Patriotism and war

People in Pakistan aged under 50 years are fortunate; they have never witnessed war, and naturally we can only all hope they never do. But the lack of awareness of what a war is about and what horrors it can bring is frightening, especially in a country which, like its neighbour to the east, is equipped with nuclear weapons and has the ability to cause mass destruction within minutes.

In this scenario, we ask why, as tensions between India and Pakistan built up, with once again the disputed territory of Kashmir lying at the centre of the problem, there were so many open and sometimes almost gleeful calls for war; why there was so much cheering on for leaders, political and military to begin the conflict – as if it was some kind of cricket game or other contest in which a kind of mock battle took place.

But of course real war is not about animated computer images or people in coloured stripes hitting a cricket ball out of the ground – it is about blood and suffering and human misery. For a country with a relatively short history, Pakistan already has too much experience of war. It seems, however, that the message from these conflicts has not been learned.

All the trappings of war have come along with the calls delivered over social media, the mainstream media and other forums. As news has come in of planes patrolling, small gatherings of youth on the streets in Lahore and other cities have played anthems essentially originally meant for cricketing competitions. Older anthems from other bands and singers have also rung out.

But there is nothing joyful about a real clash between the forces of two nations. Indeed, it is not something to even contemplate, and certainly not something to ask for. The only solution naturally is dialogue, negotiation and settlement. A reality in which so many people on our side of the border and even more ferociously in India should be baying for war is unacceptable.

We should ask ourselves who would benefit from such a war. India and Pakistan are both major importers of arms. Pakistan buys mainly from China, the fifth largest arms manufacturer in the world, and from other nations. India makes its purchases from Russia, America and, we understand, now Israel. It is obviously the nations which sell these arms which benefit from this. The massive amounts of money that go into the purchase of these arms, from countries with limited resources which prevent them from feeding their people, clothing them, housing them or providing them education, is something to consider very carefully in itself.

If we stopped buying arms, both countries would have a far better capacity to uplift their own people and provide their country with the elements which make for a genuinely strong nation, with the abilities of the people fully developed and brought forward in capacities where they can serve national interests by teaching others and by offering them aid and expertise in all the areas where it is required.

It is anthems of peace we should be hearing. Yes, there have been genuine and determined calls for peace from Islamabad. This of course is welcome. But people too need to be persuaded that war is simply not a solution. The pro-war messages over social media should make us all think. Maybe in our schools and institutes of higher learning, our children and youth should be taught more about what constitutes war. We wonder how many know about the events that took place in the then territory of East Pakistan from 1970 to 1971, and of course in other places around the globe both before and after that date

Only by studying the past can we learn to build a better future. It is quite evident that the people of both countries need to learn before they put forward their views on television channels and other forums. It is frightening that the second largest nation in the world in terms of population, India, and Pakistan, which will soon become the fifth largest nation, appear to be oblivious to these realities. The media hype from India has been especially terrifying, indicating what dangers ignorance and frenzied bias can bring. There should be no room for such bias in countries that need to be working to build a strong future for all their people.

As happens whenever there is talk of conflict, there has been far too much regurgitating of old, racist labels and old feelings of hatred. This animosity has been deliberately created over many years. The recognition that when politics is taken away India and Pakistan have common bonds is forgotten too frequently.

The peace marches that have taken place in all major cities are therefore important. The numbers which have participated in them in both India and Pakistan need to be increased. This can happen only with a wider recognition that war is not something to be trifled with or called for, but a catastrophe which must be avoided at all costs and through the determined will of all people. Instead of war, both countries should be working to remove the glaring income disparities and the overwhelming poverty their countries face. They should also be working to better the future of Kashmiris. In real terms, this is possible only by creating a lasting peace.

The two nations, tied together in so many ways, need to join together if they are to permit themselves the environment in which people are put first and the arms race put aside. We simply cannot afford to squander massive amounts of money on arms which should never be used, even if in the current environment it is inevitable that both countries will try to strengthen their militaries as much as possible.

The change can come essentially only after the core issue of Kashmir is sorted out and people of the territory finally given a chance, over 70 years after Partition, to make their voices heard. Their deprivation of this right to choose for so many decades has added to the feelings that have built up in the area and given rise to fierce nationalism. Eradicating groups, no matter where they are located, which urge violence to battle for the freedom of Kashmir can help in creating a ground which can be used as a platform for talks. The Pakistan government appears to have recognised this, judging from recent statements and decisions. The process needs to be taken forward and at the same time the chorus for war turned down by educating people about the dividends peace can bring and why it is essential we steer away from all talk of war.

The willingness of people to suggest that nuclear weapons be used if necessary indicates they have no real understanding of what these weapons would mean. The images of Hiroshima or Nagasaki it would appear do not flash across their field of vision when they talk in this manner. Such images must be brought to the forefront of the visual field of everyone in both nations so that change can be created and real alternatives to war discovered.

The writer is a freelance columnist and former newspaper editor.

Email: kamilahyat@hotmail.com