Pak Army, ISI Haven't Learnt Any Lessons

Pakistan hasn't given up the dream of inflicting a thousand cuts on India and separating Kashmir from India.

- SURENDRA KUMAR

There have been elections in Pakistan and some civilian leaders have served as Prime Minister. But they were shown the door when they tried to assert themselves against the military; army generals have been calling the shots and running the country most of the time. Over the years, they have established a well-entrenched industrial and business empire whose survival and expansion depend on the army controlling all the reins of power.

To retain and continue their hold on power, persistent projection of India as Pakistan's enemy No. 1 is undertaken by the army; it also comes handy to whip up anti-India sentiments and mobilise support for the armed forces. Decisions regarding defence, security and foreign relations with India rest with the army irrespective of who happens to be the Prime Minister.

In spite of having fought and lost four wars with India since 1947, including the most humiliating surrender of 94,000 of its soldiers in Dhaka in 1971, the Pakistani army hasn't given up the dream of inflicting a thousand cuts on India and separating Kashmir from India. Exporting terror to India has become a part of the state policy of Pakistan. Recruiting, training, arming and supporting Khalistani and Kashmiri separatists for years, carrying out terrorist attacks in many places in J&K as well as the Indian Parliament and Mumbai have been part of their tool kit to try to bleed India white and instigate communal tension in India and provoke retaliation.