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The Viewer's
Forum is a platform where you can share your views with others on
any particular current issue.
How
do you view the recent development in the Kashmir issue?
Do you feel that the US will take proper cognizance of the issue
as agreed upon
with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ?
Note
The views in this forum
are from the contributors' perspectives.
The Editor does not necessarily subscribe to the views.
Your Opinion
- Very tragic to say the
least. It is like a village feud over land where both
parties lose in the end. Both Pakistan and India have
lost several able-bodied young men and millions of rupees
have gone down the drain.
As for the US, they will be the proverbial monkey in the
cat and monkey story. Every word uttered by US will be to
its own benefit and not for either India or Pakistan.
These are days of economic imperialism. There is no free
lunch. It is indeed high time that the countries in South
Asia came together to form a trade block a-la EC and
concentrated on improving the standard of living of their
people instead of engaging in wars which do not benefit
anyone. The more delay there is in coming together, the
farther removed will South Asian countries be in the list
of prosperity.
I sincerely believe that Prime Minister Vajpayee had
indeed extended a friendly hand during the Lahore
Declaration. Even after Kargil, it would be better for
Pakistan to accept the hand of friendship and look ahead
to improve the lot of all the people of South Asia. I
also feel that once the standard of living of people in
the entire South Asia improves perceptibly, the South
Asian countries will be more pragmatic in settling their
grievances. And finally Kashmiris on both sides of the
LOC will themselves find a solution to their grievances
without leaving it to the opportunistic politicians of
India and Pakistan.
T.S.Rangarajan
India
- This was the last chance to
solve the Kashmir problem. Now Pakistan must forget about
it. If India had that kind of a chance they would have
taken the rest of the Kashmir. Pakistan can win the war
but it loses on the political table talk. America will
never favour Pakistan. America can help you the way it
did at the time of the East Pakistan war. Would you still
like to trust America? You got to be a fool; America has
to finish Muslims very soon. Like it did with Iraq;
it’s only a matter of time. India is working with
America not against America. Nawaz Sharif made the
biggest mistake; everybody is going to see the effects
very soon. Pakistan could have destroyed India this time.
Maqbool Ahmed
Pakistani in USA
- I do not understand the
logic behind the entire debate I see on this message
board. Looks like a majority of participants are young
people. To make an agreement some basic principles need
to be followed.
1. Mutual respect. I hope most of you have read the
statement by General Beg in the DAWN regarding the
approval of Kargil operation by Nawaz Sharif in January.
Now after approving that and you know it is going on, how
can you sign Lahore declaration? No wonder Pak army did
not show up there. They knew the background and did not
want of be part of it. It is not going to be hard only on
Vajpayee but also on any other Indian prime minister
(with some brains) to forget that easily the behaviour of
Pakistan prime minister. Remember India is a democratic
country, people know about it, it will be very difficult
to sit across Nawaj Sharif and trust him again. If
Vajpayee even tries to talk about peace with Nawaz Sharif
he will lose the confidence of Indian people. So in the
near future I do not see any process to start; even the
US knows that. I find it very interesting the statement
by Mr. Clinton and explained by the state department that
it is his personal interest not the government’s.
Does not that mean ‘see you later’? I think
even the US does not want to get involved in this mess,
they want to keep it at arms length after seeing how the
whole situation developed.
2. I found it extremely interesting to see that the US
sent Gen. Zinni as its main person to Pakistan: Living in
US for 30 years, as far as I can recall I never read or
heard US sending its military official as a political
representative to convey a message. It gives me the
feeling that the US govt. thinks that Pakistan is still
ruled by military with Nawaz Sharif being the puppet.
3. Sincerity of Nawaz Sharif as a responsible leader: I
hope all of you read about the visit of Pakistan PM to
USA and England. Was he there for diplomacy of shopping?
BBC said he and his family put Middle East Kings shopping
spree to shame. How can a prime minister go on such
shopping sprees when the country is in a dire situation?
You people be the judge of it. Do you have a responsible
prime minister? When are you going to wake up?
With some of these facts in mind I do not see any
breakthrough in the near future and I am hoping that I am
wrong.
Sham
USA
- The US is an impostor and a
liar. What to talk of the lies of sixth frigate in 71
war.
It works and plans only and only for its own interests
and if anybody thinks that US is working or will work
towards our interest, he or she is living in a
fool’s paradise. The US has been fooling us since
the time of our inception. It has engulfed us by using
blackmailing tactics through its puppet IMF, the Jewish
controlled World Bank and other organisations. And thanks
to Pakistan that people at the helm of affairs are not
being able to realise the gravity of the situation. When
I being the head of a family and house can think of 1001
ways to organise the house, put order into it, manage
finances etc. then why cannot the people in power do?
They have powers; they are decision-makers. Because there
are wrong men in wrong positions. This is the problem of
the Pakistani Nation.
M. Suhaib Khan
Pakistan
- Pakistan deserves to be
congratulated for successfully internationalising the
Kashmir issue. But whether this internationalisation has
actually benefited the Pakistanis in any way is a moot
point. What has come to light is that Pakistan offers not
just "political, diplomatic and moral support"
to the Kashmiri militants but also material support to
them. The world will now find it easier to believe India
when it says that the so-called Kashmiri freedom struggle
is nothing but a proxy war between the Indian and
Pakistani armies. Brilliant military manoeuvres do not
make up for the lack of a proper strategic perspective.
H.Kamath
USA
- India has the largest
Muslim population in whole world; and why Pakistanis are
obsessed with Kashmir, I don’t know. In India there
is no discrimination economically, politically or
religion-wise; everyone is treated equal.
Pakistanis want to support Kashmiris for their
independent state; why are they themselves engaging in a
war with India for this which will prove costly for them.
And above all Nawaz Sharif went to the US to meet
President Clinton without any invitation; what a disgrace
when the head of a nation runs here and there to gather
support thinking that the US would help Pakistan in
Kashmir. It is ridiculous!
Hiren Doshi
India
- Sir, I always read
viewers’ opinions. I am very happy that you are
impartial in publishing opinion from both the parties.
Anyway whatever happened is history. Let us not boast
about by degrading others. As a common citizen of India I
only request people of both the countries to end hatred
and try to live together. When countries far off from
India can come forward and invest in India as it is one
of the biggest economies in the world, why not Pakistan
exploit this situation? You can export so many things to
India. You cannot get a better market than ours. So
please try to develop economic and cultural relations
rather than ruin yourselves in the name of Kashmir,
because India at any cost cannot lose Kashmir. Don't
expect a situation like Kosovo. No third country can do
it. By your action in Kargil you have risen the status of
Indian defence force. By your foolish action you were
responsible for the killings of many innocents. So forget
about violence. Join your big neighbour and flourish.
Nagesh SV
India
- The results of the Kargil
conflict were known right from the beginning -India's
victory and yet another defeat for Pakistan! Only this
time India has won diplomatically too. Don't read too
much into Clinton's statement that he will take a
"personal interest" in Kashmir. It's just like
a promise of gifts to a whining child. Everything will be
soon forgotten. Moreover, Clinton is likely to vacate
office in 2000.
There's another important point which the people of
Pakistan are ignoring. The USA has always known about
Pakistan's export of terrorism, China's violation of
human rights in Tibet and missile exports control etc.
Has the USA been able to do anything so far? Then how can
anyone expect that the USA can browbeat India into
gifting Kashmir to Pakistan? In truth, USA is after
business markets and other concerns take a backseat. USA
simply cannot ignore the huge Indian markets and it will
be foolish to irritate India too much.
Of course, when Pakistan calls for a "just and
final" settlement of Kashmir, it is in truth a naked
greed to annex Kashmir with Pakistan. Surely, India can
never agree to this no matter what the international
opinion is.
Srinivasa Raghavan
India
- All the Indian media hype
notwithstanding, I think Pakistan has come out of the
Kargil episode better off. Realistically speaking, Kargil
wasn't going to lead to the liberation of Kashmir anyway.
But something had to be done to break the deadlock and
bring the issue into the international limelight.
Occupation of the heights by the Mujahideen under the
protective umbrella of Pakistani artillery was just the
sort of exercise required under the circumstances. It
really scared the hell out of the Indians and
simultaneously exposed how unprepared and hollow their
military machine actually is (a fact further confirmed by
the recent BSF hostage drama). Militarily it was India
who got a bloody nose i.e. close to a thousand men killed
along with the MiGs and helicopter destroyed.
Personally I don't understand why there is all this noise
about national shame in Pakistan over the Kargil episode.
National shame should be the worry in India whose
"mighty" armed forces were brought to their
knees by a handful of "ghus bethay", as they
call the Mujahideen. Like I said earlier, Kashmir could
never be liberated through Kargil alone, but it was very
possible to successfully maintain a blockade of National
highway A1 well into the winter due to the strategic
location of the Mujahideen at a high vantage point and
the cover of artillery from the Pakistani side. To
maintain this situation was not very expensive for
Pakistan and India knew it. However, had the IMF blocked
aid under the US pressure, the financial crunch would
have been unbearable for Pakistan. This was the only
reason that prompted the pullback and not at all the
Indian military offensive. Most Indian analysts also
recognise this fact as evidenced from their press
statements. However it is in the election interest of the
BJP government to portray the retrieval of heights from
their own side of the LoC as a major military success. I
think the Kargil episode has served its purpose i.e.
internationalisation of Kashmir.
A. Akram
UK
- This is a very sensitive
issue. But one thing I would like to say is that the
Pakistani Nation has the right to know what's going on.
What is the deal between Pakistani PM and American
President. I don't think that America is going to play
any significant part in the Kashmir issue. We have to do
something ourselves. The Pakistani Government especially,
should be more active on the diplomatic front. We should
now learn to live like an Independent Nation and try to
correct our corrupt system.
Imran
Australia
- Pakistan should do a lot on
the diplomatic issue. We're weak there. The US will never
fulfil her promise at all.
CH. Tahir Pervaiz
Pakistan
- First of all I shall like
to say that I am a proud Indian and privilege to have
many Pakistani friends. I am very disappointed at the
tone of most of the letters.
In India, like any other country, we have many problems.
We are proud to be a secular country. It is important for
us to be secular as we have a large minority community. I
have visited different parts of India and observed that
most of the Indians do not hate Pakistanis. Frankly
speaking, most of the time, we do not have any feelings
about you. We are busy with our problems.
I try to read Pakistani newspapers on the web every day
all year long. I have noticed that there is at least one
main news item about India almost every day. I do not
know if it is good or bad. But in Indian newspapers, most
of the time, you will not find any news about Pakistan.
I shall like to get some answers and true feelings from
Pakistani friends (and enemies!).
1. Did Pakistani Army cross the LOC and enter the Indian
side of Kashmir in Kargil?
2. If yes, do you consider this to be backstabbing as our
prime ministers were discussing about peace in Lahore at
the same time?
3. As an Indian, should I feel betrayed?
This is a difficult and a delicate question. Please do
not get offended. As I know very little about Islam, I am
trying to understand the feelings of a true and good
Muslim.
I am a proud Hindu (may not be a good one). So if some
one uses God's name to support or rationalise his bad
actions or deeds, I get offended. Most of the time, I
shall scream at that person and tell that person - not to
misuse God's name. I find people using Allah's name, even
in this forum, to rationalise their misadventures or bad
things they have done. But not a single reader protests
that.
4. Do you really hate us?
I do not believe that one can draw a line and say that if
you are on this side of the line (e.g. Hindu or Muslim or
Indian or Pakistani) you are good/right and if you are on
the other side of the line you are bad/wrong. After
Lahore, I felt we have a chance to prosper and live in
peace. After Kargil, I feel betrayed and hurt. Thanks for
reading this letter and Good Luck.
Saibal
USA
- The US doesn't have to be
bothered with Kashmir. It is a matter of shame that two
nations with over thousands years of civilisation cannot
solve problems by themselves, and have to run to US to
get it solved. Time has come for the leaders of both the
nations to sit down and talk to each other. The idea of
free Kashmir is absurd. Kashmir is of too strategic
importance to either nation to remain free. The only
solution seems is to convert LoC into a international
border. Mr. Nawaz Sharif, must be admired for his quest
for peace.
Pakistan doesn’t have to look too far into history
to learn lessons from such adventures. People who talk of
"Jihad" should be made to fight them, rather
than innocent soldiers, who have to obey orders. I cant
understand how could even respectable media fuel
illusions of liberation of "Kashmir", so people
in Pakistan do not have any understanding of ground
realities. We have more Muslims in India. And many of
them have shed their blood in Kargil defending India. As
far as the US is concerned, market economies are driven
by market considerations. Pakistan doesn’t figure
anywhere on US's strategic radar.
Shivaraj
India
- I feel that Pakistan and
India both should avoid war at any cost. No one needs
another Hiroshima -Nagasaki. We can become all patriotic
and sentimental about it but the truth is that we have to
face the reality. Neither country can afford it. All
these Indians showing up on this forum bragging about
their country's economy and success are doing it out of
their emotional ties to their country. And my fellow
Pakistanis living abroad and in Pakistan giving speeches
about how we can change ourselves, aren't benefiting the
country either. We need to do more than just talk. We
have been doing that for decades. Stop complaining about
Nawaz, BB and others and do something. Help in
establishing schools in the country for a start. I am not
going to blindly justify my country and say we're the
best because we are not. But we need to get there. And we
can't do it without education. And I support the decision
(forced or otherwise!) of Nawaz Sharif to withdraw
Mujahideen. The only way to resolve this issue is through
peaceful talks and compromise from both sides. And one
last note; we must not depend on the US to help us
especially on such a controversial issue also considering
the fact that we are after all a Muslim nation! Good we
got its support but then for how long? (Come to think of
it, I myself gave a speech like everyone else!)
A.Zainub
Canada
- The Kashmir problem is a
bilateral issue that needs to be solved between the two
nations. There is no necessity for any third party
intervention, be it the US or any other party. I would
like to tell my brothers in both Pakistan and Hindustan,
that an intervention like the US would only bring total
collapse in the Asian region. As it has happened before;
the US would bring its troops and put it over the region
and it would be loss for both Pakistan and India. You
have been seeing history repeating in Iran/Iraq,
Iraq/Kuwait, and recently in Kosovo! Don't you people
still understand the slyness of the US? If you have not
been able to learn it even now, I would say that you are
no better than fools!
Indra
US/India
- It is a BIG setback to
Pakistan with respect to Kargil Crisis. It has put the
Kashmir issue on the backstage. Instead of expecting the
U.S. to take personal interest in Kashmir, Pakistan can
do the same by confidence-building measures. Though
Pakistan advocates support for Kashmiris, I feel that
they are not SINCERE about it. When Pakistan hesitates in
acknowledging and taking back its dead soldiers from
India, one can imagine the mental framework of its
(Pakistan) rulers. One should have the guts and courage
to go ahead and fight with India HEAD ON and not with
giving Moral Support. USA doesn't have the influence to
force India to go to the negotiating table. Pakistan
cannot expect much from it. The best Pakistan can do is
to do nothing till such time when India feels like
talking to it, and concentrate more on its domestic
problems.
SriKanth
USA/India
- The lack of responsible
governance in Pakistan has become obvious after the
Kargil conflict. I feel the country has morally lost
ground.
Arun George
USA
- The foreign policy of
Pakistan has completely failed against India's
propaganda. India has won the war of propaganda. What are
our ambassadors doing in their offices? Well we can't
blame them since our policy is so inadequate or they have
come to this position by illegal means. Is there any
merit left in our country? How embarrassing it is to
stand against the world. Still we are talking about
extending quota. Allah knows where are we going? I am
glad that Nawaz Sharif has taken a wise step (or was
forced to do so) to avert this disaster. We all know what
would be the result. This is my heartiest appeal to the
leaders of Pakistan and the army (who has great influence
on Pakistani politics); please educate the people. We
don't need to compare with India. There is not much
difference between India and Pakistan's condition. Those
who are claiming supremacy on each other are living in a
fool's paradise. The only weapon we can use against
anyone is Education. The example of Japan is in front of
us. See how they are taking revenge against USA. Please
think about it.
Wasib
USA
- I don't know what the hell
is wrong with India; why is it creating war hysteria? I
do not say this because I'm a Pakistani. But because war
is a terrible thing and it surely scares the hell out of
a nation. And no one here in Pakistan (referring to the
masses) feels that there is a war going on. Yes the only
war taking place is "a diplomatic war", where
Nawaz Sharif and his aides have failed to muster or
gather any support. This clearly shows how great
Pakistan's foreign policy is. Economically, Pakistan is
gasping. But if there is a war.... India you've had it!
Vajpayee should try to think of some other way of gaining
popularity. And as far as the Land of the Green, the US,
is concerned, they will never support Pakistan. Why? I
just don't know. Hey, the whole world has ignored the
Kashmir issue for the past 50 years and they will do so
until a large number of Hindus settles in Kashmir.
Tabraiz
Turkey
- The Pakistani and Indian
leadership should realise that the western powers
particularly the USA and Britain can never be our
friends. Kashmir is product of the British Raj. The
People of India and Pakistan should ask themselves, 'what
had happened to us? We had lived together for about a
thousand years without any conflict and just a hundred
years of British Raj and now we are archrivals. Should we
think that the US sincerely wants peace in the region?
Pakistan has been playing in the hands of the US while
India has enjoyed the mouth feed of the former USSR.
India takes pride in making anything from a pin to an
aeroplane while Pakistan basically imports most of its
products.
Neither Islam nor Hinduism teaches hatred; then why are
we cutting each other’s throat? Are the people of
the biggest democracy in the world puppets in the hands
of their corrupt politicians or does Hinduism foment
violence? India has caused so much commotion on the
Kargil issue but it overlooks the Siachen issue or the
Junagarh issue and the list goes on and on. That is pure
hypocrisy. Just like the secular disguise on a Fanatic
Shiv Sena supported government. In the end, Kashmir issue
is a tumour. Hundreds and thousands of innocent people
have died there. India doesn't want to resolve the
situation because resolving the Kashmir issue is equal to
losing Kashmir. The US on the other hand wants to keep
unrest in the region for its own interest and Pakistan is
left with no friends and a poor government derived from
feudal lords and corrupt industrialists and a bureaucracy
which is a product of quota system. Solution to these
problems is simple: just educate people and open our
minds to truth and justice not nationalism.
Adnan Syed
USA
- As of the mistakes made in
the past I believe that it is time that this issue was
resolved once and for all; and talk is not that we should
go for. America's promises are like the F-16 we never
got. Let history be the witness that America has never
helped us before and never shall. What if we go at war
with India? The price of all the goods cannot go higher
than they already are.
H.R. Tirmizi
Pakistan
- GREETING THE NOBLE PEOPLE
OF PAKISTAN
I feel deeply for this so-called "ISLAMIC
NATION"
Even though I am a Hindu ...I believe that Islam is a
beautiful religion; it's just that some fanatics have
given this religion a new meaning. Well, where am I going
anyways...Let me come to the point.
To all the misinformed people of Pakistan...especially my
friends from Lahore..Adnan Iqbal and Salim
Raza...."It's high time you faced the reality"
You know we Indians and Pakistanis are alike....what are
you people on about? What do you need Kashmir for? Got
any investment plans for it? I heard Nawaz Sharif is
planning on setting up some information technology
centres there that will be run by all the Kashmiri
wizards...a bunch of illiterate people. Talk about the
leaders of so-called IOK some are plumbers turned leaders
and painters turned politicians...Not deviating more from
the topic to be discussed here, all I would like to say
is that "PAKISTAN was a mistake"....JINNAHS
daughter, his right hand, and all his advisors said this
in a documentary which was shown widely in Australia.
Better watch it and know your past...before attempting to
recap your learnt lessons in MADARSAS that Hindu are the
greatest enemies of Muslims.
Pakistanis reading my comments should very well know
"where I am coming from..and where I am going
to....."
ALLAH HAFIZ
Rahul
Australia
- As an Indian I am angry and
upset about the Kargil invasion. Pakistan's army, along
with Islamic militants, has killed hundreds of our young
soldiers not to mention their own who have been
ignominiously termed mercenaries. I pray for their souls.
Two years ago I had met six Pakistani architecture
students who'd come over to Delhi for a cultural festival
where our HOD did all he could to take care of them and
we gelled as if we were from another state in India.
Well, all that camaraderie is over and I hope Pakistan
now realises that she has alienated an entire generation
of young Indians who will go on to lead our country in
the 21st century.
Bhargav
India
- The United States cannot
jeopardise its current status with India in mediating the
Kashmir issue. A middle class market for American goods
of 300 million people will preclude any interference from
the U.S. The sentiment in the western press seems to be
that Pakistan was responsible for the crisis, there was
clear encroachment of the Indian territory, the
guerrillas were often termed Islamic militants
(terrorists in the western media). And Nawaz Sharif was
reprimanded and discouraged to further pursue this course
due to imminent IMF sanctions.
So, it is quite clear what the rest of the world thinks
of this "daredevil"(Pakistani media term) act.
Maybe the problem lies in Islam's marketing. A few public
relations ideas.
1) Stop calling your wars, Jihads. They may be holy to
you but for the rest of the world, it's simply terrorism.
2) The term Mujahedeen may mean (God's warrior) but to
the civilised world it's simply terrorist/fanatic.
3) Read the Quran and interpret the love. Your God cannot
be that angry.
4) Get rid of all your religious leaders (Hindus and
Christians should also do this). This will allow progress
for all mankind and stop groups like the Taliban from
setting back the clock on women's rights- a thousand
years.
Amit Sharma
USA
- The US may try taking
interest in the Kashmir issue, but India will not allow
that to happen. The issue was created by Pakistan. The
UNO resolutions have prolonged it and now when Pakistan
sees no results it supports terrorism and goes ahead with
misadventures like Kargil. The bottom line is that
Pakistan should pull out from POK and try to become
trustworthy. Kashmiri people are part of India and they
will remain so. Pakistan may help some to become a
traitor, but you see that design failed in the last 10
years and now you hire people from other countries! Can
India let Kashmir go just because of Muslims majority in
the state? India has so many districts which has minority
at national level and majority at local level. Does that
mean that India let go of those areas as well? The policy
makers of Pakistan are misguiding the common man there.
No matter how many lives we have to lose India will never
give up on Kashmir.
Raju
USA
- First of all myriad
congratulations to Jang for providing such a forum to the
people of Pakistan. Even in the midst of enormous
governmental pressure on media, the Jang group has
projected the image of a fearless platform emboldening
its readers. Now the Budget 1999-2000 which has clearly
(and shamelessly) reserved a big chunk of cake for the
military purposes, has been welcomed by most Pakistanis.
I am at a loss to understand this behaviour. I am moved.
As a Pakistani I have some concerns which (courtesy Jang)
I would like to share with all. I am about to raise some
pointed and soul-searching questions.
This, I am sure, will not please my brothers but I have
decided to look deep into the eyes of the truth. Please
reply to my points and you can choose to write my NAME in
your replies. I'll be honoured.
* It has been almost fifty years with three (oops sorry
3.5) lost wars, losing half of the territory and enormous
money. Are we fighting to 'liberate' Kashmir, to 'expand'
our territory, to 'help' Islam? Just because it is good
to fantasise one’s territory grow and see a powerful
neighbour in agony. This is what is better known as
'INFERIORITY COMPLEX'. I believe that we always feel
insecure and threatened and that is why we are always on
offensive. I used to think that after the nuclear blasts
we’d overcome this inferiority complex and somewhat
parity would be restored.
*I believe Pakistanis are no nincompoops. Why do we allow
ourselves to be fooled by the politicians? In the recent
Kargil (mis)adventure we were led to believe that a part
of Kashmir is about to be liberated. Do you really
believe that if the Leh road to Srinagar is blocked
Indian forces will surrender? Why this miscalculation?
Who is responsible for it? And if they were so damn
motivated then why this pulling back? If they knew this
is what is going to happen then why was it started in the
first place?
* If the intent was to go for a breakthrough in Kashmir
then why were the army men sent in disguise (com'on
it’s so damn obvious) to occupy even when we knew
that the satellite imagery system of the US wouldn’t
fail and we could get into diplomatic trouble? Talk of
cost of the mountain warfare! Who were we fooling?
Ourselves I guess.
* If the trouble had ultimately started, why were Indian
soldiers brutally tortured? Pakistani or Indian, soldiers
always fight for their motherland and everyone respects
them. This not only worsened the situation, it also was a
major factor in painting the barbarian image of Pakistan
in the western circles who are so damn passionate about
human rights. The photos of mutilated bodies were
distributed in Europe, US and now see where do we stand
on the international scenario! And then we complain that
Sartaz Aziz is not given a warm welcome in India. (The
bodies of mutilated soldiers were handed just before the
talks!)
* Now something about the 'bravery' of 'freedom
fighters':
Occupying vacated bunkers in the chill of winter and
sitting at the top is indeed not an easy job but it has
nothing to do with beating Indian army. This should be
more than obvious that a person sitting at the top of a
mountain can kill at least 20 guys climbing up the steep
hills. What about the soldiers who know that death will
come down upon them if they try to ascend? Even then they
did it! For facts go to some Indian sites painting the
pictures of real bravery. Folks, Indian army is not a
piece of cake. The fact is that we won't be able to hold
on to the heights much longer. They were not afraid to
die; they attacked like ants and got the heights vacated.
Also most of the targets were pulverised by
carpet-bombing. The process was obviously slowed down to
minimise casualties.
* Our army was shamelessly made scapegoats by
politicians. They were fighting in the icy heights while
the generals were busy in thumping and chest beating
rhetoric. Even the media were not allowed to say anything
about the deaths of our soldiers (governmental pressure I
guess). It looked as if Indian guns are shelling rose
petals. Look at the Indian government. They listed their
dead (it is no surprise to die in a war) and gave them
heroic last rites, while the bodies of our soldiers are
rotting in the valley. What a disgrace! It is very easy
to talk of patriotism. Just imagine that the people who
died being fried alive in the Indian carpet bombing (most
horrible of the deaths) are not even acknowledged as our
soldiers. And we talk about patriotism. We cannot even
give a decent burial to our war heroes. TOUCHE!
May Allah save us!
Ahmar Khan Durrani
Karachi (Pakistan)
- This effort on Kargil
lacked the optimum initiative on the part of the Pakistan
Government in the field of Diplomatic feasibility which
it should have conducted under some covert move in one
form or the other. I think the Government of Pakistan
jumped on the issue much later; and, tried to avoid the
dangerous path of an all-out war between two Nuclear
Powers one of whom would have won it. I trust the PM for
whatever he did. He did right.
Fazal Elahi Malik
USA
- Kashmir is not an issue
therefore we should stop living in dreams. Kashmir is a
beautiful place for people who live there and do not want
to die for any cause. Please stop fooling around and let
the Kashmiri people live a natural life. Two nations are
fighting for nothing and getting killed.
Syed Jawad Ali
Montreal, Canada
- Reading some of these
opinions has given me some heart. Unlike my previous
belief it is indeed heartening to see some Pakistanis
critical of their government. I think that Pakistan needs
to go through an Internal catharsis and revamp its
thinking. Hopefully it would come out stronger and be
able to take good care of its starving millions. The same
applies to its bigger neighbour.
Arun Sharan
USA
- It was Sharif who went to
us to save his face, after his army started losing in
Kashmir and he had no other option but to withdraw or
face defeat. So he was clever enough to fool his fellow
Pakistanis by using the phase 'personal interest by Mr.
Clinton'. Anyway the US is going into elections and after
that the personal interest of an ex-president does not
make any sense. And also India and Pakistan have been
talking for last 50 years on Kashmir. Pakistan should
give POK to India and live in peace and at least provide
basic amenities to its people.
Raj
India
- An invasion of any country
will be resisted by all, including the U.S. When Iraq
captured Kuwait, the U.S. intervened to restore the
status quo ante. With that its job was over. It did not
give heed to Saddam's arguments that Kuwait was once part
of Iraq. Now too, U.S. will mind its own business since
it got Pakistan withdraw its troops. The U.S. will not go
into the story of 'right of self-determination' of
Kashmiris, etc. And for the first time in history the
Indian rulers are going to prove a tough nut to crack.
(Perhaps they will strike a secret deal with the U.S.,
just like Indian PM's secret letter to Clinton, to tame
Pakistan forever). Pakistan should remember that the more
it raises the Islam bogey, the more it is alienating the
U.S. and the West; all Christian countries are fighting
to put down the rising menace of Islamic fundamentalism.
No point in trying to get a shake-hand from the U.S. They
will prefer to go with India for so many reasons.
N. Nageswaran
Bosnia
The News
International Pakistan