May I draw kind attention to the heading of a news report in the Times of India of 14.1.2010 viz., Pakistanis want peace, not Pakistan Government? Given this situation and the fact that our leaders have agreed to the two nations theory while agreeing to the Partition of the country, the Berlin Wall (read LOC in J&K) between the two countries would never be broken.

India and Pakistan cannot be compared with East and West Germany because the sub-continent suffers from lack of education. Lack of education, especially in Pakistan, is a very big hurdle for the countries to surmount for without education and proper understanding of the situation, no amount of emotions are going to sway the political and so-called religious leaderships in both the countries to bring about a positive change. Both the Germanys had the advantage of educated masses, over whom religious leadership and rabble-rousing political one had no power. Only more education, or at least mass awareness of large populations, could bring about enough pressure on the political leaders to steer the wheel towards the road to peace and prosperity. Any Paki leader has to play to the gallery to stay in power, for the gallery is illeterate, uneducated and highly volatile. Mass literacy and universal education is the only answer that could lead Pakistani as well as Indian leadership towards total peace.

it is better if we think of Pak's present rather than its past. present Pak is on furnace and this present is going to be the unexpected future of Pakistan. at present it is very difficult to convince Pak Government officials for peace initiative that is for concrete action against terrorism infrastructure in Pak as we have seen their behavior after 26/11. its time for Pak to change .India cant take aggressive approach it has to be in defensive mode .so it has to just wait and watch .

Good Article.
But I feel the auther forgot that Mikhail Gorbachev also moved USSR towards disintegration

The solution is simple, give the valley to Pakistan, but the cost will be very high. The fate of Muslims in India and the end of democracy, fragmentation of India.

Bhai I am Indian Muslim, your article seems only one sided. You dont mention about anything like will of Kashmiris, second you forget to mention creation of Bangladesh...I will not mention Baluchistan..having said all this ..I hope that there be peace and love between us (Indian) and our neighbor...

Germany was partitioned by two super powers, Soviet Union and USA, to break its back, so that another 'Hitler' does not take place. When these two super powers realised that there was no possibility of another Hitler, the wall was broken. People of two Germanys were same. India was divided solely on the basis of religion. Whereas Democracy has taken deep roots in India, Pakistan is still ruled by Army, with sham democracy in between. The Army's core commanders have become 'crore' commanders. They will never let go their hold of Pakistan, and become 'corpse' commanders. And how about their 'Mr. 10%' President. These people will ensure that they will keep on bleeding Pakistan and its poor people, by employing any means - be it Kashmir or Afghanistan or America or any other ploy, which will lull the common man. When the authorities find that people are becoming restless, they will do another 'Kargill', and this process of distraction will continue. It is not what Pakistan's people want, but what its leaders want - the Ayubs, the Mushraffs, the Gilanys or the Zardaris - which will decide the fate of Pakistan. When it comes to sharing the spoils of Office, they are all one. People be damned.

"Who is the Boss?" - This Questions I thinks must be in every Pakistani's mind - Is the Boss is President or Prime Minister or Opposition or Military or Mavali/Gundas/Dakus/Bandits with Guns with with no knowledge of Islam but have distorted Shariya law views called as militant/Taliban/ Religious Extremist? So, whom should India talk for peace as we talk with One and other start creating nuisance, so, it is useless for India to do peace talk with Pakistan and now onus is on Pakistan to show that they have a control on the situation and they really mean business.

What kashmir issue to settle? As per partition rule it belongs to India. As per muslim population in kashmir is concerned, there are 170 million in all over India!
Even for argument sake,if we 'settle'kashmir issue with Pak,will they and their 'jihadists'e.g.LeT,JeM,Al-Quaeda'Taliban,Hizb etc etc etc stop sabotaging India? Only stupid ignoramuses believe it. They will pick up the next issue and start shedding tears for their muslim brethren all over India.
Covert sabotage by the same gang will continue.
Who can give gurantee in Pak when no one is in control anymore!

Can West stop the sabotage? No way.West knows it well and don't believe in Pak's kashmir falacy.Though they want us keep talking.Legally kashmir belongs to India still every body wants to settle it!
China illegally swallowed Tibet and no country dare
talk of any settlement ! Are we not having any self respect? Given talibanish jihadi environment in the world to day, no border state should have any autonomy more than say UP,Bihar WB,and Assam.
All the vultures are waiting outside to gobble up
our country bit by bit.

is 'settled'

Remember that pakistan has 3 generations witj jihadi mindset. Neigther the Pakistani Governement nor the Pakistanis want peace with India. The so-called India/Pak "peace initiatives" is a lucarative activity monopolized earlier by the "Wagha Wailers". Now more people seem to be interested.

The solution for lasting peace is simple.

1. Dismember Pakistan.
2. Annex Punjab and Sindh, and give the resident population a choice
a.Live in peace by renouncing Jihadi culture, or
b.Drive them out into the badlands of NWFP.
3. Make the NWFP and Balochistan an independent, separate state, a la Bangladesh.

And if anyone of Pakistani military establishment ever threatens to use the N-word, declare to blow Pakistan up sky-high in an un-imaginable, large-scale simultaneous nuclear first strike.

Of course, China, bound by the defence pact with Pakistan, will rush to Pakistan's defence. Obama will only be too happy to acquiese China, so maybe it's not too late to cosy up to the Russian bear again.
Force and counterforce - but only if India plans to have 10,000 fighter aircraft, 10,000 N-capable missiles and an willingness to learn and fight an electronic war without outside help.
To kill a Dragon, you need a trebuchet. Mere bows and arrows never worked. India does need a disproportionate focus to its military upgrades now that the Dragon is waking up and breathing fire.
Maybe if we stop paying our MP-s, Presidents and other ministers for 5 years and use the money in updates and quick procurements to the IAF, the path to peace with Pakistan will be as smooth as Hemamalini's cheeks, to quote Lalu.

I agree with Rajpal and J Singh. There is no comparison between the two. While Germany was divided by the US led forces and the then USSR led forces solely due to it being a nation that was responsible for leading the world to the most terrible war of all times. On other hand, India was divided solely on basis of religion. Certain sections of Muslims wanted a partition and they got it. Those who wanted to be a part of it went there and the rest decided to stay back which they consider as a beneficial and a wise move seeing the present shape of Pakistan. Muslims in India are any day better
Million times off here than in Pak.

It cannot be fathomed as to what basis the issue of KASHMIR issue crops up time and again. What is there to talk abt it with Pak??? When there are two to three centres of power in Pak. Despite a democratic Govt being there, the real levers of power lies with their army and ISI. They call the shots and when it comes to India they decide. And then there are the numerous terror companies like LeT, JeM, etc who with covert support of ISI are responsible for terror attacks in India. Till date 26/11 attackers have not been given the punishment they need to be given, WITH the master brain Hafiz Saeed still roaming freely. Some like Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are passionate abt having good ties with us, but they are stymied by hostile forces.

The topic of peace with Pakistan has become terribly stale and unpalatable.
Not only it is a failed state, but also a rogue state that is a haven of terror groups of all hues that is hell bent on using terror as its policy. Unless and until it learns to mend its ways and abjures the policy of terrorism as well as dismantles the terror camps on its soil, it is not worth it and won’t be the case either for long.

I agree with Rajpal and J Singh. There is no comparison between the two. While Germany was divided by the US led forces and the then USSR led forces solely due to it being a nation that was responsible for leading the world to the most terrible war of all times. On other hand, India was divided solely on basis of religion. Certain sections of Muslims wanted a partition and they got it. Those who wanted to be a part of it went there and the rest decided to stay back which they consider as a beneficial and a wise move seeing the present shape of Pakistan. Muslims in India are any day better
Million times off here than in Pak.

It cannot be fathomed as to what basis the issue of KASHMIR issue crops up time and again. What is there to talk abt it with Pak??? When there are two to three centres of power in Pak. Despite a democratic Govt being there, the real levers of power lies with their army and ISI. They call the shots and when it comes to India they decide. And then there are the numerous terror companies like LeT, JeM, etc who with covert support of ISI are responsible for terror attacks in India. Till date 26/11 attackers have not been given the punishment they need to be given, WITH the master brain Hafiz Saeed still roaming freely. Some like Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are passionate abt having good ties with us, but they are stymied by hostile forces.

The topic of peace with Pakistan has become terribly stale and unpalatable.
Not only it is a failed state, but also a rogue state that is a haven of terror groups of all hues that is hell bent on using terror as its policy. Unless and until it learns to mend its ways and abjures the policy of terrorism as well as dismantles the terror camps on its soil, it is not worth it and won’t be the case either for long.

Kashmir should be declared as a separate Islamic country, thats the only solution.

it is not kashmir that Pak wants.. it wants the entire Indian sub-continent .. their hunger for land and spreading Islam will never end

Kashmir is only the beginning, Pakistanis freely admit they want to "rule" India just like their glorious ancestors - the Mughals. They want to see their Islamic flag on the Red Fort once again.

Whoever in India is thinking of re-integration with these guys is either a traitor or dangerously naive. And in either case should be shot/hanged. One Gandhi did enough damage, we don't want more.

Pakistanis of today are 10 times more fundamentalist than their grandfathers. Their school history books portray Hindus as scary creatures out to get the Muslims. And Pakis that visit India are often "surprised" to find that "Hindus are just like us". And mind you these are the educated ones!! Now who the hell wants to live with such stupid barbarians?!?!

So it is one thing to say that "a stable Pakistan is good for India" and another to believe it. And Indian leaders have always had trouble distinguishing between how they want things to be (we are all peace loving pigeons) and how they are (Pakistanis hate our guts).

All a stable Pakistan is going to do is continue to dig at our roots. The more resources it has, the more India is going to be worse off.

Of course there are those who want peace with India. Just dig a little deep and you will find that their condition of peace with India is that all Indians convert to Islam. And if you don't do that, they will continue the jihad.

So don't make the mistake of thinking that India is the "big brother" and it should help the "younger belligerent brother". It might have been "about brothers" in 1947 but it ain't no longer, not by a long shot.

There is no building trust with this enemy. It hates us not because of land or possessions or ideology or any such fixable situation. It hates India because it sees us as "Hindus", it is a religious war for them. The least we can do it take seriously what they are saying themselves and not be stupid waving the olive branch or whatever..

India and Pak relations were never nice and will never be nice. this may look too negative but just try to understand this situation: In a nation where hating India & Indians anywhere in the world is a cultural symbol and has been binded with the DNA in the present generation, One should note expect them to cease and desist in future. Preparation is the only key to keep India safe.

Honestly, being a Pakistani, I don't care for Kashmir and I would love to have cultural contacts and peace with our Indian brothers, who we share history with. I am not the only Pakistani who feels this way. We don't have a Jihadi mindset. I think what has happened in past should be forgotten by both countries and we should move forward as neighbors, who respect each other. I don't agree with the author that the ball is in Pakistan court. India is a super power now and you guys need to broker a peace deal by first stop blaming pakistani government and people for Mumbai attack.
When a murder happens in Mumbai by an Indian, do you guys go around saying that this person is from Gujrat , Hyderabad, etc.? I don't think so. Same thing at our end. There are 180 million people and everyone is not an idiot.

The sad reality of the Indo-Pak story is that their identities are closely linked to each other and in mutually opposing ways. Pakistan's ethos of a nation built on religion (even though its founders envisaged a somewhat secular nation) is diametrically opposite to the secular foundations of India. Kashmir is not the cause but a symptom of this deep identity chasm between the two states. The only way by which such identity conflicts can be bridged or resolved is by creating an overarching common identity that people from the two opposing camps can relate too. This is not entirely unthinkable. Europe for much of its history was caught up in endless strife and conflict. Eventually, the post world war 2 scenario saw the emergence of a pan-European (western/christian/developed world) identity that allowed the warring nations like France, UK, Germany, Italy etc. to seek common cause. Europe has never looked backed since then. The overarching identity based on the notion of the "developed/civilized" west has been a resilient binding force. South Asia (or perhaps even Asia) needs such a unifying cause. What that cause is could be anybody's guess but it certainly isn't poverty/illiteracy etc. the oft repeated common cause touted by doves in India and Pakistan. What the region needs is a positive, encouraging unifying force that people across the borders can relate to. Perhaps the region has to go through its own catharsis (liked Europe did through two world wars) in the form of a major war or some other calamity for the people to sit up and realize that there is value in bridging.

From my point of view, repairs to broken dialogue is necessary rather than living with strained relations with neighbour. Permanent divorced will not work out. India being large democratic nation has to play a leadership role to cement the sustainable relations with all SAARC nations and regularize meetings with SAARC members if we really understand true meaning of peace and security, we will opt to work towards improving relations with neighbours. We can still make progress for the best national interest and create good aspiration for our SAARC citizens who are living much below poverty line with hand to mouth situation in today's developing world.