawal of forces from Siachen, Sir Creek, fishermen’s arrests and border skirmishes may lend themselves to relatively easier resolution. These are issues that can be resolved by Islamabad and New Delhi by sitting at the negotiating table even without the intervention of the UN. The only thing that the two countries need to acquire is mutual trust. Both countries need to take confidence building measures for the establishment of long lasting peace in the region. They have to talk to each other if they wish to co-exist as peaceful neighbours. So far, there are no indications that both states will be on good terms any time soon.
Unless both countries resolve their outstanding issues, they will remain entangled in problems and cannot tackle other challenges. The fact that Pakistan and India are neighbouring states cannot be wished away. Wars never solve any problems but create more. No one can afford war in today’s world. What they need to do is to develop trade and commerce and promote people to people contacts. Both the countries should tone down their recent rhetoric and focus on the resolution of conflicting issues.
Trump: an ‘unfit’ candidate
The Republican nominee in the US presidential race, Donald Trump, has managed to stir yet another controversy only five weeks before the elections. In a 2005 videotape released by media sources on Friday, Trump was heard making obscene comments about women he had repeatedly ‘forced himself upon’.
While the presidential candidate repeatedly finds himself in hot waters over some unethical remarks or, at times, loutish behaviour, the sleaziness of this episode is particularly horrifying. The video, which has captured Trump describing women in reprehensibly lewd terms, depicts his brazen nature in true hues. Trump is aspiring to represent one of the largest and most influential countries across the world while upholding extremist ideals, bigoted policies and utter indifference to anyone and everyone. Such an erratic approach would not only destruct all values of peace and social cohesion that the US society has established after struggling for decades but also set forth a universal legitimisation of ‘radical’ discourses. His derogatory attitude towards so many members of his own society in the last 15 months of his candidacy campaign should have sounded an alarm for his followers with regard to what policies he would pursue as the US president. However, all of his blatant attacks against women, immigrants, minorities and even the disabled have served to further fuel his unfaltering support amongst millions of US citizens. It is, thus, quite understandable why he feels free to say whatsoever about whomsoever in any way that pleases him. Despite heavy criticism by many politicians — Democrats and even fellow Republicans — and literally no newspaper endorsements, the fact that Trump has still managed to retain such a large following says a lot about an America’s ‘white’ identity crisis. In lieu of condemning his undiluted aggression, an average middle-class white American male endorses his attacks as someone sticking up for his cause. He wishes to join Trump in his struggle to achieve their own pride, their own sense of entitlement by isolating from all who look and sound different. And this mentality forms the basis of what has made Trump unstoppable, facilitating him to outshine as many as 16 other Republican candidates in the presidential fight.
Even if Trump considers himself to be exempted from all accountability for either his words or his actions, it is high time that his supporters and endorsers started questioning their staunch support for such a character. No country around the world would like to incessantly struggle to achieve a set of ideals, and then let it all go to waste because of a single individual. It should not be allowed to happen in spite of all grievances that an average white male US citizen might hold against women achieving greater successes than him in any walk of life or immigrants carving their own niches in the country or the disabled individuals surviving on his tax money. Even if a relatively successful businessperson blaming all ills of the US society on others might appear to be a hopeful prospect for the country’s future, presidents should still not be elected on mere wishful thinking and prejudiced claims.
