Media bytes on developments in India-Pakistan relation

Col R Hariharan

[Here is a summary of my comments to print and television media on the India-Pakistan standoff on specific issues raised by them on January 15 & 17.]

On Indian Prime Minister’s strong statement and later developments

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s statement has relevance externally to India-Pakistan relations as well as internally to the people. His demand to Pakistan for bringing to book those responsible for killing and mutilating two Indian soldiers on January 8, 20012 is a break from the past. Despite strong opposition criticism Prime Minister had always made an effort, at time bending over backwards, to ensure that peace process with Pakistan is not derailed.  He did not react sufficiently strongly against Pakistan even to the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Similarly, he also refrained from on reacting strongly two beheadings were carried out by Pakistani troops in 2011 (as stated by the Army Chief General Bikram Singh) to keep the peace process going. In fact this incident was never reported in public.

Comments on Pakistan army’s actions in J and K

By Col R Hariharan

[Here is a summary of my comments made to print media and on TV on the India-Pakistan standoff, after two Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops on 8 January 2012.]

On the killing and mutilation of soldiers

This is not the first time Pakistan army has indulged in barbaric acts like beheading captured Indian soldiers, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately, it has become a part of the Pak military culture while handling Indian soldiers taken prisoner. They had carried in such inhuman acts before. Captured soldiers were blinded and pushed back alive to the Indian lines during the 1971 War. The torture and mutilation of Lt Saurav Kalia before killing him in the Kargil War in 1999 is well documented. In 2009 they did this again; and now this is one more such gruesome incident.

Thoughts on Delhi's Public Protests

By Col. R. Hariharan

A few questions come to my mind on the way things were handled in the gang rape episode which has shaken the nation as no other crime has done:

1. What was so special about this crime that roused the nation?

2. Have the government and the Congress party learnt anything from the messy way they handled it? (This applies to other political parties as well, though what they thought did not really affect the public protest.)