Pak destabilising game

Pakistan’S one-point programme has been to internationalise the Kashmir issue and involve the world community, especially the USA, in this dispute as mediators. The present escalation in the Kargil sector is only an attempt to keep the issue alive.

On the other hand, we have always remained on the defensive whenever Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue on international fora. While Pakistan has been raising the question of human rights on our side of the LoC, we did not even raise the issue of Pakistan forcibly occupying a part of Kashmir and exploiting and terrorising the people there. PoK has remained a non-issue, which fact has successfully been exploited by Pakistan.

Secondly, Pakistan-backed insurgency in the Kashmir valley was never made an issue, neither at the international level nor effectively during bilateral talks, though we have been protesting now and then. Ironically, we have substantial evidence of Pakistan’s terrorist activities against India, yet we have made no serious efforts to get it declared a terrorist state.

Thirdly, we have also failed to protect and help the Kashmiri people, especially when they were exploited and tortured by Pak-sponsored militants. Our incompetent political regimes and an unresponsive bureaucracy have almost alienated the Kashmiri people. They have left the valley by the thousands without the government coming to their rescue. Their lack of faith in the administration has been a great hurdle in meeting the challenge from across the border.

While Indian rulers have tried to create a constructive atmosphere, our diplomats and public relations people have failed to checkmate the Pakistani propagandist approach.

Now when Pakistan has been censured, directly and indirectly, by many countries, including America and China, India must intensify its diplomatic efforts to justify its stand and expose Pakistan thoroughly in its destabilising game.

VED GULIANI
Hisar

Wake up, India

A shrill alarm from the bedside timepiece wakes me up, and the sweet twittering of birds welcomes me to a new sunrise. A stark contrast, to the sound of heavy mortar, gun-firing and shelling which signals the onset of dawn and dust to our brave Army jawans at Kargil.

The treacherous terrain and the extremities of weather have added to the continuous firing. These have made our soldiers oblivious to the day or night times. In freezing temperatures, when powerful engines cease to function, viscosity of fuels increases tremendously, our great soldiers fight relentlessly and perform deeds of great valour. Not to forget our strong-willed fighter pilots, who risk their lives and manoeuvre their fighter planes and helicopters in the steep narrow valley, sky-scraping peaks and indented cliffs.

As an Army daughter and an Air Force wife it pains me deeply when I hear the common Indian citizen, ignorant of what goes on at the border. We should not forget that it is because of our brave jawans and fighters that we lead a normal life.

I am shocked when Indian industry expresses concern saying that only a fraction of the industry supplying goods to the Army will benefit from now on. Don’t people understand that we live in a secure atmosphere because our soldiers lay down their lives for our safety. In trying times like these, how can people think of profits and losses? Instead, our endeavour should be to provide the maximum moral support to our soldiers.

If a cricket match can generate such media hype as we have been witnessing, why don’t popstars and film stars feature in morale-boosting advertisements and popsongs. This is the least they can do for our defence forces.

VIDULA
Ambala

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Plight of Afghan women

Women in Afghanistan are living a very wretched life. They are discriminated against at every stage and in every area of activity.

A woman’s position is exactly like this: she is for serving man. She has to simply obey his orders, right or wrong. Her world exists within the four walls of her house.

The general belief is that God has created her for kitchen, for running the household.

All the social, political and economic rights have been taken away from the Afghan women. They have no right of education. The doors of schools and other educational institutions are closed for them.

Afghan sick women cannot visit male doctors. Male doctors have strict instructions not to treat women patients. They can visit only female doctors, whose presence in today’s Afghanistan is nearly zero. Owing to these reasons several female patients have either lost their lives or are living a life which is terrible.

What I have said can be treated as the cry of millions of Afghan women, suffering under a cruel social and political system.

FAHIMA AKBARI
Delhi