by Brig Arun Bajpai

On 29 May 2018, Pakistani Army Director General of Military Operations on his own vocation rang up his Indian Army counterpart and expressed the desire of Pakistani Army to follow the 2003 cease fire in letter and spirit, all along the 778 km long LOC in Kashmir and the international border. India as is our habit agreed to this Pakistani Army proposal, well knowing that this rogue country Army should never be believed. On Saturday night at 2 AM on 02 June, Pakistani Rangers opened heavy fire making 10 BSF posts as targets in Kathua, Sambha and Jammu Sector in which 2 BSF constables were martyred. Number of civilians in the surrounding villages were also injured. The big question is that when will our Netas learn never to believe any commitments of Pakistani Army.

In last few months, due this proclivity of Pakistani Army to open fire along LOC and IB at its whims and fancies, India has lost 40 people as dead out of whom 20 are the solders of Army and BSF who had got martyred. In addition thousands of civilians living in Sambha, Jammu and Kathua sectors have been forced to abandon their homes near border and fall back to safer places. Big question is that not one but in so many occasions, Pakistan has broken its commitments, so why do we at all believe this country. Just a few days back in Jammu Sector Pakistani Rangers approached BSF for cease fire, calling it enough is enough. BSF agreed and was announcing it from roof tops that Pakistan has called for a cease fire. Within two days Pakistani Rangers resumed firing with full gusto.

Time has come for India to come out of its age old concept that since neighbours cannot be changed so we have to suffer Pakistan and that one day its leaders will get sanity and then things will be ok. Agreed that neighbours cannot be changed but then definitely they can be broken? Actually this is what Pakistan has been trying in Indian context since last 70 years but failed. However in India due to its Mobocracy and not democracy, because in democracy Netas and Babus hear what people have to say, there is no consistency in policy against Pakistan. Netas from different ruling political parties follow policies as they deem fit with no advice taken from Army or Para military forces, the people on the spot. That is why in midst of operation ALL OUT when you were gaining upper hand, suddenly Ramzan Cease Fire gets declared ,as has happened now, handing over initiative in plate to Pakistan and its sponsored jihadists. Funniest part is that India a secular country is declaring Ramzan cease fire while Pakistan a Muslim country and its sponsored jihadists who are radical Muslims are not accepting it or following the tenets of holy Ramzan. India continues to bestow on Pakistan in trade, most favoured nation status while Pakistan does not do so. Trains run between India and Pakistan when Pakistan does not give transit write to Indian goods going to Afghanistan. What policy is this?

Time has come for Indian political masters to work out a long term Pakistan policy in consultation with all the opposition parties, so that let any government of any party come and go, our Pakistan policy is not changed. India must treat Pakistan as an enemy state and frame all its rules and regulations accordingly. India must go all out to support the unrest and insurgencies in Gilgit Baltistan, Baluchistan and in portions of Sindh in Pakistan on the same concept of moral and political support, which Pakistan says it is giving to Kashmir Valley people. Instead of reacting to Pakistani cross border firing let us be proactive. Bombard them at will and at random hours. No flag meetings or border talks. Let the guns speak. Yes lot of ammunition will be required but Indian economy will be able to afford it Pakistan economy will not. In the final analysis need of the hour is to be proactive and not reactive.

Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same