India & Pakistan
...ers have begun minor talks, but were already squabbling over details. It seems as if there’s nothing these two countries won’t fight over. There are many important “actors” to consider and look at in this situation between India and Pakistan. For starters, India and Pakistan themselves are actors in our feature film. Behind their key leaders, they are on the small-group nation-state level of analysis. They are also on the regional and dyadic level, due to their incessant bickering with each other over the area of Kashmir. Kashmir doesn’t act, but is an important “extra” in this picture, on the regional level, of course. Pakistan’s President, General Pervez Musharraf, can play our villain. Though he’s only an individual, his talks with his Indian counterparts, as well as his actions (or lack thereof) have made major contributions towards our conflict in this critically acclaimed epic. On the opposite side of the spectrum stands Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Like his counterpart, he is still no more than an individual, though an important one. His stubborn stance regarding peace talks and terrorism provide for a wonderful secondary conflict. Of course, with these two aiming us nowhere, someone has to step in and point us in a direction, be it right or wrong. So there we have Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Zafarullah Jamali. Jamali called and wrote Vajpayee regarding curbing terrorism and proposing a new summit. His supporting role is strong, but his individual role can only go so far. Talks went virtually nowhere, leaving us stranded again. Oh, if only there were a hero to save the day! In steps Richard Armitage, the American Deputy Secretary of State. Yes, it was a poor casting call, and this really was the best we could do for a hero. And has there ever been a hero who’s done so little? It depends on how you look at it. While he too, is no more than an individual, he brings his mighty international powers to his wide screen debut. With the United States behind him, he has the muscle to pressure and influence both Musharraf and Vajpayee. Interestingly enough, both sides have taken up positions that would put them on Mr. Armitage’s good side. Now all that’s necessary is a resolution to this whole thing. How would you solve this? If you were a realist policy-maker, you would characterize this as purely a geographical dispute. Both India and Pakistan want Kashmir to build upon their own power, and they want all of it. At the moment, with India controlling most of it, Pakistanis are naturally upset, and have resorted to terrorism in India-controlled Kashmir. The level of greed is high, and neither side will relinquish power. It’s no wonder India wants to call for peace now. With a huge advantage in the clash for Kashmir, they have nothing to lose. But with the stakes so high, if India truly wants peace and escape from terrorism, their only solution would be to relinquish Kashmir, or at least part of it, to Pakistani control. If not that, there may be no solution. If you were a liberal policy-maker, you would characterize this as a child-like quarrel, only of much greater proportions. Four-year olds can fight over candy, and six-year olds can fight over toys, but it takes countries to fight over land. Their juvenile behavior has limited communication between them, and caused countless deaths. All in all, neither side is gaining anything, both are simply losing. Leaders from India and Pakistan should sit down and just discuss the situation, and I’m sure something could come about. They both want Kashmir, so they should split it! It would bring an end to cross-border terrorism, saving countless lives, and bring peace and harmony between these two neighboring countries. If you happened to be a radical policy-maker, then this situation could be characterized as a rebellion. The Pakistani people believe that Kashmir is truly their land, and that it has been taken from them. Guess what? They want it back, and they’ll fight and struggle until the end for it. India is coming forth with a cheap attempt at showing that they are the “better” people by trying to call for peace. That’s easy to do when you have what you want. The terrorist attacks will continue until Kashmir is in Pakistani control and India learns to deal with it. Already being the larger country, if India truly wants peace, they wil...