The rhetoric against each other may sound good and give sense grandiosity. But it is a false sense of security and superiority. It is time we have to see the situation in present context. The war costs are enormous in all respects, military, humanitarian, economic, diplomatic and environmental.

According to strategic foresight group, the 700000 troops mobilized by India and 300000 by Pakistan from December 2001 to October 2002 had cost 1.8 billion US$ to India and 1.2 US$ to Pakistan. This amounts to 0.38 per cent of GDP for India and 1.79 per cent GDP for Pakistan.

As per estimates 8,733 military personnel from India and 13,896 military personnel from Pakistan, that is a total of 22629 lost their lives in the four wars fought between the two countries. In addition approximately 50000 were wounded or maimed on both sides. All these wars saw displacement of people from conflict zone to safer places. This affected the lives of hundreds of thousands people who were made to live in refugee camps in unsafe and unhygienic conditions. Children suffered loss of school days which are so important for their education and development as good citizens. It well known that women and children are the worst victims in such situations. In all, it is assumed that at least 100000 families suffered direct human costs on account of the four wars between India and Pakistan.

South Asia is one of the most deprived regions. Our hunger index is at 102 out of 117, Pakistan 94, Bangladesh 88, Sri Lanka 66. We are at 129 in human development index while Pakistan is at 152. We have to care for our issues of health, education and other development needs. It is unfortunate that our economy is in its worst crisis in the last 45 years. Pakistan economy is so poor that it is in the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Therefore it is all the more important that two countries work in unison. The jingoism and rhetoric based on the domestic compulsion can lead to disastrous outcome.

Repeated statements against each other breed mistrust. To justify themselves the governments take measures restricting people to people relations. People to people exchange programmes suffer because of visa restrictions which could have otherwise help in dispelling mistrust and hatred against each other which is so important for lasting peace.

We are not living in 1970s. Both counties are nuclear weapons possessing countries. If the rhetoric continues, proxy war and the ongoing low level conflict can escalate into larger war. Under those circumstances use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out. If the states decide against using these weapons, there is danger of these weapons falling in the hands of non-state actors. Studies conducted by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) a Nobel Peace Prize awardee organization has shown that the impact of nuclear exchange will not be limited to the two countries only. It will have global ramifications. Due to long nuclear winter as a result of enormous smoke, dust and suit blocking entry of sunrays from reaching the earth there will be large scale crop failure. The effect of crop failure will be more in poor countries and among poor people in these countries. This will put over 2 billion people at risk.

Peace is the only choice. There is no alternative to this. Both countries should continue to have dialogue without any preconditions. India as a bigger country and with history of powerful peace movement and a founder of non-aligned movement has more responsibility. The present government must consider this. Let us take initiative in initiating dialogue with the neighbor. Propose people’s exchange programmes. Pakistan bashing during the Delhi elections has not benefitted the ruling party. It is time Prime Minister takes note of this and moves forward. A video circulating in social media showing a woman now 97 who had stayed back in Pakistan at the time of partition met her daughter who had migrated to India and is now aged 77, in Kartarpur is so heart rendering and a ray of hope. Let such events be the beginning. (IPA Service)