by Rana Irfan Rafi
These days. The situation between Pakistan and India is very tense. Any time a misshape can occur. One mistake led to a huge collision. Both countries have sent their military forces and modern weapons to the loc. Some areas along the line of control have already been fighting in recent days. And it feels like something big and dangerous may happen soon. If a full-scale war begins, especially a nuclear war, it will destroy both countries and bring terrible damage to the whole of Asia. Western powers will take advantage by selling weapons and making money, but the people of Pakistan and India will suffer the most.
This is not the first time tensions have risen between the two countries; even after 77 years of independence, Pakistan and India have not learnt to live peacefully as neighbors. They have fought 2 wars, in 1965 and 1971, and had constant political and military conflicts. The 1971 war was especially painful, as it led to the separation of East Punjab and the creation of Bangladesh. Thousands of lives were lost, and yet instead of building peace, countries continue to treat each other like enemies.
It is important to ask why this is happening. Why are these two countries still enemies after more than seven decades? The answer is not just in the history of the partition of the Kashmir issue; there are bigger forces at play. The biggest problem is that the western powers, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel and others, don’t want Asia to become strong and peaceful. They keep Asia unstable on purpose; they sell weapons, spread misinformation and support one country against the other country whenever they see an opportunity. Whenever there is tension in the region, western countries benefit the most while Asian countries lose lives, money and trust. Afghanistan is a clear example. The Soviet Union fought in Afghanistan many years after that, and then the United States came and fought for two decades.
In both cases it was the Afghan people who suffered the most, while the West gained political control and business profits. The same happened in Iraq, where the foreign invasion led to the destruction of a stable country. Syria, Palestine, and Yemen have also suffered due to foreign interference. Now the same pattern is visible again as Pakistan and India stand on the edge of another possible war. Sadly, the biggest weakness of Asia is that its countries are not united. Instead of solving their problems together, they depend on foreign powers and sometimes even act against each other to serve their short-term national interests. There are four major powers in Asia with strong militaries and growing economies: China, India, Pakistan and Iran. If these four countries sit together and build a regional alliance, they can create a powerful bloc that ensures peace and development in Asia.
They can settle their border issues, share resources like water, gas, and oil, fight terrorism together, and promote trade across the region. Unfortunately, this is not happening; instead, there is distrust, hatred and competition. These divisions allow foreign powers to keep interference in Asian matters. Terrorism is a common enemy for all words, especially Asia’s countries. Attacks like Palwama in India, APS and Tezgam incidents in Pakistan and incidents in Iran and China show that no country is safe from terrorism. If these four nations come together and share intelligence, they can build a strong defence system that prevents such attacks. But right now every country is trying to deal with terrorism on its own. And that has not worked. It’s also important to talk about trade and the economy. Rather than spending billions on weapons, Asian countries should focus on building railways, highways and trade routes that connect the region. Peace becomes stronger and hate becomes weaker; Europe is an example of it.
After fighting two world wars, European countries created the European Union and now live in peace and prosperity. If Europe can do it, why can’t Asia? The answer is again the Western powers don’t want Asia to become peaceful and united. They will lose their market for weapons, their political influences and their control over global affairs. They support one country against another and act as ‘mediators’ just to maintain their own power. The truth is, war brings nothing but loss. If Pakistan and India go to war, one may win a small piece of land, but both will lose much more – lives and economy. A nuclear war will not have any winner; it will destroy everything. Instead of preparing for war, both countries should focus on dialogue; they should talk and understand each other’s concerns and work together to solve them. Even difficult issues like Kashmir can be solved if there is political will and public pressure for peace. People of both countries want jobs, education and a better future for their children –not more graves. Time is still in our hands.
Leaders of China, Pakistan, India and Iran should take the brave step of building a new Asian block. These countries can create a security system to protect the region from terrorism and foreign attacks. They can open their borders for business, not for bombs. They can develop a common market like the European Union and lift millions out of poverty. These nations also collaborate on climate change, health emergencies and education. They can exchange ideas, technologies and resources. But for all this to happen, there must be trust, unity and courage. Policymakers must think beyond party politics and act for the region. Civil society and media in all these countries should promote the message of peace and unity.
The people must raise their voices against war and demand solutions through political dialogue. The time to act is now. If we miss this chance, we may face a disaster that we will never recover from. The real victory is in peace –not in killing each ther. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Asia is home to more than half of the world’s population. It has ancient civilisations. Talented people and huge natural resources can make it the most powerful and peaceful region in the world – if only its countries stop fighting each other and start working together. We must remember enemies don’t live across the border; they live inside mindsets, hatred and division. Let us change the mindset and let us make Asia a home of peace, strength and progress.
The author is a free-lance writer and associated with development sector
