Bharatis are moaning, weeping and crying. Well done Pakistan! hahah!
Why is Israel betraying India?
MANOJ PUNDIT, NARESH RAGHUBEER and AJIT SOMESHWAR, THE JERUSALEM POST Sep. 4, 2005
Dear Israeli friends: As you extend your hand of friendship to Pakistan, your friends in the Indian Diaspora are shaking their heads and wondering if Natan Sharansky was correct when he suggested that Israel has lost its moral compass.
Has Israel lost its moral clarity? We are wondering why your leaders, including those at the American Jewish Congress, are so ready to trade the Jewish people’s new courtship with India’s billion people, plus 25 million Diaspora Indians, for photo-ops and meaningless statements from Pakistan.
While no one doubts that these new overtures to Israel are within the strategic interests of Pakistan, it is difficult to see what specific benefits they will bring to Israel or Jews, and how they will improve the daily lives of Israelis.
Diaspora Indians like us have been working closely with members of the Jewish community and are actively encouraging stronger ties between our communities and countries. Let us acknowledge that the government of India can do much more to enhance our relationship with Israel – and it has been the goal of Diaspora Indians to encourage them to do just that.
We have much in common, not the least of which is our British heritage and our vibrant democracies. India has always provided a safe home for Jews. The problems of anti-Semitism which permeates the West and the Muslim world are not present in Hindu homes, or in our country.
As travel, trade and military cooperation unite us we quickly realize that Indians and Israelis can work together on issues of mutual self-interest. Safety and security, and our need to protect and defend our democratic values from radical Islamists seeking to destroy both our countries, certainly top this list.
Yet as this new relationship grows we must recognize that there are issues which could alienate us. We Indians are particularly sensitive.
FOLLOWING the election of the right-of-center BJP in 1996, Indians began to wash away the yoke of socialism and anti-Americanism. We began to reorient our world view to recognize our shared interests with Israel.
At the same time, for many Indians the feeling of betrayal by America’s alliance with Pakistan, our nearest threat, remains deep-rooted. In this early phase of courtship Israel must be careful not to raise among its Indian friends a feeling of betrayal as it engages Pakistan.
For most Indians the greatest threat to our country comes from Pakistan, a rogue neighbor armed with the nuclear bomb and governed by a military dictatorship – a scenario with which Israelis are all too familiar. Because of that threat, our military ties were strengthening to the point where Israel is the largest supplier of military technology and arms to India.
We are quickly becoming key strategic partners in the war against Islamic terrorism. It is natural, then, that Indians would have trouble understanding Israeli ties with a country that has not only threatened India’s democracy but played a significant role in arming Israel’s enemies.
PERHAPS MANY Israelis are not aware of the history of the Pakistani general, Pervez Musharraf, who staged a coup to become president. Allow us to introduce you to your new ally.
Were you aware that while Gen. Musharraf was in charge of the Pakistani army he supported A.Q. Khan (a metallurgist whom the establishment for years held up as the “father” of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb) as he made over 15 trips to share nuclear technology with Iran?
Two weeks ago, Musharraf admitted to the world the links between Pakistan and the Iranian and North Korean nuclear bomb. Given his admissions, many of us are anxious to see if those noble and fair bodies, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, will charge Khan and his sponsors with violating international law.
Recognizing that a nuclear-armed Iran is of serious concern to the Israeli government, one is left to wonder why your government is seeking to befriend those who gave it the weapons that can destroy Israel.
Israelis many not be aware that although the Pakistani general-turned-president is supposedly on our side against radical Islam, its military leaders continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism in India post 9/11 and actively provide support for Muslim terrorists in Kashmir. Is this the type of neighbor Israel approves of?
Moreover, one wonders why Israel is seeking international recognition as a state from the general whose secret service created the Taliban, formally recognized its rule in Afghanistan, and under whose watch most of the 9/11 bombers trained.
Before rolling out the red carpet and inviting snakes into their chambers, Israelis should ask their leaders what is in this relationship for them. Will it bring peace? Will it improve their lives? Will Israelis be openly welcomed in Pakistan?
The Knesset should think of Israel’s own security and examine closely the role played by Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf in aiding and arming Iran with the nuclear bomb.
Assess the harm such a relationship will do to your efforts to continue to win the world’s one billion Indians to your cause. Finally, evaluate your new relationship, and ask yourself whether you are betraying your friendship with India, your natural ally, and what you hope to gain in return.
Naresh Raghubeer is the executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, which seeks to support democracies including Israel and India. Manoj Pundit and Ajit Someshwar are directors of the CCD and past presidents of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce who visited Israel earlier this year.