Peaceniks are nice people. I am not sure about movements at any time, for they too become political if not commercial enterprises for certain media groups to use people-to-people contact for just making music, quite literally. One does not need to assert peace if the intention is purely cultural.
However, I do know that families are separated, and it is not only due to the Partition, although that is the most heart wrenching memory because it divided the country and, to an extent, the people. I do know how getting visas for people who can spot the sliver of a river or peek at trees across the border are torn because of such divisions and acrimony. These are not the ones who will go via Wagah.
While I wait for that, I cannot deny that this short by Google is indeed a warm recognition of the soul of what were once 'one people':
Google Search - Reunion from Google Pakistan on Vimeo.
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This is far more important than the hype over our Home Minister P. Chidambaram being in the same room as a Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef at a non-government function.
" This is how the peace narrative of India-Pakistan relations go. "
ReplyDeleteFV, Never did quite understand this narrative that chooses to overlook many decades of active hostility foisted by that country in India. People having families across the border is no reason to pretend that peace is an option with a hostile enemy nation that has never been shy to proclaim its intentions via its actions (people always lie, so words don't count).
Mullah Zaeef's visit is part of the larger picture of how India has to deal with a pakistani govt. that has made very clear about its intention to escalate violence in the region once the US leaves afghanisthan. Short of the complete dissolution of the current pakistani establishment, there is little hope or sense in desiring peace with pakistan...but I am just stating the obvious.
-Al
FV, I am sure you already knew that youtube is banned in Pakistan -- the pakistani agreed "in principle" to life the ban...but principles are rarely put to practise. Don't really understand the point of this silly ad when the people it targets are forbidden from seeing it. Who is the audience in that case? everyone else?
ReplyDelete-Al
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/06-Oct-2013/govt-decides-to-lift-ban-on-youtube
I wrote: " the pakistani agreed "in principle" to life the ban."
ReplyDeleteThat should be "the pakistani govt. agreed "in principle"".
-Al
Al:
ReplyDeleteThe audience for this ad is anyone who uses Google in the region, I think.
While I have already said a peacenik solution makes little sense, one cannot be insensitive to personal emotions. Just as NRIs long for home...
My issue has always been with who decides on this peace, and how ineffective it is at the political level.
{Mullah Zaeef's visit is part of the larger picture of how India has to deal with a pakistani govt. that has made very clear about its intention to escalate violence in the region once the US leaves afghanisthan. }
Zaeef did not land here on his own, and if indeed India will have to deal with a Pakistan where Taliban plays an important role, then I call India's attitude pragmatic. We do deal with droning superpowers, too.
And, I am afraid, others can point a finger at our human rights record too.
If we have to deal with a hostile neighbour, then we need to address those hostilities, which we do not do with enough.
Yes, I do know that YouTube is banned in Pakistan. Obviously, it is ridiculous, and that is what all Pakistanis I know say. Out loud. What has this got to do with us?
FV:"My issue has always been with who decides on this peace, and how ineffective it is at the political level. "
ReplyDeleteFV, As far as I can tell, It is only ineffective because of hostility of one side that thinks it can send in terrorists and simultaneously pretend to talk peace. There is a difference between an adversary and an enemy, and one treats the latter as the former at one's own peril. Pakistan's establishment/government unfortunately has decided to be in the latter category
"then I call India's attitude pragmatic"
Yes, Indeed, that is what I was pointing out, that interaction with Mullah zaeef may be more important to India than making peace with pakistan. India has to work with the Afghan Taliban to keep Pakistani army's "non state actors" from causing trouble in India's borders. "Human rights" is just a hypocritical stick that countries seem to use to beat up on other countries to create better negotiating positions, so any such violation is an internal matter of states for the most part, unless the states themselves demonstrate a lack of will or capability to deal with such violations under their own constitution/state structures.
" Obviously, it is ridiculous, and that is what all Pakistanis I know say. Out loud. What has this got to do with us?"
For one thing, Pakistan is yet to respond positively to serious concerns and sticky issues pertaining to India, and if Pakistanis cannot see these videos what is the game in showing these to Indians? Essentially, I am questioning Google's motives for such a video when they know damn well that youtube is banned in Pakistan. Google works with the US's intelligence agencies as is well known -- I don't buy all these feel good stuff by entities that have their own axe to grind. So really, what's google's game here? I would like to know. Seems like some sort of consent manufacturing going on by some vested interests to me.
cheers
Al