IMPLICATIONS OF 9/11 ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION
WITH RESPECT TO THE INDO-PAK REALTIONS

BY ISMAIL DILAWAR

INTRODUTION
Undoubtedly, in the contemporary globalized world no state can remain un-influenced by any occurrence taking place in any part of the world. This shrinkage of the International politics was very much manifested in the tragic event of September 11 2001,which changed the entire face of the world politics by bringing about unavoidable challenges, as well as opportunities for the International state and non state actors. but, this paper would be focused on the implications of 9/11, on south Asian politics in regard to the Indo-Pak conflict resolution developments.

INDIA AFTER 9/11: (INDIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS 9/11)
Occurrence of 9/11, and consequent US war against terrorism brought about fascinating opportunities for the die-hard Indian establishment, who was extremely keen to undermine the Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, to discredit the Kashmir freedom movement and stigmatize Pakistan as a terrorist state which is , to India, involved in border infiltration and cross border terrorism. So as it got an opportunity it started propaganda war against Pakistan. It did its best to draw the attention of international community in general, and the US in particular towards Pakistan Kashmir policy of supporting the militant Jihadi groups. India took following measures to achieve its designs:

(a) Pakistan was accused to be involved in the 13 December attack on the Indian parliament, Jammu incident of 14,may 2002, and bomb blasting outside the Legislative Assembly.
(b) More then half a million troops were deployed on the border of Pakistan.
(c) Demanded to hand over 20 alleged terrorists.
(d) Reduced the diplomatic representation.
(d) India cut off rail, road and air links, thus eliminated people to people contacts.
(f) Demanded Pakistan to stop supporting "terrorism" in Kashmir, and to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan, thus launching all of such diplomatic
efforts India tried to defame Pakistan as being involved in what it called “cross-border terrorism’.

PAKISTAN'S RESPONSE TO INDIA
9/11 unfolded the most crucial and critical situation for Pakistan, it ever faced, as it
had to cope with the Indian propaganda war besides, supporting the US war against
terror, in spite of the local religious parties' opposition, Pakistan responded to India
as:
(a) Any aggression, threatening its territorial integrity and national solidarity, was
declared to be dealt with an iron hand.
(b) Demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops from its border.
(c) Urged The International community to force India to de-escalate tension along its
borders and resume negotiations for peaceful resolution of the conflict.
(d) Refused to hand over 20 alleged Pakistani national to India.
(e) Jihadi groups like "Lashkar-e- Taiba" and Jaish Muhammad" were banded.
(f) Initiated measures to launch a crack down on terrorist elements within Pakistan.
(g) Stern actions were announced to stop, what India called” Cross Border Terrorism"
(Musharraf's speech of January 12, 2002). Consequently, avoiding the Indian
diplomatic pressure, Pakistan resolved to continue its diplomatic support to the
freedom struggle of Kashmir.

IMPLICATIONS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ON CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
Keeping, all of the afore-mentioned bitter developments, in mind one can never
have an optimistic approach, regarding the successfulness of the conflict resolution process between the two nuclear capable (but poverty-stricken) rivals rather, it is very true to say that 9/11 has brought about negative implications for the conflict resolution process, since the course of relations between the two had further tensed and both continued, to maintain a bellicose stance, exchange of angry statements undermining each other’s contributions in the US led war against terrorism. Consequently, because of this confrontation once again not only the region’s security was put into jeopardy but the extremist elements got an opportunity to strengthen their Position in the two states concerned.

REASONS BEHIND THESE NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTH ASIA WERE AS FOLLOWS

(a) Indian exploitative attitude towards the US was against terror as it tried to link the
Kashmir militancy with the international terrorism.
(b) Inflammatory statements on the part of the leadership of the both sides.
(c) Adoption of "tit-for-tat" policies, instead of adopting conciliatory policy on the part
of Pakistani military leadership.
(d) A visible influence of the right wing Hindu fundamentalist forces on the foreign
policy of India towards Pakistan.
In short 9/11 possessed severe blow on the face of the conflict resolution process in South Asia, because of the unpragmatic, exploitative and counter-productive policies of the die-hard and war loving leaderships of the India and Pakistan respectively.

CONCLUSION
Concluding the paper, it would be appropriate to declare the both states faulty for the escalation of situation, which jeopardized the regional security in case of a nuclear war. The time has come, while both should realize the need of time and should come on the "table-talk" paving the way for mutual cooperation and regional integration, because the days have gone where the conflicts used to be resolved by swords (wars).

PREPARED BY ISMAIL DILAWAR
CLASS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
B.A(H) 3RD YEAR, 2003

All content (C) Department of International Relations, Karachi University

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