     
|
|
 |
|
Safe Passage?
2nd June 1999 Aseem Asthana @bom4.vsnl.net.in
Hello, I wish to put on record my protest against the recent offer by the Indian defence Minister, of considering safe passage to the militants. This is really shocking. How can India even consider safe passage to those people. We have lost two jets and one Mi 17 chopper in the war to push them out. At this stage we can not let the intruders go unpunished. This will only give rise to the feeling that India can be pushed around very easily. Also, the party that does the pushing around will come out of the incident without any serious damage to itself. We have been foolish in the past. Letting go of captured territory in the wars with Pakistan and giving the captors of Hazratbal Shrine a free passage out of India are examples of this. All this may look good for diplomacy but it has landed us in serious trouble. We could have leveraged the PoWs of '71 for the regaining the lost portions of the J & K state. Similarly, the gallantly captured Haji Pir pass was returned which has become a route for induction of militants in India. Unfortunately, our politicians were not interested in any serious planning for the country's interests, but only to gain a name for themselves in the international fora. In the case of Hazratbal Shrine, had the intruders been brought to book, as in an ambush and subsequently eliminated, then this would have sent out a loud and clear signal to Pakistanis that such for antics they would have to pay for with their lives. This is a time to show the world and Pakistan that we are a force to reckon with. We have already lost many people and some military hardware in Kargil. This sacrifice will go to waste if the militants are let go. Even in civil society, this would not be permitted. A thief can not get away only with what he has stolen but will have to pay for that crime by spending time an a prison. This 'term in prison' has a dual purpose. To act as a deterrent to such future mis-adventures and to force him to repay. This is society's way of getting back at the thief. So in all logic we should not permit the intruders to return alive to Pakistan. The same people with be used again in an act of aggression against India in future. They have to return - dead or captured by India. This might entail loosing some more of our brave soldiers and so it might appear that it would be more expensive to let them go than pursue them. But a cost-benefit analysis can not be done with respect to a nations honor. It is an idea that is invaluable. And whom are we showing this soft corner to? To a country which has the temerity to imprison Ft Lt Nachiketa even when there is no war on? I urge our politicians to do some serious rethinking. Bye, Aseem. Aseem Asthana, 239 A, New Swarg Mandir, Mhow 453441, MP, India. Tele - 91 7324 74603/78236. Fax - (001)(847) 589-3332, ICQ #36888504 Final Yr, B. E., Department of Comp Sc & Engg, Sri Govindram Sekseria Institute of Technology and Science, 23, Park Rd, Indore. MP. India. Alternate Email - [email protected]
