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By Air Chief Marshal S.K. Kaul (Retd) appeared in "The Hindustan Times" on July 06. 1999
WARS HAVE never settled issues, particularly those of a political nature. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the last 52 years.
Yet, the Kashmir question remains unresolved. And the ongoing conflict too is unlikely to resolve it. In fact, it would delay any chance of a lasting settlement. Pakistan has chosen to ignore the sanctity of the LoC and, instead, attempted to change it physically. Like their previous three attempts, this one too will not succeed. As far as the current situation in the Kargil sector is concerned, our national interest lies in not escalating the conflict. Our current policy of not crossing the LoC is sound. Any enlargement of the engagement would require larger application of resources, both men and material. However, should the ground situation so dictate, we should not hesitate to cross the LoC.
People in India and Pakistan are, by and large, tired of the tension that has been prevailing on our borders ever since Independence. People now want peace, and instead of confrontation, they want the governments on either side of the divide to make greater efforts towards combating poverty, illiteracy and creation of job opportunities. This cannot be done in an environment of continual confrontation. People in India must appreciate the fact that the Pakistan Army still plays a major role in the power equation. If India and Pakistan are able to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully, the Pakistani Army would suffer the most. Its very raison d’etre will disappear.
The Pakistani Army has not forgotten the humiliations of 1971 and there is still a lurking desire in some quarters to avenge that defeat. If there is no Kashmir issue and India is no longer perceived as an enemy, the very size of the 0.5 million-strong Pakistani Army will be in question. It appears that it is in the interests of the Pakistani Army that the Kashmir issue is kept alive and the generals exploit it to their advantage in that country’s internal power sharing structure.If the past is any indication, the aftermath of war has always brought about political instability and turmoil in Pakistan. This time Pakistan will also have to contend with thousands of Mujahideens who could be disgruntled at having failed. It is likely that with the support of active fundamentalist elements in Pakistan, this very well armed but unruly force could create serious problems within Pakistan, threatening its very integrity. The Talibanisation of Pakistan could become a real threat to its democracy. I hope Najam Sethi’s description of Pakistan as a “failed state” does not come true.