A rational response

In the midst of the hysteria that was poured in from New Delhi following the Pulwama attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir which killed 44 members of the Indian Central Police Reserve Force, there has been a sane and reasonable response from Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan in a short video message broadcast to the nation Tuesday morning, said that if India provided “actionable evidence”, the accusations would be investigated by Pakistan. Imran also asked why it was being assumed that Pakistan would have an interest in promoting militancy given that it had been fighting the menace itself for decades. The short speech was reassuring amidst the hype which continues to surround the killings. The allegations made by India that Pakistan in some way bore responsibility for the attack have not been backed up by any solid material or other piece of evidence. India’s threats of action inside Pakistan also serve no purpose except to stir up further tensions in the region. Imran had also made it clear that Pakistan would retaliate if any action was carried out on its soil.

We hope of course that there will be no action and no further irrationality. However, the aftermath of the event at Pulwama throws doubt over what is to happen next. In India a kind of frenzy has been whipped up with politicians, the media and celebrities all playing a role in this. We can only hope they will find it possible to return to the realms of sensible behaviour. Across India, Muslims – and especially Kashmiris – have faced violence while there have been actions inside the occupied valley which further injure the people of Kashmir. Mob violence has been seen in Jammu and Srinagar as well as other places in the region while Indian security forces have been making a series of arrests. It is time to end further violence or unreasonable behaviour and promote the idea that progress is possible only through a process of discussion and negotiation.

It is the duty of political leaders in both India and Pakistan to help ensure this. The kind of vicious rhetoric we have been hearing form public figures such as the popular movie star Kangana Ranaut and others who have cancelled visits to Pakistan must be stemmed. This can only happen when both politicians and civil society leaders set the right example. Actions such as the tearing down of posters of Imran Khan in India, the hacking of official Pakistani websites and the flurry of comments and accusations must stop. The Pakistani prime minister’s proposals make sense. We hope they will be heard and that a greater effort will be made to ensure sanity prevails and the situation does not worsen any further especially for the people of Kashmir.