Donations are sacred

I HAVE read the editorial “Donations are sacred” (July 6) with interest.

Your esteemed paper is correct that announcements made to help the families of fallen soldiers are not followed, and in a number of cases donations received have not reached the final destination.

In every war there is a great upsurge of emotions, and substantial donations come to the coffers of the government. War after war Indian people have risen as one man to help the families of the departed and disabled soldiers. However, the donations have not reached the people they were meant for in many cases.

Obviously, at some step the funds have been blocked or diverted. At the function at Vigyan Bhawan, the television teams had interviewed some family members of uniformed martyrs and what came to light was the fact that while promises were made the delivery was only a trickle and in some cases non-existent.

I am apprehensive that the same fate may befall the families of our Kargil heroes after the war is over. Today every Chief Minister is vying with one another in announcing lumpsum cash donations, free education and jobs for the family members of our soldiers who have died in action. While I understand that many cheques have been given but the other promises are of a long-term nature. Will the Chief Ministers and officials remember them at a later date? Similarly, will the funds collected be properly disbursed? Donations, indeed, are sacred and must be accounted for.

P.K. DUTTA
Chandigarh

* * * *

Sharif’s lost game

I fully agree with the views expressed in the editorial “Sharif’s lost game”. This is not for the first time that India is facing aggression from the Pakistani side, and if you take into account the mindset and past record of that country, it may not be the last time either. Their whole polity stands on “ Hate India” campaign. Future aggression can be a declared war.

Whatever may be the nature of war we will be the loser. That country has been and will try to continue bleeding us one way or the other. Whosoever has occupied the chair of Prime Minister in that country has behaved in almost the same manner.

Mr Nawaz Sharif is a shrewd and scheming politician. We need not show him any mercy. How he saves his face is his business. He has betrayed the spirit of the Simla Agreement. He acted in treacherous manner by signing the Lahore Declaration in front of the whole world and at the same time plotting and executing the Kargil operation.

It is good that almost every country has supported our cause. We should thank them for that. We must not expect anything more from them. It is our problem and has to be solved by us.

We should be completely focused on achieving our aim and should not lose sight of our national interests, short-term as well long-term ones. The present conflict is bound to end sooner or later. There should be no doubt that the end will be in our favour. But Pakistan cannot change itself, and will be tempted to step up the proxy war it has been waging. Even the Clinton-Sharif statement makes no mention of terrorism unleashed by Pakistan.

In the past whatever we gained on the ground was lost on the table. But that country has never mended its ways. I fully agree with the view that India should not seek a forgiving image. We have been bled for so many years. It is time the enemy is made to taste the same bitter pill.

ASHOK GUPTA
Ludhiana

* * * *

Safety of diplomats

It is now quite clear that our diplomats in Pakistan are not safe. Within a week two diplomats have been beaten up severely. During the past one year or so about eight such incidents have taken place in Islamabad. The worst part of it all is that those responsible for protecting the staff of our High Commission in Islamabad are themselves involved in such incidents.

More than 50 soldiers of the Indian Army were missing in the 1971 war with Pakistan, and they are still not traceable. They might have been killed after their torture. In the recent Kargil conflict our six soldiers were tortured to death and their mutilated bodies were handed over to our Army. Our 10 soldiers are still missing. These incidents indicate that there is no responsible and civilised government in Pakistan. They are brute and cruel people.

It is high time we thought whether or not we should keep our High Commission open in Islamabad? Since the Pakistan government is unable to protect our diplomats, I think we should close the office of the High Commission and ask the staff to come back.

The Pakistan government is the most irresponsible entity. It is feeding and training terrorists and sending them to many parts of the world. We should not wait for the Americans to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. We should do it ourselves first and then request the international community to follow suit. I think if we sever our relations with Pakistan we would be happy.

Though late, there is still time to cross the LoC. Our present leadership, when in opposition, used to blame Nehru for accepting a ceasefire on January 1, 1949, creating the so-called Azad Kashmir. But these leaders are now in power and they are also showing that timid mentality. Had they allowed our forces to cross the LoC, the war would have finished by now.

It is quite clear that the Pakistani forces are not in a position to prolong the war. Restrictions imposed on our forces not to cross the LoC have resulted in heavy casualties on our side, and it has taken a long time to clear them from Kargil. Without bothering about the international reaction, our forces should be allowed to wage a full-fledged war against Pakistan. This is the only alternative to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all.

ARJUN SINGH CHHETRI
Manjoo (Solan)

* * * *

Tailpiece

Guess the basic principle around which foreign policy revolves?

Answer: If you cannot convince them, confuse them!

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
Amritsar