Love Pakistan, not via TOI

I don’t want to sound like a pessimist when “the leading media groups on either side of the border have chosen to join hands in a peace initiative called Aman ki Asha”.

But, as it turns out to be, when such ‘initiatives’ hog the front page of a sheet of poor journalism/advertisements newspaper, one must react. If nothing, to put things into perspective. While I am in total agreement with the intent behind Aman ki Asha, here are a few reasons why I think a peace initiative is not the ultimate need of the hour.

1. The majority of Indians and Pakistanis already do not want war. Most bread winning citizens of either country, no matter how above or below the poverty line they may be, are perfectly aware of the implications of war. Outside of their right to practice their religious beliefs, it affects two parameters that no one can compromise on: safety and livelihood. TOI goes on to say that the poll they conducted suggests that “an overwhelming majority of Indians and Pakistanis want peace and stability”. So why have a campaign in the first place? What is the point? What is it going to achieve?

2. TOI says:

“What we need is wider and deeper engagement to tear down the walls that separate us, and clear the misconceptions we harbour about each other. There’s an unfortunate notion among some of us in India that Pakistanis rub their hands in glee every time we’re struck by terror.”

Excuse me? The average Pakistani is perfectly aware that any large scale attack on India, if proved has origins in Pakistan, will only mean a counter-attack of some sorts, covert or public, by India and her allies. Pakistan has seen more bomb blasts this year than India did in 2008. Pakistan has had more casualties in terror in this decade. Given such events, I think it’s not just inaccurate but also criminal for the ‘leading media group’ to suggest that ‘some of us in India that Pakistanis rub their hands in glee every time we’re struck by terror’, unless we’re looking to extract some political mileage or we’re simply trying to increase hatred.

3. The people who create distance between India and Pakistan do not read TOI. The people who are responsible for creating and fuelling hatred are not the elite celebrities, educated mass or the working class. They are either religious fanatics against a certain set of beliefs, or political opportunists. Anyone who has studied basic politics would realize that friendship with Pakistan will help improve Homeland Security more than violence with a nuclear neighbour.

4. I cannot trust a ‘leading English daily’ that carries this report on the front page a day after the Jaipur blasts in 2008. There were over 60 people who died, yet they found this one victim who merited a front-page mention. This is irresponsible journalism and they would be the last bunch of people I would trust my neighbour’s relationship with.

5. Concerts and cricket matches in India will only help one leg of the peace process. Is it fair for cricket-crazy and music-loving audiences in Pakistan to be denied the opportunity to see their heroes and favourite musicians perform live on the basis of security? Why are their people coming here and our people not going there?

6. Let’s not forget that 26/11 happened. People came via boats. They slit the throat of the ship’s captain. They then jumped onto shore, split up and killed ordinary people in sight, in a planned and structured manner when it mattered to target Jews and the hotels. Their targets were sitting ducks. These are the facts. This attack originated in Pakistan. Their official intelligence outfit is partly responsible for this and many other such attacks. We must love Pakistan, the junta, the nation, but not the people silently responsible for these attacks. We must hate these ‘non-state actors’, or ‘state-actors’, whoever they may be, and pursue them, hunt them down, and take them out. One can only love thy neighbour when one does not see a security threat from him.

So, leading dailies, I think we’re doing fine by ourselves. I don’t think you need to tell us that we need to Love Pakistan. And hence, I strongly think you’re only doing this to extract some benefit out of it. Public goodwill, readership, whatever. So, tell me, what’s in it for you – really?

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P.S. The people who create distance between India and Pakistan are not the only ones who don’t read TOI. They also include sensible people who can tell the difference between good and bad journalism.

P.P.S. For those who ask me why I still read the TOI (I’ve get this very often), I do not ‘read’ it anymore, merely a glance to constantly remind myself atleast once a day of how irresponsible the media can’t be. And maybe because there is a ray of hope that they’ll get their act together for the larger good.