Why India should completely isolate Pakistan

The separation is inevitable now

        (By  Ayush Singh)

From the day Pakistan was officially  created (14-08-1947), She has offered us (India) nothing except pain. While partition, for India, was one of the saddest phrases of our history, for Pakistan, it was the most joyful occasion. As for them, it was unacceptable to live under a Hindu majority country. Hence, they created Pakistan, the first official Islamic state in the world.

India has always been generous towards Pakistan (“Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam” phenomena). Every Prime Minister of India (Modi is no exception!) has tried to maintain a healthy relationship between the two nations. The goodwill gesture has always been shown from our side only. And what exactly have we got in return? Four wars. Massive casualty of our Soldiers and Civilians. And wastage of two of the most crucial assets. Money and time, in order to have good ties with a failed state. Many people still believe, that, by engaging in peace talks (“Aman Ki Aasha” and “Track 2 Diplomacy”) and cultural exchanges with Pakistan, we can yield positive results. Well! people are free to live in fool’s paradise. The fact of the matter is that even after 65+ years of this crap called “Aman Ki Aasha”. Have we achieved peace? The answer is a big NO. The moment anyone says this to a peace talk enthusiast, the first thing they’ll say is “So, you want a war with Pakistan?” What they do not realize is, the war (proxy) from their side is going on already.

After the Uri attacks (the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades) which took place on 18^th September where 19 of our soldiers lost their lives. The feeling among the common folks in India, to take  revenge, arose again. While some suggested stripping of IWT(Indus Water Treaty), some said to take back the MFN(Most Favored Nation) status from Pakistan. Some suggested banning of Pakistani artists from India, some wanted a surgical strike or a covert-Op against Pakistan.

Finally, 10 days after the Uri attacks, India carried out surgical strikes on Indian soil which is illegally occupied by Pakistan(Pok). The strikes killed at least 38 Pakistani terrorists. This news came as a joy for common Indians as they were fed up with the Pakistan sponsored terrorism for so long. 

The Uri attacks raised another serious debate. Whether India should cut all ties (cultural, economical, political) with Pakistan or not? This is one pertinent question which all of us should ponder on. And this is one question where the entire discourse has been set wrong.

Now, let me elucidate why I support complete isolation of Pakistan. Be it economically or culturally or politically. As far as economics or trade with Pakistan is concerned, India’s export to Pakistan in 2015-16 were valued at 2.17 billion dollars whereas imports from Pakistan were valued at roughly 500 million dollars. So if India imposes trade sanctions (which they’ll never do) on Pakistan, it is going to be India which will incur huge loss and it will heavily impact on India’s balance of trade. But is it only about minting money from Pakistan? What’s more valuable to us? Lives of our Jawans or some billion dollars of money? When you are in a war like situation with a death cult who is on a suicidal mission to destroy your civilization. Will you prefer trade with such a nation?

Now, coming to the cultural ties aspect with Pakistan. This is one area where many of our people have got it all wrong. When the debate of banning Pakistani artists from India sparked, the pro-Pak artists lobby said the following -: “Pakistani artists are not terrorists”, “They can’t condemn the Uri attacks as it may risk their lives”, “Art is above all”. Now let me rebut all this one by one.

First, let us go a little back in history. India was one among the very few countries that vehemently opposed South Africa’s apartheid policy. It was on the forefront of totally isolating the country. India cut off trade with South Africa. Not only that. India also boycotted South African cricket team and ended the boycott as late as 1991, after the end of apartheid. Now, tell me, were all South African cricketers racists? No. Still we boycotted them and rightly so, because we were fighting against racism, because we were fighting for the Mandela’s. The same applies to Pakistani actors. Its not that they are bad people, but, remember if we want to isolate Pakistan on international Diaspora, we have to take some tough calls. And this is one of them. Secondly, there’s no reason, as to  why  they can’t condemn the Uri attacks, if Pakistani artists can condemn the Paris attacks. And to say that it would risk their lives is firstly not our problem and secondly is bunkum. The Peshawar attacks was perpetrated by Tehrik-e-Taliban(a terrorist organisation) and the artists condemned it. The Uri attacks was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammad(another terrorist organisation) but the artists didn’t condemn it. This only tells us one thing that those artists are loyal to their country unlike many Indian artists. In fact, Adnan Sami condemned the 26/11 attacks(at that time he was not an Indian citizen). So what stops these artists from condemning the Uri attacks? Now, to say that don’t drag art into all this is farce. Art is NOT above the nation. And to all those who say that art is border-less, let me quote what Theresa May recently said, “If you believe you’re citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere."

And lastly the political level engagements with Pakistan. Many people often say, and rightly so that the common Pakistanis are not our enemies. Our fight is against terrorism. Therefore don't hate all the Pakistanis. Well even if that's true, that's not the point here. We have to look at those people who enjoy the power in Pakistan. And this mainly includes the army, ISI and the jihadis. All of them are rogues. And it's a well established fact that the government and the civil society of Pakistan has very little influence on the decision making process. Hence, political engagements with Pakistan is a waste of time and efforts. 
Therefore, I suggest complete isolation of Pakistan on every front. The hate among the common Pakistanis against India is to such an extraordinary extent that it can't be rectified now. We've to accept the separation and move on. Live and let live. And if they don't let us live then as Arun Shourie says "For an eye, both eyes. For a tooth, whole jaw." Remember,Pakistan has nothing to offer us except terrorism. So let us move on and stop wasting our time to please a failed state.