Archive Articles: Peace Proposals For India And Pakistan 14 July 02
December 29, 2008

The greatest chance of there being a deliberate nuclear war is now between India and Pakistan. The flashpoint will be over Kashmir.

The problem over Kashmir goes back to the winding up of the British Empire in the Indian sub-continent. India contained many princely states that had a high degree of autonomy. Gandhi hoped that all of the states would agree to go into the new country. But some Muslim leaders wanted their own country and so the sub-continent had to be partitioned at the time of independence in 1947 between India and Pakistan.

Kashmir, on the Indo-Pakistan interface, had a Hindu ruler but most of his people were Muslims. The ruler could not make up his mind on whether to join India or Pakistan. Pakistan invaded Kashmir and India then sent in troops. The United Nations secured a ceasefire in 1949. Foreign observers were sent in to monitor the situation – this was one of Australia’s first operations for the UN.

The basic problem has not been solved and, in fact, it has become even more complicated. First, clashes have continued along the ceasefire line; for about half a century soldiers have been killed in border skirmishes. Second, China invaded the almost empty north-eastern part of Kashmir in 1962 and this has been a source of violence between India and China. Third, some people in Kashmir would now prefer to join neither India nor Pakistan but instead would like to form their own country.

Fourth, India and Pakistan now have nuclear weapons. There is a greater risk of these being used than the American and Russian using nuclear weapons in the Cold War. The Americans and Russian struggled against each other in the territory of other countries (such as Korea). But a conventional war between India and Pakistan in Kashmir would soon result in the forces of one side or the other falling back onto their own home territory and so nuclear weapons could be as a desperate measure.

Rene Wadlow, a French political scientist, recently set out a three point plan in the “International Herald Tribune” newspaper published in Paris. First, since Pakistan is host to Islamic militants that carry out terrorist raids in India, such as the December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament, the Pakistani Government should stop these groups. India has identified 20 people involved in the attacks but Pakistan will not hand them over. If the Pakistani government is worried about a domestic backlash, the people could be handed over to an international tribunal for a trial. The new International Criminal Court could be used for such a purpose.

Second, there needs to be increased safeguards on the nuclear weapons to prevent their accidental use. Western experts fear that the safeguards that have been developed are not as good as those the Americans and Russian used in the Cold War. Perhaps the Americans and Russians could offer some guidance.

Finally, there needs to be the establishment of longer range measures. Besides the official exchanges, more use can be made of non-governmental organizations and other unofficial contacts. This is called “second track diplomacy” and it is now being used to improve international dialogue. The technique has worked elsewhere in Asia and so should be used between India and Pakistan

The proposals from Dr Wadlow are all worthwhile and should be followed up. The Australian government first got involved in Kashmir in 1949. As a friend of both countries, it could take them up with the two countries.

Broadcast On Friday 12th July 2002 On Radio 2GB’s “Brian Wilshire Programme” At 9pm And On 14th July 2002 On “Sunday Night Live” At 10.30pm