Indeed, India handed over Pakistan
a diplomatic victory by sending two cabinet ministers for the ground laying
ceremony. Pakistan rightly used this occasion to publicise this issue in
portraying itself as peace mongering nation. With right PR and objectively
choosing the propagandists/Pakistani leaning journalists from Indian media,
Islamabad diligently enhanced the global visibility of the event. Taking cues
from India’s tacit approval as a green signal for dialogue, Pakistan foreign
office announced that it would invite India for SAARC summit at Islamabad.
SAARC summit of Islamabad 2016 was stalled after India refused to participate
after Pakistani trained terrorists attacked Indian military base at Uri killing
18 security personnel. Soon, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka backed down. The
meet stood cancelled.
Following reports of Pakistani
invitation for SAARC, India called bluff of Islamabad’s posturing and PR
stating, “India is not a special invitee that Pakistan has the discretion to
invite us. India is integral to SAARC”.
Sushma
Swaraj clarified, “For many years the Indian government has been
asking for Kartarpur corridor, only now Pakistan responded positively. It
doesn’t mean the bilateral dialogue will start because of this, terror and
talks can’t go together. The moment Pakistan stops terrorist activities in
India, dialogue can start. But the dialogue is not connected with only
Kartarpur corridor”.
At the ground-breaking ceremony in
Pakistan on November 28th, Congress leader Sidhu who went on a
personal capacity hogged the limelight for his effortless ease in praising the
Pakistani leadership. He went overboard saying, “there are tremendous
possibilities in this corridor, only a political will was required which has
been shown by an angel (Imran Khan) across the border and as well as government
here”. Back in India, Congress missed no opportunity in complimenting Sidhu
for his pioneering efforts in making the Kartarpur corridor proposal a reality.
Known for his eccentricities, in a public meeting at the ceremony, Sidhu made
deliberate references to Rafale deal. Soon, Imran Khan used this occasion to
rake up Kashmir issue. Irresponsible, immature and irrelevant remarks of Khan
attested his stature of puppet of Pakistan military.
Later MEA issued a statement
objecting Khan’s reference to Kashmir “It is deeply regrettable that the Prime
Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise
the long pending demand of the Sikh community to develop Kartarpur corridor by
making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and
inalienable part of India”. With these unwarranted references, Khan has
unwittingly unravelled the nefarious intentions of Pakistan in accepting
India’s request for opening Kartarpur Sahib shrine for Sikh pilgrims. By
ridiculing India and Prime Minister Modi, Khan has made a spectacle out of the
issue which is supposed to foster good will and friendship between both
nations.
The presence of Pakistan army chief
Qamar Bajwa at the ground laying ceremony underlined the centrality of
military’s role in the entire game plan. Khalistani leader in Pakistan, Gopal
Chawla, a close aid of Hafiz Saeed mastermind of 26/11 attended the event and
posed with Sidhu. Sidhu’s unusual bonhomie and servility in Pakistan sparked a
massive outrage. Following intense backlash from media, Congress which has
earlier backed Sidhu eventually distanced from his comments. Coming under
intense fire, Sidhu
in an interview claimed that Congress high command, Rahul Gandhi and
Ahmed Patel have arranged a special flight for him to Pakistan. Connecting
these dots, it is now amply clear at the behest of Congress party, Sidhu has
been throwing barbs at Modi and even raked Rafale issue.
In 2015 Mani
Shankar Aiyar on his visit to Pakistan at a panel discussion in
Pakistani Channel responding to a question on impasse between both countries
said, “The first and foremost thing is to remove Modi. Only then talks can
move forward. We have to wait for four more years. They (panellists) are all
optimist and that they can move forward when Modi Sahab is there, but I don’t
think so”. Aiyar’s remarks and efforts to seek support from Pakistan to
remove Modi created a furore. Though Congress dismissed the issue, the event
left a trail of doubt. Since September Pakistan has been backing Rahul Gandhi
for the prime ministerial post of India openly on twitter. A month of this
campaign, BJP IT cell alleged that
Congress parties has launched a “Desh
Bachao and Modi hatao” facebook ads campaign in Pakistan and
soliciting Pakistan’s support. Now
Sidhu’s open admission suffice to say that Congress is seeking help of
Pakistani establishment to topple Modi government. Congress party’s brazen
politicking with enemy state known for its anti-India agenda casts serious
doubts on its credentials and commitment towards nation’s interests. Before
Congress’s intention be given a benefit of doubt, Pakistan foreign minister
Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s boastful statement “Imran Khan’s googly has forced
the Indian government to send its ministers across the border” at Khan’s
100-day celebration into power surmises that Kartarpur corridor was a bait.
In 2010, Chairman of the Pakistan
Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman, Sayed Asif Hashmi offered to complete
all modalities for construction of Kartarpur corridor but the Congress party
which is in power didn’t respond. Even in May 2017, the parliamentary committee
on external affairs ruled out any agreement on Kartarpur. But undeniably, this
time around Pakistani leadership and military threw entire weight around the
Kartarpur issue since engagement with India has become a “requirement”. They
created buzz in the media with trusted emissaries and loyal propaganda
machinery. India blissfully unaware of Pakistan’s treacherous plot had bit the
bullet.
Pakistan is a habitual offender and
India must be extremely cautious in handling this entire issue. People to
people interaction and exchange is going on for several years through the
Lahore bus services and special permits to PoK. With opening of Kartarpur
corridor Punjab will be perilously close to becoming a strategically vulnerable
region. Pakistan’s posturing and real intentions are crystal clear. By allowing
visa-free access of Indian citizens to Kartarpur Gurudwara, Pakistan is eyeing
the possibility of resumption of comprehensive bilateral dialogue with India
and burnish its image as a “responsible country”.
The proposal for construction and
developing Kartarpur corridor is truly an event of celebration given it
religious significance to Sikh community and the landmark decision must be
hailed. But Pakistan which is known for its vicious hatred towards India is
leveraging this emotive issue to signal dawn of “thaw in relations” to global
community. For decades, ISI has been supporting, funding and assisting the
Khalistani movement to wean Sikh community from India. While the phenomenal
sacrifices of Sikhs and their valiant contributions towards India’s
development, progress and nation building remain unparalleled, Pakistan is
trying to stoke secessionist tendencies. Indeed, Pakistan makes no bones about
its intention of reviving Sikh militancy. ISI which manages the Sikh shrines is
innocuously turning these places into active grounds for Khalistani propaganda.
Modi government’s is facing ire of strategists for
sacrificing the strategic security in lieu of electoral gains. Pakistan for all
its grand standing of rapprochement with India through religious diplomacy high
on perception, is exceedingly short of action. There is not even a shred of
evidence to show any change in its policy towards India. It continues to be a
safe haven of terror elements. It hasn’t abandoned proxy war, the intrinsic
component of its strategic doctrine. On the 10th anniversary of
26/11 Pakistan proudly announced its role in bloody massacre. Govt officials
shared stage with terrorists. Pakistan hasn’t brought terror masterminds to
justice. There is no evidence of any change in Pakistan’s discourse towards
India to bring about transformation in its relations. Essentially it turns out
that Karatpur corridor is yet another contraption in the treacherous plan of
bleeding India by thousand cuts. After reckless unleashing of its strategic
assets, militant outfits, Pakistan is now resorting to this seemingly innocuous
religious diplomacy. Husain Haqqani former Pakistani ambassador to US
postulated that ideological pillars of Pakistan are Islamism and
anti-Indianism. While liberal brigade might continue to expound the potential
of religious diplomacy pragmatism dictates caution.
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