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Journalism of Courage
The latest annual report of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has criticised the Pakistani military, squarely blaming it for having a ‘‘vested interest in tension with India as it strengthens their pre-eminence in the Pakistani power structure’’.
The report, which comes at a time when both the Prime Ministers have initiated a thaw in bilateral relations, was apparently delayed when Defence Minister George Fernandes returned from his Beijing trip and rephrased certain portions on China. Reflecting the initiatives generated during Fernandes’ visit, the section on China is significantly different from its tone last year.
However, the report continues to criticise the ‘‘patently manipulated elections’’ in Pakistan calling it an attempt by Pervez Musharraf to consolidate his and the military’s role in Pakistan’s polity. This ‘‘does not augur well for India’s security’’.
The report is also critical of the international community which has done little to rein in the periodical ‘‘Pakistani nuclear sabre-rattling’’. This, coupled with Pakistan taking advantage of a ‘‘favourable environment’’ in Bangladesh and a ‘‘weak government’’ in Nepal has led to further tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
On China, the report reflects the new-found relationship that has been dominant in South Block since Fernandes returned from his China trip. Unlike last year’s annual report which focused on China’s growing military, this year’s report speaks of India’s ‘‘endeavour to seek a long-term relationship with China’’. It appreciates China’s ‘‘economic growth’’ reflecting the speech made by Fernandes at the Chinese National Defence University. A spate of initiatives taken last year with Beijing also find their way into the report.
The report, however, maintains a cautionary note on China’s relationship with Pakistan and the fact that major Indian cities are within the range of Chinese missiles. With China building submarine-launched ballistic missiles, this threat has increased. The imbalance in nuclear arsenals continued with it being ‘‘pronouncedly in favour of China’’.
