Because of continuing jihad, Pakistan is today virtually sitting on a volcano, which might erupt any time, to bring devastation not only in that country, but also in its vicinity; provided strong measures are not taken to stem the rot in the troubled country. Will jehadis take a back seat? Will they make room for benign forces, which are a plenty, or will they prefer darkness to prevail and allow people to drown under the debris of the imagined and fearful volcano?

Whenever signs of rapprochement between India and Pakistan are visible, hostile forces try to disrupt sub-continental peace, which is so essential for speedy progress of the two countries, steeped in naked poverty.

Torching of the Samjhauta Express is an example. It was attacked by some unidentified terrorists, when it was given to understand that some sort of a solution, if not in wholesome, is near the corner, for the resolution of vexed issues, which have bedevilled good neighbourly relationship. The attack was not just on a few bogies of the train, ferrying thousands of cut off families across the border between India and Pakistan, but the attack was committed in unison on India and Pakistan this time, killing 68 innocent passengers, mostly Pakistani nationals.

However, it is a good augury that peace process has not got derailed and bogged down. Both India and Pakistan reaffirmed faith in confidence-building measures, with President A P J Abdul Kalam saying: “The tragic event should not be allowed to affect the process for normalization of relations between India and Pakistan”. Pakistan has responded in an equal measure.

The trans-border train was attacked just on the heels of the finalization of negotiations on nuclear confidence building measures, aimed at reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons between India and Pakistan. Such successful negotiations followed in the wake of the World Bank ruling on the prestigious Baglihar hydropower project in Jammu province, and it was noticeably in India’s favour. But the WB verdict was also welcomed by Pakistan, which might have distressed the jehadis. The WB has in fact turned down Pakistan’s contention that the construction of the dam on Chenab is in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

It is being perceived that a settlement of outstanding issues has never been as close as of now. Even Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference (moderate faction) Umer Farooq, who had been to Pakistan, recently, has clearly said that ‘substantial headway’ has been made towards resolution of the contentious Kashmir problem. Tangible results, according to him, can be made visible within three months from February. He has been bold enough to warn militants and subversives in Pakistan to lay down arms as according to him jihad has had led to bloodshed and nothing else. It was soon after his statement that his Srinagar house was attacked by terrorists. .Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin, waging jihad from across the border has rejected Mirwaiz’s call and instead asked Pakistan to support militancy in Kashmir.

Be as it may, there is no dearth of saner elements in Pakistan, who seek normalization of relationship with India. Newspapers published from Lahore have commented editorially that Pakistan must “Reconsider its old stances on bilateral disputes with India” for the current peace process to progress. The Daily Times has told Pakistan establishment in uncertain terms “To do more internal changing than India”, adding, India has definitely to learn to be benign regional state to its neighbours. The Daily is of the view that “Pakistan has become a troubled state and some of its trouble is spilling into India”. Another leading newspaper Dawn has said that “To ask for the right of self-determination for the Kashmiris, envisaged 50 years ago, is not realistic any more”.

Citing the verdict of the World Bank expert on Baglihar dam project, the Daily Times has elaborated to say that barring some technicalities, ‘both South Asian neighbours have claimed vindication and welcomed the verdict’. The paper has argued that agreements can be reached in a similar fashion on other issues like Siachen, which might ultimately lead to the final resolution of what Pakistan says the ‘core’ Kashmir issue.

Some intellectuals in Pakistan have expressed optimism that Musharraf is the only man who can ‘save’ Pakistan, and if willing, develop good relations with India. There is no doubt that General Musharraf has given Kargil to India, but experts believe his mind changed first after 9\11 and later in the wake of attack on Indian Parliament. But it is certain he made a U-turn on Kashmir in 2002, opting for peace, discarding the much touted slogan of plebiscite. At home, Musharraf has tried to do away with radicalism, step by step, facing stiff opposition from hardliners, who believe that Pakistan will disintegrate like the erstwhile Soviet Union. They have likened Musharraf to former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Musharraf is being blamed by the opposition for ‘diluting the nation’s ideology’. But that ideology has got steeped in Pakistan since March 12, 1949, when Pakistan was declared an Islamic nation, contrary to assurances from Pakistan’s founder Ali Mohammad Jinnah that new nation would be independent of religion. Radicalism, which drove away several million Hindus from that country into India, also had its cascading effect in Kashmir, though it has been under a democratic set up. Just as Islamic laws were forcibly enforced in Pakistan, from Liaquat Ali Khan to military rulers like Zia-ul-Haq, and even during semi-democratic regimes of Nawaz Sharif and Z. A. Bhutto and so on, similar tactics followed in Jammu and Kashmir in one garb or the other, leading to the exile of Kashmiri Hindus in lakhs since partition. In a move aimed at Islamisation of Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has just passed a Bill, seeking to apply provisions of the Shariat to Muslims of the state.

Militants are loath to shun the path of jihad, because as an author has well said that “It is a goose that lays the golden eggs”. Navin Chandra Behera in her book “Demystifying Kashmir” says that “Power brokers, civil-military officials and militants in Pakistan and PoK enjoy access to unaudited funds and have a direct stake in the industry of violence”. Noted writer Salman Rushdie has equally chastised the jehadis for bringing ‘unhappiness’ to Kashmiris; ‘an intolerable Islam into the valley’.

Pakistan needs to shun religious extremism and jihadi culture, which has become a part of their social fabric of society.

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