Category Archives: War and Peace

Significance of the bus accord

Foreign Policy of Pakistan, Kashmir, War and Peace

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The reaction to the ‘bus accord’ signed by the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan last week in Islamabad has been a mixed one. While those who staunchly support peace between the two countries have welcomed it as a fillip to the composite dialogue which can now be expected to move forward.

Others who have adopted a hard line on Kashmir feel that the decision to link Muzaffarabad and Srinagar by a bus service will be hurtful to their cause. For instance, the BJP, which started the dialogue with Pakistan and is now in the opposition, feels that the bus will allow terrorists to infiltrate the Valley.
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Learning from Hiroshima

Nuclear weapons, War and Peace

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The India-Pakistan dialogue has had many ups and downs since it was launched last year. The fact is that every time there is a “down” there are many who wait with bated breath and keep their fingers crossed.

Is there need for this over-reaction – if one may call it so? Yes, if one remembers that both India and Pakistan now have nuclear capability and could use nuclear weapons if war breaks out between them. They have threatened to do so, at least on one occasion.
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The debate must continue

Foreign Policy of Pakistan, War and Peace

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

The national debate on Kashmir which President Pervez Musharraf had called for appears to be running out of steam. Now the president, who saw light at the end of the tunnel only a few weeks ago, has been speaking of vibes that are not “encouraging” from India.

A month ago – on October 25 to be precise – the president had suggested at an Iftar party that new options be explored since the status quo in Kashmir was unacceptable. To kickstart the debate he had suggested that various regions in Kashmir be identified in terms of their local culture and demographic composition and then be demilitarized.
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Bomb & public opinion

Defence and Disarmament, War and Peace

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

As the nuclear proliferation saga unfolded in Islamabad and reached its denouement earlier this month, the government sought shelter behind the so-called public opinion in the country.

It was made out to be sacrosanct in this case which is quite intriguing since military rulers do not usually worry about mundane issues like public opinion.
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Will there be peace?

Foreign Policy of Pakistan, War and Peace

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

AS the prospects of peace in South Asia become brighter, one waits with bated breath to see the outcome of the recent initiatives in the region. There have been so many false dawns that it is difficult not to feel sceptical.

Didn’t we see the promise of peace emanating from Tashkent in 1966, Simla in 1972, Lahore in 1999 and Agra in 2001, which all came to nought? Each time we were told in a burst of euphoria that it was to be different on that occasion, only to find ourselves back to square one before long.
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