Pakistan - the idiotic neighbourhood terror bhai

It has become a rather routine affair now. A few terrorists sneak into Kashmir from Pakistan aided by their army and terrorist groups. They then kill civilians, army and police personnel, loot money and burn schools and buildings. Most of them die in the ensuing security operations though some manage to escape. Pakistan never acknowledges it sponsored the terrorists and that they are its citizens. Then there is lull for a few weeks before the whole sequence repeats.
Anyone who has been following the news will know what I mean. There is a sickening regularity to it. Pakistan continues to behave like a petulant child that will not listen to anyone. Pakistan is like the typical villain in Indian movies - having lost everthing and having been proved wrong, the villain's only wish is to somehow kill the hero. Pakistan's raison d' etre for existence as a separate state, a state for Muslims, has  been proved to be hollow. It is not the most populous Muslim nation.  It has not been able to accomodate all denominations of Muslims - Sunni Muslims are dominant and others are treated as second grade.
And India has more Muslims than Pakistan and they do not wish to align with Pakistan. This leads one to question the very basis for the creation of Pakistan. Perhaps the people of Pakistan would have been better off as Indian citizens. Perhaps the people of Pakistan might vote to rejoin India, if allowed.
Whatever the people's wish, Pakistan as a state continues with its practice  of deploying terrorism as a state policy. What can India do to effectively deal with the situation ? India can and must tackle Pakistan's terror tactics with a heavy hand.
Why does Pakistan use terror to combat India and why fight with India in the first place ? Terror is a cost-effective option. Fools who are ready to die for a never-seen heaven are available a dime a dozen. They only need to be recruited and trained. And Pakistan will not acknowledge their citizenship. So Pakistan can eternally live in denial for all the ghastly acts it commits.  Also the Pakistan army is too big for the  size of the country. It eats into a giant percentage of the GDP. A private company in this situation would be deemed sick and at least the sick portions would be divested to get it back to health. The Pakistan army needs to find a reason to justify its monstrous existence and needs to keep justifying year after year. After all politicians would only be too glad to clip its wings. So what better than to create and sustain terrorists and have them attack India. It is for the same reason that the army meddles in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and gives sanctuary to various militant groups inimical to its government. That Pakistan is fomenting trouble has been said by no less a person than the Afghan President and that too on many occasions. A restive Afghan border is a good way to ensure its daily bread. A troubled Balochistan is another godsend. This way the army can stay relevant and powerful. It can do anything in the name of security.  The internal machinations in Pakistan result in terror attacks on India. Azaadi is only a ruse, a cover that certain sections of the Kashmiri populace will buy.
So what should India do to protect itself ? Well, any action is justified.
First, we should deal ruthlessly with those who swear by violence. No mercy should be shown. It is pertinent to point out here that the late Shri KPS Gill, the former DGP of Punjab, who is largely credited with eliminating militancy in Punjab, was quite ruthless in his approach and phenomenally successful. We need a native Kashmiri in that mould. A man who can think like the terrorists and anticipate their every move. A man who knows what hurts the terrorists most and where. A man who cannot be accused of being an outsider. A man who will not pull punches.
Next we need to ensure development in Kashmir. Economic growth and jobs will be more attractive to the youth than guns. After all, if a young man does not have a job or a constructive way to spend his time, he becomes a prime target for recruitment by terrorists who are also willing to pay handsomely. It is worth noting that after demonitization, there was a lull in the militant activity as there was a squeeze on the supply of cash. No money , no stone throwing, no attacks, no unrest. It is all economics and money. Aazadi is only a slogan. So development is a must. As are schools and colleges which must function normally. Youth engaged usefully and gainfully are less likely to be attracted to militancy.
Then we must isolate Pakistan internationally and make sure the western aid keeps reducing. This will hurt them greatly as Pakistan has a big dependence on foreign aid as its owm economy is in shreds. We should also lobby for sanctions against them.
Every attempt made by terrorists should be dealt with a heavy hand. Take no prisoners. If the Pakistani army targets Indian villages and Indian posts, hit back hard with heavy weaponry. Destroy their posts. Resort to surgical strikes. And for every infiltration attempt by the Pakistani army, India should move in  few hundred metres from the LOC.
More proactively, we should engage in eliminating the terrorist leaders living in comfort in Pakistan. The US did that to Osama Bin Laden. Why should we not ?
All these will push up the cost of terrorism for Pakistan and it will cease to be a low cost option over a period of time. Makes economic and military sense, doesn't it ? There is a saying in Hindi - Laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahin mante. Transliterated  it means - Ghosts that obey only kicks do not listen to words. If the Pakistan army is asking for a kick in the butt, then why deny them the pleasure ?

Kashmiris - don't throw stones at your future

Dear Kashmiris,
Kashmir has been burning for many decades now. There has never been any sustained peace. Many generations have seen only violence and destruction. Schools and colleges have not functioned for full terms. All means of livelihood have been adversely affected and people have no steady income. Tourism, a major industry, is non-existant. People have been killed in terror attacks. Pundits have been driven out their state. There are demonstrations every so often. Young men and women indulge in stone throwing. In short, the paradise has turned into hell.
And all for azaadi. An azaadi, that you have been promised, is a heaven. As the ultimate goal of every Kashmiri. Something that is worth dying for. A release from India.
But pause for a moment to think what has been achieved so far. Normal life has been disrupted. There is mindless violence everywhere. There is nothing to feel satisfied about when you go to bed and nothing to look forward to when you get up in the morning. More than 47,000 people have lost their lives in the last two decades of conflict despite Kashmir having the highest life expectancy in India.
Think. The likes of Hafiz Saeed and Azar Masood, who are classified as terrorists, are the prime actors from across the border. They send in trained terrorists to kill Indians. But they are not even Kashmiris. They are just stoodges for Pakistan's ISI.
People in Iraq, Libya and Syria also wanted aazadi. They had compelling reasons. They were being persecuted by the regimes. Goaded by external influences, they rebelled against their authoritarian governments. But what did they achieve ? Only destruction of their homes and country, loss of lives and livelihood and only a bleak future to look forward to. Decades of conflict has played havoc with their lives. But what of the nations that encouraged them to overthrow their governments ? They just don't care.
Pakistan is becoming a joke day by day. With no worthwhile economy, it exists on the largesse of the US.  Its only profitable industry is terrorism. The army, which runs the government irrespective of who is in office, treats the country like its private fiefdom. A PIA pilot sleeps for two and a half hours on a flight unmindful of even his own safety ! In Pakistan, not everyone is equal. There are many minority communities that are persecuted. Shias are targeted by militants.  Anyone depending on Pakistan for support is really pushing his luck. It is highly probable that Pakistan will cease to exist as a nation in a few decades, destroyed by the terrorism it nurtures, consumed by the hatred for minorities and ethnic groups.

Kasmiris, just think. Don't you want to progress and prosper ? Don't you yearn for peace ? Do you not wish to see your children go to school ? Do you want to let a few misguided gun-totting youth hold you to ransom ? Can you imagine what life will be under the terror outfits ? Just read up on what the situation is in Libya or Iraq. Forget aazadi, you will only be a slave under the militant rulers.
Let not the militant propaganda sway you. Do not be brainwashed by the aazadi brigade. You need to chart your future, your destiny. And the only way is to kick out the aazadi mongers and work for your own progress.

Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hamin ast. - If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here. So said the emperor Jehangir about Kashmir.  It is entirely up to you Kashmiris to regain the paradise that was.