Column

Some years ago, on a visit to Karachi, I noticed that I had a ‘tail’, an unsolicited escort who followed me wherever I went. He made no attempt to conceal himself; in fact he rather made it known that he was keeping an eye on me. Other journalists who had been to Pakistan had warned me about this — apparently it was the practice in both countries, especially where journalists were concerned.

Apart from that, Karachi was a friendly enough city, though I must confess I did not have the ‘bhai-bhai’ moments other visitors constantly talk about, when shopkeepers refused to accept money or anything like that. I found the people matter of fact about meeting with an Indian and for me too, despite familial connections to the city, it was largely unsentimental. However, no Indian visitor, including journalists, has reported any overt hostility in Pakistan.

Therefore, it came as a surprise to hear that two Indian journos, one of them a cameraman, were roughed up while doing a story in Lahore. A group of men set upon both and took away their cameras, tapes, phones, wallets and everything else.

The victims lodged a complaint and their channel head has hinted that the assaulters were from the Pakistani intelligence, because the locals would have no motive to do such a thing. If true, it could mean one of two things — either the two had managed to get some really explosive stuff or, and this is quite likely, the Pakistani security establishment is sending India some kind of message. Either way, it is a new low in bilateral relations.

The relationship between the English media and by extension the non-governmental opinion-makers of the two countries is quite interesting. The Pakistani media tends to view its Indian counterpart as followers of the Indian government line. Though the tribe of peaceniks and border candle-light vigil keepers has shrunk to extinction, it does not mean Indian journalists are any less obsessed with Pakistan. This obsession is of broadly two types — hyper nationalistic, wherein the anchor attacks his guest for being inimical to India, or chummy, in which the anchor and the guests are all pally and give the impression of having a nice foreside chat over a single malt. The former is clearly meant to boost viewer interest and TRP-hysteria always sells. But it is the latter that is more insidious.

How often have we seen every little shift and every minor development in the diplomatic pas de deux between the two countries micro-analysed on television? More often than not, it follows a familiar pattern — the guests are familiar (senior editors, human rights activists) and the message is familiar. What they end up saying is both countries are at fault and both establishments need to wake up and understand that they are hurtling towards disaster.

We, as the bigger country, must show some patience and compassion and not put too much pressure on Pakistan; we need to, in fact, encourage its civil society. Further, if only people-to-people contact was increased, if only both showed some humanness and took a reasonable approach, everything would be fine and people would rush across the border and hug each other.

Maybe not in those words, but you get the point. One doesn’t have to be a super-nationalist of the flag-waving kind to spot the many flaws in the argument. I will list two — there is no equivalence between the two and second, not everyone here or presumably there has a single-minded obsession with the other country. The terror attacks have angered India and this country wants answers from a perfidious neighbour, but that is it. Yet, day after day, night after night, we are treated to a procession of Pakistani experts who get a platform on Indian television to hold forth on how best the two countries can become the best of friends.

The harsh truth of realpolitik is that there is a very slim chance of this happening. Nor do we want it. Our interest is only that we be left in peace. On our part, the extremism emanating from across the border is a serious problem, but we (at least some of us) need to understand that Pakistan is one more country — it is not our doppelgänger, our childhood buddy, our long lost love. The generation that had that nostalgia (in any case confined to a small part of the country) is dying; let that sentiment die with them.

The affair of the roughing up of the two journalists, thus, is a wake-up call. There are forces there in the establishment which are not well-inclined towards us. There is no reason we should be equally hostile. That, however, does not mean we should not be on guard. A bit less romanticism in dealing with Pakistan would help.