From the Tamils to the Kashmiris

India always has had problems with its peripheral states. Especially those that were either partitioned or have brethren living in the neighbouring country.

Most of us know these states by their reputation - Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal is special. Not only was West Bengal partitioned in 1947, it also is ruled by a party front ideologically closer to our northern neighbour.

Anyways my point is not to run through the history of these states.

I am going to specifically look at the current crisis in Sri Lanka, its impact on Tamil Nadu and what J&K can learn from it.

Something really beautiful is happening in Tamil Nadu. No need to be aghast. Just hear me out.


The Sri Lankan army has gained considerable ground against the LTTE in the past year. With the LTTE almost close to annihilation, Tamil organizations everywhere have heightened their pitch. The tamil political parties in India jumped right in to speak up for the plight of Tamils in Lanka.

The principle political outfits namely the DMK led by Dr. Karunanidhi and the ADMK led by Ms. Jayalalithaa engaged in a pitch battle to out do each other. That elections were fast approaching added to the combustible mix.

However, there was this common theme or line that both political formations in Tamil Nadu toed. And that was their lobbying with the government of India to intervene in whatever possible means at their disposal to halt the suffering of the Lankan Tamils. Each outfit was pushing the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lean on the Sri Lankan President to halt the continued bombardment. Leaving aside the merits of the case, what should be taken note of is that for the first time the Tamil parties similar to the Israeli lobby in the United States, lobbied heavily with the government to act.

The Tamils, baring some extremist cat calls, empowered by their clout in New Delhi, used it effectively to steer India's position with respect to Sri Lanka. And in doing so they exercised considerable restraint keeping in mind both India's larger interests and that of pan-Tamil chauvinism. This whole scenario could have gone haywire for a number of reasons, including a scenario where some extremist Tamil chauvinistic group in Tamil Nadu hijacking the issue and stealing the main political party's thunder.

So what lessons can other peripheral states learn from this?

Imagine this.

The Taliban having gained a foothold in Pakistan's Swat, decide to test the waters in the rest of Pakistan. I suppose they have already started doing this. For whatever reason, the Taliban decide to move northwards towards Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas instead of Baluchistan and Punjab. There is real threat of a Taliban take over and residents of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir do not know if Islamabad will send in the army to help them.

Meanwhile there are massive protests in Jammu & Kashmir on the Indian side. Political parties such as the National Conference and the PDP begin out shouting each other demanding that the Indian government do something. The call to save Kashmiriyat from the Taliban has rallied the entire state and has forced even the pro-Pakistan outfits of the Hurriyat to support this call.

Members of Parliament from the state make speeches in Parliament calling for an intervention similar to the Battle for Srinagar. They warn that India is morally bound to save Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from being wiped out and demand that India do something to save Kashmiriyat.

Sounds familiar? Possible Scenario? Can and will the Kashmiri's learn from the Tamil experience?

Will the Kashmiris see the wisdom of investing their future and that of their children in the idea of India?

photo courtesy: India Tourism Network

Pakistan's Quid Pro Quo, India's headache

Renewed focus on the Afghan war theatre was welcomed by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. And its not difficult to understand why.

US President Barack Obama, breaking away from the laser sharp focus on the economy, brought out the much awaited new Afghan policy. And this is what Pakistan's Prime Minister had to say.

"We also want a regional approach because regional issues can be resolved with the support of regional powers. We are in favour of this policy. They (Americans) have accepted our position (that) army action alone is not a solution for all these problems."

Why would he not want a regional approach. America's renewed focus will give Pakistan another reason to milk the American cow. And this time it will be more than just money.


A lot has been written about Obama's Afghan policy and what he is willing to give Pakistan for cooperation. During the Bush years, India enjoyed an hands-off Kashmir American policy. But now, the Indian leadership is working out all possible nightmare scenarios for Indian diplomacy in the coming years.

The US point person for Afghanistan-Pakistan when asked about US interests in the Indo-Pak row, said the US was not interested in interfering. That put to rest any immediate American adventurism. However that does not rule out Pakistan asking for its pound of flesh when pushed against the wall.

These are tough times for the next government in India. Whether they like it or not, the "Global War Against Terror" is expanding into Pakistan right onto its border with India, especially on the Jammu and Kashmir side. Just as the Taliban retreated into the Afghan-Pak border to regroup amid supporters, the renewed pressure from America could push them to explore other safe havens or trouble spots. China's restive Muslim dominated provinces could be one and so could Jammu & Kashmir laden with sympathizers.

So, India will need all of its diplomatic skills to keep American at bay but when it comes to containing the spillage from across the border, India will need something more innovative.