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| Relations between BJP and Pakistani Army, Ayesha Siddiqa exposes BJP | | | RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 21: What did the American-based Pakistani national Ayesha Siddiqa, an analyst with the Department of South Asian Studies, John Hopkins University, Washington D. C., write only the other day about the failure of India-Pakistan Foreign Minister-level talks, as also about the relations and understanding between the Pakistani Army and the BJP? She wrote an article, titled "The Pakistani military's favourite is the BJP - And why not? Good news for GHO, bad noose for South Asia" immediately after the collapse of the Indo-Pak talks, held on July 15 at Islamabad.
She, among other things, wrote: "Clearly, the two teams were not on the same page, or even near to it. The Indian team wanted a solution to the terrorism problem, which was not the host's primary consideration. Pakistan's foreign minister was keen to raise other issues such as human rights atrocities by the Indian forces, and water. Clearly, there was no meeting of hearts. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was not keen to be viewed by the military establishment at home as being soft on India…Today's Army GHQ is not convinced that a peace formula can be negotiated, especially now that the stakes for both sides are higher than ever before. While Kashmir remains central to Pakistan's demands, there is also concern about Afghanistan where General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani and his fellow generals want to see a Pakistan-friendly government. As proof of its friendliness, a future Afghan government would have to make sure it doesn't align with India. This is why foreign minister Qureshi was conscious that the stakes were high…US seems more dependent on Pakistan for help with scouting for 'good' Taliban with whom it is possible to negotiate. In any case, US-Pakistan military-to-military contact is far stronger than government-to-government. Signs of American weariness are clear and this raises the stakes even more."
She also wrote: "In Washington, in April, General Kiyani suggested the US talk to some 'good Taliban'. GHO believes that some Taliban and jihadis are not bad partners for the Pakistani state. This was recently enunciated by former Army chief Mirza Aslam Beg, who insisted that the Siraj-ud-din Haqqani network should not be touched. A similar feeling exists vis-à-vis Let, JeM and other jihadi groups ensconced in mainland Pakistan. The military is willing to put up with their eccentricities as they can ensure no other state other than state actor replaces US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. Certainly, India is viewed as a common enemy and one to be fought once American troops begin to draw down."
The most significant part of her article is its operative part and it reads: "It stands to reason that there seemed to be hardly any incentive in offering New Delhi any concession when it appears to have its back to the wall. Moreover, the understanding is that there is no point in expanding talks with the Indian government that may be less than elastic about making concessions. The Pakistan military's favourite is the BJP."
The operative part of the article establishes that the Pakistani Army sees in the BJP a good negotiator, as the BJP can be more flexible and accommodating. This belief of the Pakistani Army is well-founded and is based on what the BJP, when in power, was willing to do to befriend Pakistan and accommodate the Kashmiri Muslims' sub-nationalism.
All this proves that the BJP can go to any extent to damage the national cause. It would be only appropriate to conclude that the Congress is hundred times better than the BJP, notwithstanding its various acts of omission and commission. The manner the Indian Foreign Office is now tackling Pakistan is a proof. Will the BJP refashion its policy towards Pakistan and Kashmir? It must. It is need of the time. More, its core constituency also wants the BJP to play the role it used to play before coming to power at the Centre. (Concluded)
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