Indo-Pak Relations
Press Statement by Swami Agnivesh
New Delhi
16th Jan , 2013
BSP’s Mayawati’s statement,
“War not the only Solution,” is quite sobering and statesman like, compared to
BJP’s Sushma Swaraj’s ugly, jingoistic remark about ten heads of Pakistani soldiers
in return for one of an Indian soldier, as well as SP’s Ramgopal Yadav’s war
mongering statement, “war the only solution.”
But the sad part
of continuing border clashes and the despicable beheading of Indian soldier is
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that, “there can be no more business
as usual,” which threatens to derail the Indo-Pak dialogue and peace process.
The suspension of
‘Visa on arrival’ for senior citizens at Vagah Border is a knee jerk response
by our authorities. It will affect the trade and commerce between our two
countries, and strengthen the hawkish elements on both sides of the border. A
diplomatic “war of words” is understandable, but actual war mongering should be
resisted.
I fully endorse
Mani Shankar Ayyer’s approach – whatever the provocation, the Indo-Pak,
dialogue-based peace process should remain “uninterrupted and uninterruptible”.
India should be seen
strengthening the democratic forces in Pakistan and desist from
walking into a trap of Pakistan’s Army.
(Swami Agnivesh)
