As a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) counter-terrorism drills, India and Pakistan will for the first time exercise together. This would the first such occasion for the South Asian rivals to participate in such an event. First but not the first time both armies are coming together.
Let me demystify my comment about the topic at hand as I examine it in greater detail and put things into context.
This is the first such event of an exercise, not the only event. India and Pakistan have operated joint missions on multiple occasions under the aegis of United Nations Organization. Under General Bikram Singh (Former Chief of Indian Army) the present chief of Pakistani Army General Bajwa served as the brigade commander in UN operations in Congo. So to say that the interaction of the two armies is new on the operational front can best be ignorance or sheer hypocrisy.
Also, in exercises like Cambrian patrol both the countries have frequently participated with their special forces competing for the coveted spot.
Why the hoopla?? And its uselessness
India and Pakistan both become members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the year 2017. It is a grouping which primarily deals with the security architecture and non-conventional security challenges like terrorism. SCO holds such drills in high priority as a part of its overall functioning as it forms the operational part of the overall goals of the framework.
“Oh!!! So now India and Pakistan will co-operate on security issues. Aren’t they enemies?? “
People with limited knowledge of international co-operation, strategic affairs, or policy often ask such questions. People, who have studied or have knowledge about the interaction between intelligence agencies of the arch-rivals, would know that they do co-operate at times. But this co-operation at best can be described as opportunistic for both the sides. Though, this is certainly not a vindication of the nefarious designs ISI plot against India.
The whole Idea behind this article is to correct the narrative that media on both sides and on the 3rd side (read China) is trying to play, that this is a rare occasion, which I just proved, it is not.
So are these SCO drills insignificant??
The answer is “NO”. If they would have been insignificant so many countries and especially India would not have taken part in them. These drills help countries exchange combat tactics and understand the various operational SOPs (standard operating procedures being used by various countries) and share the best practices. Moreover, SCO being the security-oriented organization, India can leverage its tools within SCO to put pressure on Pakistan to put its house in order and stop terror originating from its soil. By engaging in all the initiatives under the umbrella of SCO, India comes out as active and serious participants to realize common security objectives. By refusing to take part India would have conveyed that’s its international policy is Pakistan centric, which is clearly not the case.
So the buoyant and jingoistic voices (experts, track 2 circuit, veterans and think tanks) on both sides (and the third i.e. China), should present the clear picture of the things as they stand. They should avoid being highly optimistic of the incoming India-Pakistan co-operation reaching new heights, as well as throwing muck on their respective governments for doing military drills with their sworn enemies. The need of the hour is neither doves nor hawks, but crows who can understand the intricacies of the ongoing engagement and make realistic extrapolations out of it.
Article by: Abhishiekh Saxena
The Commentator's Post 