The looming war clouds between India and Pakistan and the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestinian Hamas is not good news for the world. No wants war. Neither do anyone want such violence to continue. This calls for great restraint on the part of all concerned especially the leadership in India and Pakistan. Likewise the strikes by Israeli military on Hamas target leading to new wave of killings are both unfortunate and calls for restraint. The Hamas leadership must also shoulder responsibility for the situation going out of control. Tel Aviv’s argument is that the continuing provocation by Hamas through rocket and missile attacks on civilian targets has led to no other option but the right of Israel to defend its borders and citizens. While both Israel and Hamas may have their justification for the latest escalation of violence, yet the biggest casualties on both sides will be the innocent civilians. Therefore resort to violence must end on both sides. No amount of justifications can resolve pending issues. Israel must give up the dangerous option of a military solution to end the conflict in the region. Similarly, the Palestinian side including the Hamas leadership must ensure that all forms of provocation against Israel must end.
With regard to the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan in South Asia, it is quite obvious that New Delhi is angered by the audacious attack carried out in the country’s financial capital of Mumbai by terror elements operating from within Pakistan. Similar to the political dynamics in the Middle East, India as the bigger country like Israel, must demonstrate both maturity and statesmanship in the face of such provocation. But unlike the case of Israel, India should not contemplate even the option of a surgical military strike inside Pakistan as is being suggested by some. Knowing the past animosity and the reality of two countries both possessing nuclear weapons, any military option is both dangerous and not advisable.
However, to ease tensions and look for peaceful options, some form of mediation will be required. The decision of the outgoing US President George W Bush to put a pause on Washington’s active role in the Middle East needs to be reversed and the incoming President Barack Obama will have to be prepared to play a more active role in helping resolve the question of Palestine and their rightful claim for a homeland that is at peace with Israel. The unresolved Palestinian problem remains the rallying point for a plethora of grievances among the Arab and Muslim population in the region. Therefore the sooner Washington returns to its pro-active diplomatic role, the greater chances there is of the stalled peace process getting back on track. As far as South Asia goes, one should applaud the active diplomatic role played by Washington to ease tension between the two nuclear neighbors. The United States must continue to keep a close watch in the region and ensure timely mediation whenever required. While India will be called to show restraint, the international community must put pressure on Pakistan to put an end to terror camps operating from within. The democratically elected government in Pakistan headed by Asif Zardari—husband of slain Benazir Bhutto who was killed exactly one year ago by the suspected Taliban—must now demonstrate the ability of democratic forces to end all forms of extremism, which has pulled down Pakistan to the heap of a failed State. If the current political establishment in Islamabad cannot deliver it will be the end game to the present trail of democracy in Pakistan.
