Sikh Genocide in India And Beyond

By Jaspreet
ZoneAsia-Pk

If you want to see what happened to Buddhism, just check out what has been happening to Sikhism. Legally Sikhs do not exist in India but are just Hindus. Sikhs refused to sign the Indian constitution due to that. Sikhs were declared a criminal tribe as soon as the British left. In the 80s and 90s, hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were slaughtered, mainly the Amritdharis.

So it became very scary to be a Sikh.

Then all this preaching by people like the RSS started, to declare Sikhism a part of Hinduism. They don’t just go preach, they also commission art showing the Sikh Gurus to be Hindu gods basically and have written all sorts of books to distort Sikh history.

Basically famous Sikhs like Banda Singh Bahadur have their names changed and are described as Hindus. Even Maharaja Ranjit Singh is said to be a Hindu by these people.

Though there is a Sikh PM, he was appointed. He is a guy who worships penises at Hindu temples but cannot tell France to listen to the UN and let Sikhs wear turbans. He also works with and has promoted killers who led mobs that went around burning Sikh temples and killing, maiming, and raping any Sikhs they could hunt down in their homes, in their vehicles, on public transportation, hiding in the Gurdwaras, or anywhere else. When Sikhs in other places protest against his genocidal MPS and ministers, the bastard hates it.

He feels Canada can be bullied as India successfully carried out a plane bombing and got it blamed on Sikhs (a plane whose pilots were Sikhs and most of the passengers on it were Sikhs too). So this so-called Sikh,Manmohan the coward and rat, had the audacity to throw his weight around against Canada and say Canadian Sikhs are causing problems (though the police in Punjab denied it and so did CSIS). Since then, he and his government have said it lots of times, so much so that the Canadian politicians seem to have gotten sick and tired of it and have said Sikhs have the right to freedom of expression in Canada and can campaign for a separate Sikh state if they wish as long as it is peacefully done in response to India’s demands though they did not want to say anything initially.

It is just not good for trade but the Indian are just so ***, obnoxious that they never know when to quit. The immigration minister a few months ago even told them there is nothing wrong with advocating Khalistan if it is done peacefully after they asked him to start deporting Sikhs who are Indian nationals in Canada if they campaign for a separate Sikh state. Anyway, their formula for trying to get rid of Sikhs ranges from genocide and all out murder, killings of Amritdharis, art, books, movies (Bollywood plays a role in the ethnocide and ridicule of Sikhs in a big way), and there is financial suppression too. As well, many of our religious leaders are puppets of India through fear and greed.

A lot of the Sikhs killed in the name of terrorism dominated certain industries according to Kushwant Singh in his book “The End of India.” The end result is this, people of Sikh origins who come from India are surprised to see all these people of Sikh origins practicing Sikhism and Sikhism flourishing in places like Canada where the state does not repress it.

Well, it seems like some of the ancient Buddhists were glad when invaders came according to Hindus. I for one am a Sikh who would be very happy if China were to conquer India.The way it kills and maligns those who are not of the majority, well I don’t wish it well trust me.

Area 14/8: Who will provide affirmative action in India?

Area 14/8

Consumed with weapon purchases, maritime capabilities and external threats from China and Pakistan, India has it seems neglected to peek at the state of affairs within its own boundaries. In the past few months, multiple incidents infringing the right of freedom of speech have occurred which has prompted writer Salman Rushdie to smear India with his “cultural emergency” allegation.

Although Rushdie’s credibility is uncertain and his agenda equally debatable, his accusation rings of the truth. India’s cultural intellect, its writers, poets, film makers and artists are being censured if their opinion and expression does not conform to the mainstream perceptions of India. Recently, a Tamil film called Vishwaroopam was condemned by Muslim religious groups in Tamil Nadu since it projected Muslims in a negative light. The government decided to ban the release of the film claiming that they lacked sufficient police forces to monitor all cinema houses for riots. Vishwaroopam’s producer, Kamal Haasan was so disillusioned that he threatened to leave India for a secular state abroad. Eventually, he agreed to cut some scenes from the film.

Elsewhere, renowned sociologist, Ashis Nandy, was attacked for insulting unprivileged classes by drawing links between corruption and “other backward classes, scheduled casters and scheduled tribes” at the Jaipur Literary Festival. A case was registered against him by Rajpal Meena, Chairperson of the SC/ST Rajasthan Manch, and subsequently, he was charged with the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

The controversial Salman Rushdie also made headlines when he accused the West Bengal government of deliberately hatching a plan to prevent his participation in Kolkata Literary Meet for the promotion of his new novel, “Midnight’s Children”. Even last year, protests and death threats had compelled him to cancel his visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival.

There are many other instances where unconventional news or statements have been targeted. India ranked a shocking 140th out of 179 countries on the Press Freedom index, issued by Reporters Without Borders. Reporter Soorinje would attest to this fact. He was arrested for multiples offences including criminal conspiracy, rioting with deadly weapons and using criminal force on a woman with the intention of outraging her modesty. Soorinje’s report on an attack on a birthday celebration involving Muslims at a homestay in Mangalore had held right wing extremists Hindu Jagarana Vedike responsible. Similarly, two women were arrested in last November when they Facebook comments offended followers of Bal Thackeray.

India should not be singled out for rising social discontent over freedom of speech. There are many such cases present in modernized societies too. The real issue concerning India is why the government chooses to be a part of this oppression? This is the government which likes to highlight itself as a democratic pluralistic nation where people of different religions, ethnicities, races and social statuses reside in harmony.

The government uses the maintenance of law and order as a justification for its extreme measures. But is law and order code for protecting parties’ mandate? In West Bengal similar to Tamil Nadu, people believed extreme steps were taken by the government to prevent any ill-will with Muslim voters. Are these infringements on the freedom of speech a political game only? Politicians may indeed be using cultural intellectuals as easy targets to keep the public distracted from pressing issues like poverty and unemployment.

It may not be just that the government is afraid of extremists; it may even share the same sentiments. Many state officials include hardliners like members of the Bharatiya Janata Party( BJP) sparking suspicions about state-sponsored terrorism. India’s Home Minister admitted to the involvement of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP in promoting terrorism within the country and placing the blame on minority communities. Just recently, BJP was very vocal in banning Pakistani writers from attending a literary festival in India.

Freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Indian Constitution under Article 19. However, this freedom is subject to certain limitations such as “public order”, “decency or morality” and “security of the State”. The Supreme Court seems to be maintaining a low profile in controlling the government’s outbursts of actions. In Nandy’s case,for example, it stayed the arrest but also supported the state’s response saying that an “idea” is capable of inflicting harm.

Indian has failed to implement affirmative action. Since the government is not longer impartial, it is now up to the masses to reclaim their right to the freedom of speech.

Integrating Kashmir

By Nida Afaque
FOR PAKISTAN

Being celebrated since 1990, Kashmir Day reminds people all over the world about the violence in a disputed segment of India and Pakistan which has claimed and continues to claim thousands of lives. Atrocities and violence from both sides have resulted in the loss of lives of approximately 93,714 Kashmiris in the last 20 years. Children have lost their parents and siblings to target killings, rape and inhumane laws imposed by the Indian government in Kashmir. The place that was once quoted by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to be “Heaven on earth” is today the most militarized area in the world with a 1:17 soldier to civilian ratio. Ill will, mistrust and conspiracies have complicated the relationship between Pakistan and India. Both point fingers at each other. But how far is Pakistan really concerned with the issue of Kashmir?

So far, Pakistan has passed resolutions, formed committees, hosted conferences, appealed to the international community but how far do these sentiments reflect the public opinion? Kashmir Day for many of us is the much welcomed holiday which we get to relax in the middle of the week; but a small number of people in north of Pakistan hold protests against Indian atrocities in IHK (Indian-Held-Kashmir). From the very beginning in schools, children are taught about the geography of their country with the area of Kashmir shown in an unclear and confused state. Textbooks would explain the provincial dresses, languages and customs but hardly ever of Kashmir. How many of us are acquainted with the local cuisines, traditional dresses? Do we know that many languages such as Pahari-Potwari, Kashmiri, Gojri, Punjabi and Pashto are spoken in Kashmir? What do we know about their literary figures, sufi saints and public representatives? Inadvertently, children do not develop an association with their Kashmir brothers. In the media too, Kashmiri culture and customs are hardly promoted. Tourism has indeed suffered here due to the conflict between the two countries. But compared to India, Pakistan has done a poor job in promoting and facilitating tourism in Kashmir.

This year too Kashmir Day was observed through a variety of activities. Pakistan’s rulers and senior politicians expressed their solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers. They reiterated their support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination and urged for international community’s help to find a solution to end this conflict. Kashmiri martyrs were honored for their sacrifices at the Kashmir Convention in Islamabad. Cultural performances were organized by different art councils while Kashmiri art and paintings were showcased at galleries. Rallies and demonstrations in various cities of Pakistan were organized. Similar activities were held all across the world to pledge support for the Kashmiri cause.

Unfortunately most of this excitement lasts for a day. As the clock strikes twelve, Kashmir’s fairy god mother’s magic withers away; husbands prepare for a busy work day, house-wives return to their gossips, students go back to studying for their exams, politicians fall back into petty bickering, TV channels lose their somberness for spicy scandals. What benefit did the activities of this special day render to the Kashmir cause? As the nation takes a day off, all business activities are halted. Is Pakistan in a position to bear the loss of another day’s earning? In his article, Mukhtar Butt offered a very practical and noble way to contribute to the Kashmir cause. He proposes working overtime, even as little as an hour, without charges on this day so that we can have a surplus of 180 billion working hours. This collective spirit to improve our country’s conditions can in the longer run have a more tangible effect on our efforts to improve conditions in Kashmir.

For Kashmiris fighting a seemingly never-ending battle, one day of concern out of 365 days is pathetic. But these rallies, posters, cultural events and speeches can be consolidated if they are backed with heart-felt sentiments and determination. After twenty two years of observing this day, let the next year be different; let us promise to include Kashmiris in our lives, consider their input in our nation’s development, provide them with even better opportunities to be productive citizens of Pakistan, allocate even more resources for their socio-economic development and show the world that Kashmir is integral to the identity of Pakistan.

Rev. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi

Written by BALDEV SINGH
ZoneAsia-Pk

Dear Oprah,

I am writing this letter because I think of you as an enlightened person. This letter is about the statements you made during the show you dedicated to the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. During that show, you compared Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King with Mahatma Gandhi.

In one of your statement you said something like “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s sacrifice.” Oprah, what about those countless unknown and unsung heroes, who preceded Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. They too suffered hardships and sacrificed their lives for freedom and justice for the black people. As a matter of fact, black people revolted against slavery and started struggling for freedom the moment they were captured in Africa and the chains of slavery were put around their necks. Since that moment black people have expressed their suffering, sorrow, helplessness and burning desire for freedom and justice through their songs. That is the reason why black people have contributed so much for the creation and development of new music.

The mentality or thinking, which was responsible for slavery, made it sure that the history of slavery and their struggle for freedom and justice is not known to the world. And if this story has to be told, then it must be told the way that “mentality” wants it to be told. There are people even today who think that slavery was benign and slaves were happy and contented with their situation. These people also justify colonial rule by saying, “It was necessary to civilize the uncivilized.” On the contrary, it is our conviction that a civilized man doesn’t deny another man’s humanity. He doesn’t enslave another man or subjugates another man in any form or manner- politically, economically, socially and religiously.

Deliberate efforts have been made to blot out the history of slavery and black peoples’ struggle for freedom and their contribution to human society in all walks of life. For instance, you go to any major city in the USA, you find all sorts of museums, but you don’t find the one about slavery. The US Congress was very enthusiastic about Jewish holocaust museum in Washington D. C. However, the same Congress has been unwilling so far to establish a museum about slavery. Moreover, what about a holocaust museum of native Americans, the Indians? Whereas Jewish holocaust took place in Europe, the slavery of blacks and the genocide of the native people took place in the USA. I leave it for you to draw your own conclusion. However, I believe that it takes moral courage to look into the eyes of evil and not just empty moral rhetoric.

The emergence of independent Africa had a major positive impact on the “black civil rights movement” in the United States and the anti apartheid movement in South Africa. It boosted the morale of these movements and brought worldwide recognition to Dr. Martin Luther King and Mr. Nelson Mandela. That’s why, who knows how many “great men” were lynched in the United States and how many were tortured to death in solitary cells in South Africa before Dr. Martin Luther King and Mr. Nelson Mandela, respectively.

During that show, you compared Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King with Mahatma Gandhi. I think your information about Mahatma Gandhi is probably based on the writings of European and Hindu “myth makers” (historians). Had you known the truth about Mahatma Gandhi, you wouldn’t have said that Dr. Martin Luther King was following the policy of the great Mahatma Gandhi.

I think it is disgraceful to compare Dr. Martin Luther King with Mahatma Gandhi. For example, whereas Dr. King represented the aspirations of all black people, Mahatma Gandhi represented the interest of only high caste Hindus who constituted 10-12% of the Indian population. Whereas Dr. King appealed to all Americans to rise above their prejudices of race, religion and gender to form a just society, Mahatma Gandhi was the mastermind behind the partition of India into two nations, one Hindu and the other Muslim. Here are some facts about Mahatma Gandhi.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the state of Gujrat in Baniya caste whose occupation is business. After obtaining a law degree from England he returned to India. However, after a short stay he decided to move to South Africa where he thought he could make more money. A large number of Indians from Gujrat State were brought to South Africa as indentured servants. Being a caste conscious Hindu, he looked down upon the natives. He used to say:

I can see why a white man discriminates against an African, but why against us. We Indians have the same values, the white man has.

Besides his law practice he worked for the British army recruiting Indians during the Boer War and the Zulu rebellion. He was the commander of an ambulance corps made up of Indians.

The Bolshevik revolution of 1914 in Russia inspired worldwide nationalist movements against colonialism and dictatorships. To sabotage Indian national movement, the British colonists brought Gandhi to India. What the “myth makers” don’t tell is that the Indian National Congress Party, which was later controlled by Gandhi was set up under the patronage of the British Government and it was dominated by high caste Hindus, who constituted only 10-12% of the Indian population. Anybody who was considered a threat to the interest of the British or high caste Hindus was thrown out of the party. The high caste Hindus, who had control over the Indian economy, also wanted to usurp political power after the departure of the British. But there was one formidable obstacle in their path to achieve this objective. And that obstacle was the Muslim majority states of Punjab, Bengal, Sindh, Blouchistan and Northwest Frontier.

To exclude these Muslim dominant states from the Indian union, the Hindu leaders of Congress Party headed by Gandhi started making provocative statements to instill doubt and fear in the minds of Muslim population that their future in independent India under the control of Hindu majority was not safe. Muslim leaders started asking for constitutional guarantees to safeguard their future, which the Hindu leaders were not willing to provide.

Frustrated, Muslim leaders asked for partition of the country to create a Muslim state. They did not see the trap that “high caste Hindus” had laid for them. They fell into that trap without realizing the impact their demand would have on the future generations of people of the Indian subcontinent. The stage was set for the partition of India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Gandhi and his associates congratulated each other for accomplishing their objective while holding Muslims responsible for the partition of the country. This is the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi for which future generations of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis would pay dearly, God knows for how long!

The cruel and deceitful nature of Gandhi was revealed when he counseled Hindu and Sikh refugees, who came to see him in April 1947, after they were driven out of their homes following a terrible massacre of Hindus and Sikhs in the Ravalpindi area of Punjab. Gandhi asked them to go back to their homes, as he exhorted them that he wouldn’t accept the partition of the country. He kept repeating like a parrot, “I won’t allow the partition of the country. The country would be partitioned only over my dead body.” You can imagine the level of his depravity, because his Congress Party had already accepted with his blessing the partition of the country as a condition for Independence. And a few months later on August 15, 1947 the Indian union was divided in two nations, one Muslim and the other Hindu.

The claim that Gandhi won freedom for India peacefully without shedding a drop of blood is the biggest fabricated lie of the 20th century.

Up to the start of World War II, the British government categorically rejected the demand for the independence of India in the immediate future. However, the situation changed dramatically after the war. The war was so devastating to the British power that their government found it impossible to build the infra structure and economy of the homeland while coping with the growing national liberation movements in the colonies. The British government wisely decided to grant freedom to its colonies.

It wasn’t Gandhi’s movement which drove the British out of India, it was the impact of second world war, which made it impossible for the British to hold on to their Empire. Shortly after the independence of India, other colonies in Asia, Africa and Caribbean gained their independence peacefully. So what is so unique about India’s independence? Had there been no World War II, India would still be a British colony!

The other story that the “myth makers” do not tell is that the Independence of India was marked by one of the greatest upheavals of the 20th century. Two Indian states, Punjab and Bengal, were partitioned at the time of independence causing untold suffering and loss of life and property. In Punjab almost all the Hindu and Sikh population of about five millions were forced to leave their homes and properties on the Pakistan side where their ancestors had lived for hundreds of years. Similarly, about five million Muslims were forced to vacate their home and properties on the Indian side.

In the ensuing communal frenzy and carnage, may be as many as one million people perished and thousands of women were kidnapped and raped. About one third of the population of Punjab was engulfed in the inferno created by the independence of India. Of the total population of about five and half million Sikhs, about 40% were rendered homeless due to Independence. The population of Bengal was much higher than that of Punjab and you can imagine the human suffering there! The claim that Gandhi won freedom for India peacefully is a cruel joke on Punjabis and Bengalis.

To my knowledge only in two places, the United States of America and Ireland, the force of arms drove out the British colonists. Everywhere else the British freed the colonies peacefully. On what ground it is claimed that Gandhi won freedom for India peacefully without shedding a drop of blood.

The claim that Gandhi worked for the uplift of Dalits (untouchables) is also a myth.

Gandhi was a Hindu revivalist, who upheld every aspect of Hinduism including the caste system, which is the essence of Hinduism. His writings, speeches and statements confirm this.

I don’t believe the caste system to be an odious and vicious dogma. It has its limitations and defects, but there is nothing sinful about it. Harijan, 1933.

I believe in Varnashrama (caste system) which is the law of life. The law of Varna (color and / or caste) is nothing but the law of conservation of energy. Why should my son not be scavenger if I am one? Harijan, 3-6-1947.

He (Shudra, low caste) may not be called a Brahmin (uppermost caste), though he (Shudra) may have all the qualities of a Brahmin in this birth. And it is a good thing for him (Shudra) not to arrogate a Varna (caste) to which he is not born. It is a sign of true humility. Young India, 11-24-1927.

According to Hindu belief, he who practices a profession which does not belong to him by birth, does violence to himself and becomes a degraded being by not living up to the Varna (caste) of his birth. Young India, 11-14-1927.

As years go by, the conviction is daily growing upon me that Varna (caste) is the law of man’s being, and therefore, caste is necessary for Christians and Muslims as it has been necessary for Hinduism, and has been its saving grace. Speech at Trivandrum, (Collection of Speeches), Ramanath Suman (1932).

I would resist with my life the separation of “Untouchables” from the caste Hindus. The problem of the “Untouchable” community was of comparatively little importance. London Round Table Conference 1931.

I call myself a Snatana man, one who firmly believes in the caste system. Dharma Manthan, p 4.

I believe in caste division determined by birth and the very root of caste division lies in birth. Varna Vyavastha, p 76-77.

The four castes and the four stages of life are things to be attained by birth alone. Dharma Manthan, p 5.

Caste means the predetermination of a man’s profession. Caste implies that a man must practice only the profession of his ancestors for his livelihood. Varna Vyavstha, p 28, 56, 68.

Shudra only serves the higher castes as a matter of religious duty and who will never own any property. The gods will shower down flowers on him. Varna Vyavastha, p 15.

I have noticed that the very basis of our thought have been severely shaken by Western civilization which is the creation of the Satan. Dharma Manthan, p 65.

How is it possible that the Antyaja (outcastes) should have the right to enter all the existing temples? As long as the law of caste and karma has the chief place in the Hindu religion, to say that every Hindu can enter every temple is a thing that is not possible today. Gandhi Sikshan, Vol. 11, p 132.

The caste system can’t be said to be bad because it does not allow inter-dining and inter-marriages in different castes. Gandhi by Shiru, p129.

If the Shudar (low caste) leave their ancestral profession and take up others, ambition will rouse in them and their peace of mind will be spoiled. Even their family peace will be disturbed. Hind Swaraj.

The superiority of caste and race is deeply imbedded in the psyche of upper caste Hindus irrespective of their upbringing or the level of education or the place where they live. For example, in the words of a socialist leader, Madhu Limaye, “Nehru practiced both racism and casteism, despite his modern upbringing and outlook” (Telegraph, Calcutta, November 21, 1987).

In a revealing passage about his “making”, Nehru wrote, “Behind me lie somewhere in the sub-conscience, racial memories of hundred or whatever the numbers may be, generations of Brahmins. I cannot get rid of that past inheritance” (Jawaharlal Nehru, An Autobiography, (1936), Delhi, 1980, p 596.).

Sir V. S. Naipaul is a Nobel laureate in literature. His Brahmin ancestors were brought as indentured servants to Trinidad long time ago. He grew up in Trinidad and has spent most of his life in England. In his earlier work An Area of Darkness, 1964 he was unforgiving of India. Later the “Brahmin” in him stirred up and came out spewing hatred and venom. He condoned the massacre of thousands of Sikhs in June 1984, when Indira Gandhi ordered a military attack on the Golden Temple complex on the day when thousands of Sikh pilgrims had gathered there to celebrate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (A Million Mutinies Now, 1990). In 1992 he justified the destruction of a 400 hundred-year-old mosque (Babri Masjid) by Hindu mobs lead by Bhartiya Janta Party (a fascist Hindu party) because of the mistreatment of Hindus by Muslim rulers centuries back in the past. He has become the darling of Hindu fascist organizations.

Mahatma Gandhi, whose Baniya (Vaisha) caste is two steps lower than the uppermost Brahmin caste, was a vigorous defender of the caste system.

“The caste system, in my opinion, has a scientific basis. Reason does not revolt against it. It has disadvantages. ………Caste creates a social and moral restraint……I can find no reason for their (castes) abolition. To abolish caste is to demolish Hinduism. There is nothing to fight against the Varnasharma (caste system). I don’t believe the caste system to be an odious and vicious dogma. It has its limitations and defects, but there is nothing sinful about it” (Harijan, 1933).

Gandhi’s calling “Untouchables”, as Harijans is a cruel joke on the Untouchables by an insensitive and depraved man.

Harijan literally means “child of God”. However, in India this label is used for the illegitimate children of temple girls (anchoress) fathered by priests. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the leader of the Untouchables, vehemently opposed Gandhi’s use of Harijans for the Untouchables. Recently, Ms Mayawati, a leader of the Untouchables asked rhetorically, “If we are Harijans then what are the upper castes like Nehru, Gandhi and Patel? Are they bastards?”

That Gandhi was an “apostle of peace” is not true.

Gandhi was a “Hindu revivalist” and “Hindu politician” combined in one, who used nonviolence as a tool for political objectives. He used to coerce others to concede to his demands by threats of “going to fast unto death”. He was no pacifist as is shown by his stand on the issue of Kashmir.

“One naturally thought that he would offer a nonviolent solution to the Kashmir issue and raise his moral stature. But no! He proved to be a false prophet. Seervai has documented that nonviolence with him was a political weapon. (H. M. Seervai, Partition of India, Legend and Reality, Bombay, 1989, p 172-173). He sanctioned the use of armed forces and laid the foundation of Kashmir problem which continues to haunt the subcontinent till today” (Sangat Singh, The Sikhs in History, 4th ed., 2001, p 258.)

According to Seervai, in a meeting with Viceroy Lord Wavell on August 27 1946, Gandhi thumped the table and said, “If India wants bloodbath, she shall have it and that if bloodbath was necessary, it would come about in spite of nonviolence.” Wavell was dumbfounded at these words coming from the mouth of “apostle” of nonviolence.

Gandhi was a very cunning man. He was not satisfied with the title of “apostle of peace”, he also wanted to project himself as a holy man, which for a Hindu required the practice of celibacy. He was a married man and proclaimed to be celibate at a relatively young age under forty. However, he used to test his celibacy by asking young girls to lie over him to find out whether he was in full control of his sexual feelings. I leave up to psychologists and psychiatrists to analyze what was in Gandhi’s mind and what happened to the emotions of those poor girls! He was always surrounded by women.

So what is Gandhi’s legacy to mankind?

The obvious one is the partition of subcontinent into “Hindu India” and “Muslim Pakistan and Bangladesh”. These three nations are a “living hell” for minorities. For example, India which claims with pride to be the biggest democracy in the world has killed more Indians in the last fifty years than the British colonists killed in 300 years. More than 95% of those killed by Hindu governments are Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits (Untouchables). While the populations of these countries are groaning under the weight of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, ignorance and disease, India and Pakistan have built nuclear weapons. The next nuclear war will most probably be fought over the disputed territory of Kashmir in spite of the fact that neither India nor Pakistan has ever asked the Kashmiris what they want.

That Hindus are peace loving people and coexist peacefully with non-Hindus is also not true.

When Taliban destroyed Lord Buddha’s statue in Afghanistan, there were worldwide protests against this heinous crime against humanity. The most vociferous demonstrations and protests were held in India. However, how little did the Hindu mobs realize that the first damage to the statue was done by Hindu rulers of Afghanistan during the frenzy of Hindu revival? Buddhism flourished as a major religion in India for several centuries. During the Hindu revival, Buddhists were given three choices like Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition. Either convert or leave the country. Large number of Buddhists fled to neighboring countries. Those who resisted were killed, Buddhist monasteries were destroyed, monks were murdered, and nuns were raped. Buddhist literature was burned and their religious centers were converted into Hindu centers. The famous place in Bihar State where Lord Buddha is supposed to have received his light (knowledge) is still under the control of Hindus in spite of the protests of international Bhuddist community.

The “myth makers” keep repeating that Hindus have lived peacefully with Muslims, Christians and others for hundreds of years. What they don’t tell you is that during that period Muslims or the British ruled over the Indian territory. But look at the attitude of Hindus towards non-Hindus when Hindus were the rulers? During the revival of Hinduism they eradicated Buddhism from the land of its birth. All other progressive movements, which opposed the caste system were either crushed or subverted.

Immediately after independence in 1947, the so-called secular and liberal Hindu rulers lead by Jawahar Lal Nehru adopted an Indian Constitution, declaring “Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains” as Hindus with the stroke of a pen. Sikhs have been protesting against this heinous crime ever since. No Hindu leader worth the name has ever protested against this abominable injustice to the minorities. Imagine! How would the minorities react if the US Congress were to pass a law declaring all minorities as Christians?

The word Hindu is not found in any Hindu religious text or any other ancient writing. People who lived on the western side of Hindu Kush (killers of Hindus) mountains gave this name to the natives of India. The word Hindu means black, slave, robber, thief and a waylayer.

From my discussions with Americans about the caste system over the years, I have the impression that most of them think that caste system is like segregation or apartheid. Caste system may look like segregation or apartheid on the surface, but if one were to scratch the surface one would find that the Brahmnical caste system is the worst oppressive and exploitative system that exists on planet earth. Slavery and segregation in America and apartheid in South Africa have ended in a relatively short period, but the heinous caste system, which has been practiced in India for thousands of years, is still going strong. It is because the caste system was invented, taught, practiced and ordained by the Brahmnical (Hindu) religion.

Under segregation and apartheid the black people were denied their rights and had very few opportunities for advancement in comparison to white people. However, a black person under those circumstances could become a doctor, a teacher, and a minister or choose whatever occupation was available to them. Whereas the caste is stamped on you the moment you are born. There was no escape from this watertight multistory building with no stairs or ladder. You are born and die in the same caste, no matter how good or bad a person you are.

For example, a person born in a scavenger’s family would also be a scavenger in spite of his great intelligence. He couldn’t choose any other occupation. So a scavenger’s descendents remained scavengers for thousands of years. This destroyed the creativity of the Indian population. No wonder the Hindu civilization, which is as old as the Chinese civilization has made insignificant contribution to the development of human society in comparison to the Chinese civilization.

It is a mistake to think that Nazism was the product of Hitler’s sick mind. The roots of Nazism lie in the Hindu caste system. European colonists were intrigued by the Hindu caste system. They were astonished how Brahmins, who formed about 5% of India’s population, were able to exploit the rest of Indians for thousands of years by asserting their caste and racial superiority. The British used the same Brahmnical strategy, they proclaimed their racial and intellectual superiority over Indians to control their vast Empire in India. At the pinnacle of British rule, there were only about 200,000 British personnel in India. Who you think managed the Empire? They were the brown-Englishmen (subjugated Indians) who managed the Empire.

European writers like Max Muler were also fascinated by the Hindu caste system. They admired the way the Brahmins maintained the caste and racial superiority over thousands of years. Why shouldn’t the Europeans assert their racial and intellectual superiority the same way over black, brown, tan and yellow people? So people like Max Muler planted the seeds of racial superiority on the European soil. Others like him nurtured the seedlings, and the plants came into full blossom under Hitler. It is no coincidence that the Nazis used swastika, a propitious Brahmin symbol, as the emblem of the Nazi party.

I am willing to debate these issues with any one, anywhere, and on any stage.

Authors Note: An article Gandhi as a racist by Dr. Velu Anamlai (USA) published in Sikh Virsa, June 1997, was consulted for writing this letter.)

Kashmir Nuclear Scare: Myth or Muscle Fatigue

Tacstrat Analysis

Earlier this week, State Disaster Response Force officials in Indian occupied Kashmir distributed pamphlets warning citizens to make preparations for a possible nuclear attack. People were told to build bomb-proof basements and collect provisions to last them two weeks in confinement. This lengthy warning was published in the Greater Kashmir newspaper and described a possible war scene in detail. People were told to brace themselves for possible shock and to ‘expect initial disorientation as the blast wave may blow down and carry away many prominent and familiar features’. While Indian officials have called this ‘regular year-round civil defence preparedness’, and urged people not to connect it with anything else, one cannot help but speculate about the convenient timing of this ‘annual’ safety drill, which has in fact taken place for the first time.

The cross border skirmish earlier this year, has led to a staggering halt of negotiations and a perfunctory handshake on both sides that have been gritting their teeth since. The 70 year old lady’s flight into Pakistan had alarmed Indian officials who began setting up additional observation posts along the LoC. Pakistan fired across the border, and while cross border skirmishes barely make news any more, an Indian soldier with an ‘aggressive’ track record ordered a cross border attack. While the international media, as always, is wont to take an ‘unbiased’ approach to this series of attacks, several Indian newspapers have discussed the possibility and consequences of this bald provocation that led to the death of a Pakistani soldier. Two Indian soldiers were killed in a retaliatory skirmish that now appears to have escalated, as the streets of Srinagar are abuzz with rumours of a possible nuclear attack.

Indian soldiers, on many online forums, have said that even if their authorities have warned people to prepare themselves for a nuclear attack, this is purely for defensive purposes because of India’s ‘no first use’ nuclear doctrine, and Pakistan’s lack thereof.

This leads us to the question of nuclear doctrines espoused by both countries. Pakistan has stood behind its doctrine of ‘first use but last resort’, and has been severely criticised for it by western scholarship, which conveniently over looks Israel’s ‘Samson Option’. Last year President Zardari announced his inclination to sign a ‘no first use’ policy in line with India’s, while no action towards this end has been taken so far, a brief analysis of the India doctrine, which espouses the very reassuring ‘no first use’ policy, is in order.

The doctrine states that any threat of use of nuclear weapons against India shall invoke measures to counter the threat (clause 2.3a). The repeated assurance of ‘retaliation only’ does not care to expand on what constitutes these measures. Clause 2.5 states that “India will not resort to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against States which do not possess nuclear weapons, or are not aligned with nuclear weapon powers.” This clause further adds to the ambiguity ensconced in the doctrine that shrouds itself behind empty words and unspoken promises. The distinction between non-nuclear states and countries they are aligned with, in effect, places every single country on the Indian hit list. Since Germany and Japan, two non-nuclear states, are aligned with the US on many fronts (the doctrine doesn’t specify the type of alliance either), that makes them possible targets, especially if: “in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons”. Thus, if Indian soldiers (they could be infiltrators or even part of a UN deputation) are attacked with nuclear weapons in any part of the world, the ‘no first use’ policy becomes null and void. Furthermore clause 2.3a, revised in 2003 states that, “however, in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons.” Thus Blanco-ing out the ‘no first use’ for all intents and purposes.

Pakistan has justified its stance of adopting the ‘aggressive’ moral ground, by saying the ‘no first use’ policy on both sides would leave the concept of nuclear deterrence redundant and invite aggression from the Indian side. Pakistan has furthermore explained how the nuclear option will be employed once all others have been exhausted. This effectively places India and Pakistan on a level playing field.

The ‘threat’ of a Pakistani attack on Srinagar is by far the least plausible of all explanations our friends across the border have been proffering. Even less true is the statement that this is a routine safety drill. At best this can be described muscle flexing and a plea for attention in the post UN-observer mission stalemate. In terms of diplomatic progress, this might set the two countries back by two years of consistent peace talks and people-to-people contact. As the initial smokescreen of mistrust rises between the two countries, the audience can not help but wait for what will unfold next.

Pakistan in 2012: A year in review

The year 2012 was no less tumultuous for Pakistan than any other year. Starting from the Supreme Court and former premier Gilani at loggerheads to the return of Tahirul Qadri’s (untimely) arrival on the political scene, Pakistan has seen a healthy share of ups and downs this year. NATO supply routes were resumed, terrorism continued, Metro Bus project was initiated – it is difficult to remember when one event ended and the other began. For the purpose of simplification and to refresh the previous year, Spearhead Research put together a year in review, a compilation of all important news Pakistan saw.

Read more…

Ready, Steady, Go! : Re-visiting the Indo-Pak arms race

Tacstrat Analysis

In a world of shrinking economies and rising deficits, it is still interesting to see India spike its defense budget by 17%. It is reportedly investing in air, naval and ground facilities like fighter planes, aircraft carriers, missiles, sub marines and helicopters.

Indian generals would support this move for various reasons. Indigenous ordnance projects for manufacturing tanks and aircrafts have been unsuccessful causing the armed forces to rely heavily on antiquated Russian artillery and weapons. As a rising Asian power, India has to compete with neighboring powers for a share in the global market and at the same time guard itself from hostile forces. Its economy has been prospering and with a strong democratic setup, India can afford to boost its defense capabilities.

Read more…

Tacstrat: America’s Indian successor for Afghanistan

By Nida Afaque
Tacstrat Analysis

Will India decide to play a central role in Afghanistan after 2014?

As the Afghan war winds down, the focus of attention has diversified to include regional powers which will bear the partial burden of restoring stability to their Afghan neighbor. India, for one, has increased its presence in Afghanistan in social, economic and most recently, in political spheres. Under the umbrella of the War on Terror, India has had the opportunity to widen its wings into Afghanistan that had previously been restricted due to the Taliban rule. The more pressing concern is whether it will continue with the same fervor once NATO forces withdraw in 2014.

India’s foreign policy and nationalistic goals can provide a better understanding about its interests in Afghanistan. India hopes to develop into an self-sufficient nation not only capable of protecting its national interest and managing its own economy but also one that drives other economies. Furthermore, it wants to be recognized as a leading member in regional matters. Equipped with the world’s largest democracy, an expanding economy and developed military forces, India has set its eye on becoming the unrelinquished power in Asia.

With this goal in mind, it has ventured into the troubled lands of Afghanistan. Since its experience with the Taliban have not been very pleasant, India has played safe by directing majority of its involvement in the developmental sector. In the past decade, it has provided aid worth approximately $ 2 billion, thereby becoming Afghanistan’s fifth largest donor. It has made generous contributions to healthcare, food supplies and rural developmental projects. It has set up the largest children’s hospital in Kabul. Thousands of Afghan students are enrolled in Indian universities on scholarships.

To facilitate foreign return on investments, it has initiated infrastructural projects in Afghanistan. Just last month, the Indian government organized a summit to encourage local entrepreneurs to invest in Afghanistan. Up till now, Indian companies have successfully built the Delaram-Zaranj highway connecting Iran with major cities of Afghanistan and provided Kabul with non-stop supply of electricity through power lines originating from Uzbekistan. They are also constructing a government building in Kabul and the Salma hydro-electric power dam in Herat. In addition, India is making headway into the mining sector. Work has begun at the Hajigak iron-ore mines in Bamiyan and it hopes to extend it scope to the copper and gold mines too.

India has also been importing fruits from Kandahar where locals have expressed a desire for India to set up storage and processing facilities. The Preferential Trade Agreement signed in 2003 has helped to consolidate trade relations between the two nations. India hopes that one day Afghanistan would allow it to extend trade to Central Asian Republics through its territory. Greater regional associations would help in countering the vast influence of China especially in technology and manufactured goods.

India must be commended for such a well-conceived strategy of involvement for it ensured that it had the support of the government but more importantly that of the people. Recent polls have shown India’s unparalleled popularity amongst the locals (71%). This widespread support has paved the way for India to engage in political and security matters of Afghanistan with great ease. It signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in October 2011 where India pledged to enhance Afghanistan’s economic and political assets. Although India was against any involvement with the Afghan Security Forces, it has now agreed to train them on its own soil. Afghan officers receive training in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations at various regimental centers in India. So far approximately 2500 soldiers have been trained. Together with its other projects, this move shows India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s capacity building plans. At the same time, this strategic position in Afghan politics allows India to prevent Pakistan from developing an overwhelming influence in Afghanistan.

By securing a say in Afghan defense plans, India also has the chance to address its fear of radical Islamic militants, especially those who have links to the Afghan Taliban. Some of these groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Tehrik-e-Taliban use Pakistan as a safe haven. Some reports even claim that the ISI has befriended these groups to carry out its dirty work. If the Afghan Taliban patch up relations between Pakistani forces and terrorist organizations residing in Pakistan, it could result in a renewed and even more forceful attack on India specifically in Kashmir. For this reason, India may choose to build assets in Afghanistan to counter Pakistani militants. Already, there are suspicions that Afghanistan’s intelligence agencies are helping India in fueling anti-Pakistani sentiments through the Baluch rebels hiding in Afghanistan.

Over and above these incentives for engagement in Afghanistan, is the pressure from United States which is urging India to take up a greater role in the endgame. The US has tried to work with Pakistan. However, Bin Laden’s sanctuary in Abbottabad and the failure of the Pakistan army to wipe out terrorist networks in Waziristan has cracked US confidence in Pakistan. China is mostly interested in mineral extraction and Russian has generally disapproved excessive American presence in the region. The conflict over Iran’s right to a nuclear bomb rules out Iran as an ally. That leaves India.

The US is wooing India by recalling their close knit collaboration in defense and warfare. In the last 10 years, arms worth $8 billion have been sold by US to India. Furthermore, US has shown favors towards India in terms of nuclear non-proliferation. While it censured North Korea and Iran on their nuclear weapons, India launched it long range missile without any resistance.

Indian authorities have resisted adopting the position of a leader for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan with open arms. The geographical disadvantage it encounters actually gives Pakistan an edge over it. Not only does the latter share a border with Afghanistan, its citizens also share a common religion and culture with the Afghans. Thus, the materialization of India’s plans for its Afghan neighbors with a hostile Pakistan in between poses a great challenge.

As with the rest of the world, India has been affected by the global financial crisis. The rupee has declined against the dollar and investments have fallen by 41% causing deficits to increase. State institutions are plagued by corruption, the caste system is still prevalent and inequalities in income continue to rise while welfare services remain meagre causing 350 million people to be living below the poverty line. Due to these reasons, the Indian public is uncertain about the cost effectiveness of investing in Afghanistan.

India’s advancement in its relations with US could cost them regional peace. Pakistan is already antsy with India’s growing presence in Afghanistan, one wonders what it might do if India decides takes over the reins. As recent as April 2012, Pakistan launched a missile soon after India conducted a missile test. Similarly, India doesn’t want to pick a fight with China by openly aligning itself with the US. Iran is a significant supplier of India’s petroleum demands; too much allegiance to America would harm India’s economy.

In a nutshell, domestic and foreign pressures are urging India to play an active role in Afghanistan. Out of the coalition partners, only US will be retaining some training brigades after 2014. Regional powers have to step in or risk the spread of insecurity to their nations. Pakistan’s relations with America tend to oscillate whereas India has proven to be more consistent and helpful. Another point to consider is that out of all the regional powers, India has strong resources to achieve its objectives and is probably at the best possible terms with both the Afghans and the coalition partners. Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian Republics , China and Russia all carry some serious differences with either coalition partners ( mainly the US) and/or the Afghans. Although the situation with Taliban is tricky, recently the militants have warmed up to Indians and even praised their government for not buckling under US pressure. India too has relaxed its stiff stance against the Taliban when it showed willingness for an Afghan-led reconciliation process. In other words, India can easily be expected to assume a dominant role, if not command, the rehabilitation process.

Rather than showing tantrums over India, Pakistan must act reasonably. An unstable Afghanistan would be detrimental to both nations. Pakistan and India should treat this as an opportunity to set aside their differences. Afghanistan can provide trade routes to facilitate investment activities beyond South Asia. Projects like the TAPI gas pipeline project can promote interdependence and harmony in this region. If transparency and boundaries of engagement are properly designed for these projects, there is no reason for concern for the two rivals.

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader released

The man believed to be the operational head of banned organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Malik Ishaq has been released after being imprisoned at the Kot Lakh Pat jail for almost fourteen years, Geo News reported.

Speaking after his release Ishaq said that the integrity of Pakistan was dear to him and he would not let anything happen to the country.

Ishaq had been in prison since 1997 and had 44 cases ranging from murder to terrorism lodged against him. The court had acquitted him in 34 cases while granted him bail in the rest.

Head of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Maulana Muhammed Ahmed Ludhianvi along with other members greeted Malik Isaq upon his release. Speaking to Geo News, Malik Ishaq said that he was satisfied with the decision of the courts and he had nothing to do with terrorism. Ishaq added that he would continue to fight for the country and the Sahaba.

The Supreme Court’s Lahore registry on July 11 had granted bail to Malik Ishaq.

Ishaq was accused of masterminding the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 while in prison. He had appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision of the Lahore High Court which had rejected his bail plea.

The case was heard by Justice M.A. Shahid Siddiqui at the Supreme Courts Lahore registry. The defense attorney for Ishaq had said that the chargers against him could not be proven and thus the Supreme Court had approved his bail. The court had directed that he submit two separate security bonds worth Rs 500,000.

India, Pakistan talks to go ahead: Delhi

Talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will take place as planned at the end of July despite the triple blasts in Mumbai, the Indian foreign ministry said Thursday.

India has moved to curb speculation about who was behind Wednesday’s bombings, and no group has claimed responsibility, but similar incidents in the past have led to a spike in tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

New Delhi has repeatedly accused the Pakistan military and intelligence services of aiding militant groups which carry out attacks on Indian soil.”The talks are proceeding as scheduled,” foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.

“There has been a heinous terrorist attack on Mumbai and we have duly noted the message of condolence from the president and prime minister of Pakistan.”

A date has yet to be finalised for the talks in New Delhi between Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, but Prakash said it would be in the last week of July.

Plunder of India

Unknown to the world – and especially to Indians – Indian ‘citizens’ have approximately 1.4 TRILLION US dollars stashed away in foreign accounts. Wikileaks just exposed the ones in Swiss banks.

The fact remains that India suffers from the most corrupt, nepotistic and money-hungry administration ever seen in its history. The fact that Manmohan Singh jee was responsible for ending the license raj and removing bureaucratic red tape in India’s economy is being used to the hilt by Congress and its favourites. India also “lost” 462 billion US dollars, but India’s politicians and businessmen believe that India and its poor can tolerate such a loss if it benefits the rich.

India’s corruption perception index is 3.3, and India ranks number 87 in the list, showing how the people are aware of rampant corruption and that common public and political perceptions are cognizant of corrup activities, regardless of the INC or BJP being in power.

All hopes are vested with Anna Hazare and his embryonic movement, so that India’s growth and development can finally trickle down to the poorer masses who have suffered for too long.

Plunder of India.pdf
ZoneAsia-Pk

China rejects reports of presence of Chinese troops in Azad Kashmir

China today dismissed reports about the presence of its troops in Azad Kashmir, days after a top Indian commander expressed concern over the presence of Chinese military in the region as “too close for comfort”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told a media briefing here that “the reports are baseless and ridiculous.”

Lt Gen K. T. Parnaik, India’s Northern Army Commander, has said: “Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Northern Areas of Pakistan is increasing steadily… There are many people who are concerned about the fact that if there was to be hostility between us and Pakistan, what we think would be the complicity of Chinese.”

“Not only they are in the neighbourhood, but the fact that they are actually present and stationed along the LoC,” Lt Gen Parnaik said in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir last week at a seminar.

“As part of (China’s) ‘strings of pearls’ policy, Chinese footprints are too close for comfort,” Parnaik added, referring to the policy according to which China is actually securing sea lanes to the Middle East and Africa; crucial sources of raw materials – and untapped markets – for Chinese goods.

In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs has sought a report from Defence Ministry on the issue.

This is not the first time China has dismissed such reports as frivolous. Last year, China officially clarified to India that some of its personnel were indeed present in Pakistan to render flood relief assistance, amid reports by a section in the American media about the presence of large numbers of Chinese troops in Gilgit-Baltistan areas.

India has also time and again conveyed its concerns over the presence of Chinese personnel working in different projects in Azad Kashmir, claiming it was a disputed territory along with the rest of Kashmir.

The issue reportedly figured during the last December visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to New Delhi.

Fresh Indian concerns over the issue and the reported observations of the top Indian General comes ahead of the scheduled bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit at the Chinese resort of Sanya on April 13-14.

Both sides have held hectic parleys over the agenda for the Singh-Hu meeting which was expected to wide ranging, including issues such as China’s promise to address New Delhi’s concerns related to stapled visas being issued to residents of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Nuclear tension in South Asia

By Deepika Jaitley
ZoneAsia-Pk

The cold war between India and Pakistan got accentuated when it was declared by the Washington Post that Pakistan has achieved a nuclear arsenal of over a 100 warheads which has made them the 5th largest Nuclear power, ahead of both France and England. This act of proliferation came about as a result of Pakistan’s retaliation to the inclusion of India as a member of key multilateral export control regimes that allows trade in nuclear and other materials and the unsuccessful ’5th generation stealth fighter’ deal between India and United states.

The recent visit of Barack Obama to India had already got Pakistan concerned over its exclusion from the itinerary of Obama’s short tour of South Asia; even though it is considered to be a front line ally and has bore the brunt of the War on Terror in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the announcement made by the US for its support of the Indian waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australian Group (which works to reduce the spread of chemical and biological warfare) and the Wassenaar Arrangement, a joint effort by many nations to control the transfer of traditional arms and dual-use technology, has become a major cause of concern for Pakistan.

Read Complete Article Here: http://www.zoneasia-pk.com/ZoneAsia-Pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3489:nuclear-tension-in-south-asia&catid=70:free-talk&Itemid=84

Pakistan prone to Tunisia-style unrest: IFRC

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani may have confidently stated otherwise, but, according to the head of the international Red Cross federation, a Tunisia-styled social unrest is a “real probability” in Pakistan.

Food insecurity caused by the devastating floods in Pakistan could eventually lead to unrest similar to that seen in Tunisia, Tadateru Konoe, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warned on Monday

The ominous analysis comes just a day after Gilani told the media that Pakistan’s situation is very different from Tunisia and Egypt, where social uprisings have caused upheaval.

Increasing disasters and conflicts across the world and shrinking aid from traditional Western donors meant emerging economies like India, China and Brazil should play a greater role in humanitarian relief, Konoe said.

Pakistan is still reeling from the effects of floods which lashed the country six months ago that left 11 million people homeless and devastated crops sown over hundreds of thousands of hectares in the traditional food-basket regions of Sindh and Punjab.

Konoe said some agricultural areas were still submerged, and resulting price rises and growing food insecurity could be destabilising.

“If the crops may be lost for successive years, it may develop into some sort of social unrest and political turmoil. That is what the president was very much worried about,” Konoe told Reuters, referring to President Asif Ali Zardari.

“I don’t know how long they can stand this type of situation … but it may be utilised by political opponents to criticise the government, so a minor thing may become a big thing like the situation in Tunisia,” he said in an interview.

Weeks of violent protests in Tunisia over poverty, repression and corruption forced President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali out on January 14 after 23 years in power.

Pakistan is saddled with a long list of troubles, including a Taliban insurgency, rampant poverty, corruption and power cuts. Inflation is fast becoming one of the most potentially explosive problems for the government.

Konoe said Zardari had expressed concern over the problem of food insecurity while the Red Cross head was on a visit to Pakistan in October last year.

“The president of Pakistan said ‘we can manage for the time being, but if the situation continues like this, for some more time, we may enter into difficult times’. He did not specify how long they could manage,” said Konoe.

The role of emerging economies

The IFRC head said funding for disasters such as the floods in Pakistan was becoming increasingly difficult, adding that aid agencies had to find alternative sources to fund the rising number of humanitarian emergencies occurring around the world.

Konoe said emerging markets, or BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – should become part of the traditional donor community and match their increasing global diplomatic and economic influence with aid.

Excluding the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, appeals by organisations like the United Nations and the IFRC remain under-funded because of a number of factors, including global financial crisis and apprehensions over corruption.

“The BRICs are not yet coming forward in terms of providing humanitarian relief, but they should combine their economic cooperation with humanitarian aid to improve their image (as global powers),” said Konoe, a Japanese national.

“This is one thing I want to discuss with the Indian leadership when I meet them … I have discussed this briefly with China and they were just nodding like that – as a sort of gesture.”

A New Year of Familiar Surprises in South Asia

By Michael Krepon

Every new year has its share of modest surprises, but it takes big shocks to generate significant changes in national security policy. “Familiar” surprise comes with the territory in South Asia – the kind of surprise that is more a matter of timing than of content. Political machinations produce change, scandals erupt, extreme weather punishes the subcontinent and, alas, mass casualty acts of terror are likely to be front page news in 2011. We can “count” on these familiar surprises; we just don’t know the dates and particulars when these headlines will appear in our newspapers.

Strategic surprise – the kind that can change a nation’s course and outlook – is extremely rare. In India’s post-colonial history, strategic surprise has been associated with major wars, and the last major war India fought was four long decades ago. Strategic surprises have antecedents, but in the noise of everyday events, it is hard for intelligence officials and national leaders to connect the dots to anticipate them. Until major shocks happen, continuity in policy is a default condition of national capitals. India can therefore be expected to remain on a familiar course in 2011 – not just because of the absence of strategic surprises, but because New Delhi’s policy choices over the past fifteen years have produced major dividends in national security and economic growth.

Policy continuity means that Indo-U.S. relations will continue to improve in 2011, having been well cultivated by different coalition governments in New Delhi and very disparate U.S. administrations led by Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama. Complaints over Washington’s “dictation” and India’s loss of strategic autonomy will continue to be heard, but these increasingly isolated mental outposts have been swamped by a rising tide of mutual and complementary bilateral interests.

Pakistan is also likely to remain on its current course in 2011, which would mean a further weakening of national cohesion, governance, and security. Pakistan, no less than India, faces a million mutinies now, but with far less capacity than India to engage disaffected citizens. Improvements in national life require improved economic fortunes that depend, in turn, on normal relations with India, a recognition that Pakistan’s military leadership has yet to internalize.

Only those but the most obtuse now recognize that ill-fated preoccupations with Kashmir and Afghanistan have badly mortgaged Pakistan’s future. Current political contestants will continue to squabble for advantage and for the emoluments of public office, while being unable or unwilling to push for big changes that can re-gift the nation its future. Those who are best positioned to engineer a course correction — Pakistan’s military leaders – appear unwilling to do so. As India gains and Pakistan loses ground, it becomes more necessary and more difficult for Pakistan’s military establishment to change ill-advised national security policies, including a growing dependence on nuclear weapon capabilities to counter other weaknesses.

The troubled, but unavoidable U.S.-Pakistan partnership seems destined to continue to bump along in 2011. Another divorce would serve neither partner, and yet a happy marriage is simply not in the cards. Mutual grievances and distrust are overblown, but they are not complete figments of fevered imaginations. Pakistan’s national security managers, no less than India’s, are quite capable of deciding when to accept and when to resist Washington’s preferences. The heavy U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, dependent on Pakistani logistical support, has given Rawalpindi increased leverage in bilateral relations, notwithstanding growing national dependencies. Pakistan and the United States need each other, but cannot change each other. Despite many areas of contention, they have no choice but to manage their differences, which are less consequential than their mutual interests.

Afghanistan remains a long story without a happy ending. It would be very unwise to underestimate the resilience and skills of U.S. forces deployed there, but it is hard to envision an Afghan government capable of making good use of hard-won gains secured by U.S. and coalition forces in remote provinces. Washington will be hard-pressed to help engineer a political settlement satisfactory to Afghans and their neighbors during 2011.

Mass casualty acts of terrorism are likely to continue plaguing Pakistan and India in 2011. Bilateral relations will remain distant and cold until New Delhi calculates that its interests are best served by shifting gears. India recovers after suffering grievous losses from acts of terrorism directed against iconic targets. Pakistan does not recover when these attacks are traced back to its soil. A national security establishment that merely inconveniences groups and individuals that engage in mass casualty attacks winds up hurting itself more than its adversary. Judicial authorities in India as well as Pakistan have great difficulty securing convictions in high-profile cases. India has found ways and means to recover national standing from such embarrassments; Pakistan has not.

Michael Krepon is co-founder of the Stimson Center.