Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf travels to India in April to attend
a cricket match between the rival neighbors, and will hold talks
with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Pundits are hailing
it as the latest
example of the revival of “cricket diplomacy”:
Gen. Musharraf’s decision to attend echoes the “cricket diplomacy” of former Pakistani leader Gen Zia-ul Haq, who watched a match in Jaipur in 1987 during a time of strained bilateral relations. The two countries have fought three wars since independence in 1947 and went to the brink of a fourth in 2002. Last year, Pervez Musharraf paid a brief visit to the northern Pakistani city of Rawalpindi to watch part of a cricket match between his country and the visiting Indian team. Sporting ties are an important bellwether of bilateral relations and suffered in recent years before a rapprochement instigated by former Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee in April 2003. [BBC News]
Keeping with tradition, the two leaders have struck a friendly wager over the upcoming match. Winner takes Kashmir. Loser gets stuck with Bihar. Believe it.
Although Apul’s comment on Kashmir comes out of his witty pun and he may not mean it, here are some things I would like to put forward if there ever is such a match.
It is against the publicly stated policy of the Government of India that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral issue. You could be held liable in an Indian court (by a stretch, though).
It is tantamount into intervening in the internal affairs of India, which is an infringement on the soverignity of India.
Internationalizing the Kashmir issue is against the spirit of the Simla agreement. It just means that all Indian soldiers in the 1971 war died in vain.
It will be interesting if you try to arrange a similar sports match on the China/Taiwan issue or the Russia/Chechnya issue and see how many Chineese or Russian people come and attend.
Only people who have the slightest doubt the fact that Kashmir is an integral part of India will give any sort of patronage to such a match.
Or should it be, “Loser gets stuck with Pakistan” ?
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The Kashmiris should be the ones who decide whether they want to stay with India, Pakistan or go Independent. I think both Indian controlled and Pakistan controlled Kashmir should be completely demilitarized, the militant groups should be disarmed and the UN or some other credible international body should monitor a referendum (plebiscite) in all of Kashmir in which all Kashmiris should be allowed to vote including the Pandits in refugee camps around India. I dont know how this can be brought about, but it seems like a fair solution.
Al Mujahid
That isnt going to happen. The demography of Kashmir has been so wrecked that any plebiscite would be worthless. Best thing is to build trust between India and Pakistan, demilitarise, put the Jihadis from Pakistan on a leash and gradually create porous borders between the two Kashmirs so it is given soft autonomy within the Indian Union. The Modi’s of the world would be emboldened by another partition because that is exactly what would happen…..Jammu would not accept joining an Islamic Republic of Kashmir. And the thought of half a million Pandits sitting in their refugee camps casting a vote is distasteful. Casting a vote for what? They have been cleansed from their ancestral lands.
The main thing is to reduce troop numbers to relieve the Kashmiri peoples burden and lessen tension with Pakistan. Pakistan needs to abandon its ‘bleed India by a thousand cuts’ policy totally.
Only then can conditions for a respite for the Kashmiris and peace between India and Pakistan be achieved. In time matters of Kashmiri dominion and sovereignty can be resolved through bi-lateral co-operation and trade. It will happen naturally.
Dear Al Mujahid,
What that F do u know about Kashmir?
Have you ever been outside this country?
How can you talk of a plebiscite when there have been thousands of Kashmiri Pandit families that have been forced to vacate Kashmir due to terrorism? Do u even know how it feels like to be thrown out of your home and scattered around the country to start a new life?
After reading ur highly ignorant and moronic viewpoints (including the one to the post on Narendra Modi calling “all immigrants from India endorsing mass violence”) I would advice to to please think twice before you try to comment on something you know NOTHING bout.
And yea I have no problems endorsing violence against you…and mind you it has nothing to do with you being a minority or a majority….its just personal!
Kashmiri, As I stated earlier, the Pandits should have the right to vote. The Kashmiris have a right to self determination. They should decide for themselves. Whats wrong with that ?
The problem Al Mujahid is that Kashmir is that you dont read my first comment. Go through it again or in short
“Kashmir is an Integral part of India and anyone who does not think that way is doubting it is commiting a treason”
You my friend can be a loyal citizen of India or disloyal traitor.
my elder brother had a class mate in college (Kashmiri Hindu) who was studying in the North Western India while his family got kicked out of Kashmir and ended up in refugee camps in Delhi. That diwali (1990) he had no place to go during Diwali vacation. The Al Mujahids of the world sit in the west and rant about things in Kashmir and support cross border terrorism. Their only loyalty preety much is to ..you know what .. Also the Kathwaris (Ethan Allen) here in the US sell expensive sh*t to furniture buyers and fund terrorists in Kashmir. My brothers freind and his famile gets hurt.
RC, Where did you see me expressing support for cross border terrorism in Kashmir ? As I mentioned earlier, I believe that the militant groups in Kashmir should be disarmed. How exactly is that supporting cross border terrorism ?
because all the militant groups are NOT based in Kashmir – they are based in Pakistan. What do you suggest be done about them?
Wow, I’m a bit surprised at the militancy and aggressiveness of the comments here. I think it’s wonderful that India and Pakistan are trying to move forward in their relationship.
Seeing anti-Pakistan sentiment is a bit surprising in a blog which ostensibly has very reasonable, intelligent people coming and reading it.
even the most intelligent people can be overcome by emotion, baggage, history.
this blog attracts all kinds.
Oh oh … Ivory tower resident Deepak and EOFIA, I am so sorry you had to read comments based on reality from us lowly folks. I didnt know this site was for elitist p#ssies (no disrespect), who always want to remain in their fantasy land. If that is the case, then in the spirit of freedom of speech (sarcasm) I will stay away and you will have your fantasy blog.
Rejoice sepians, we have a Bush amongst us. You are either WITH RC or you’re a P#ssie :p
Changing reality requires one to push its boundaries RC. Your Kashmiri Hindu friend has suffered a lot. So have the people of Kashmir (even Muslims). Perhaps you would understand that their suffering is equal to your Hindu friend if you were subject to random body pats – of men and women, continuous military surveillance, constant fear of raids on your house and even human rights abuse.
All this happens both in P.O.K and Indian Kashmir, and I honestly dont know if its more in one place or the other.. but does it matter? Isn’t the important thing that we restore peace, that your friend get to go back and live happily where he belongs and the muslims who live there be able to live without constant military control?
Friendship between people is a good thing. The day there are anti-war demonstrations in Pakistan and India for any proposed Indo-Pak conflict will be the day they become impossible.
RC, you jackass, i was actually on YOUR side. serves me right for trying to smooth things over. anyone with your excessively touch attitude can piss off– your comment betrays how very little you know about me. thanks for interpreting MY comment in the worst possible way.
I apologize for going WAY overboard. But no call for comparing me to Bush (Thats the ultimate insult) Have a nice weekend my fellow concerned netizens!!
a lot of talk about kashmir, but how about some respect for my peoples from bihar. respect man, respect. where is it?
i’m sure the bihar-hating admin will delete this post. it’s probably some annoying literate humorless UP-hailing ombudsman.
when will the bashing stop?