Let's weaponise reason to clear the clouds of hate

It's Wednesday. Tensions between India and Pakistan are high after an air strike by the Indian Air Force on terror targets in Pakistan. The Pakistan Airforce responded by crossing the Line of Control that separates the two countries. I've been following the attacks, counter-attacks, charges, and counter-charges for two whole days and I am worried, seriously worried about an escalation. This limited conflict has the potential to develop into a cold-blooded war.
I've done my edit on the tensions and feel there's doom and gloom written all over it. I remember writing 'doom' in the last line for impact. Some editing and tweaking later it's good to go. To take my mind of the edgy situation, I try catching up on some reading from American politics and realise my anxiety is only getting worse. I may be digressing here, but only a little to make a point.
So there's this new US Congresswoman named
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She's a young activist and a brash socialist who some commentators believe will shake up the system in Washington, D.C. and drain the swamp from the Democratic side. I've been following her moral statements that often border on gimmickry to lure the masses to her brand of politics that dwells on thinking the unthinkable and talking a smorgasbord of nonsense. You can't miss the hypocrisy too when you dig deeper.
The activist-politician is pretty vocal about "safe, affordable, adequate housing" under her Green Deal, but it has been revealed that she has moved into a luxury apartment complex in Washington, D.C. and earns a $176,000 salary.
She likes talking. I am okay with that but was shocked when I read her suggestion asking people to stop making babies. If you don't believe me, here's what she said: "Our planet is going to hit disaster if we don't turn this ship around and so it's basically like, there's a scientific consensus that the lives of children are going to be very difficult," she said in an Instagram live video while chopping food. "And it does lead young people to have a legitimate question: Is it okay to still have children?" While she hit upon this grand idea, I had immediate concerns that threaten South Asia and the people who live in it.
My email inbox pings as if on cue and it's a mail from one of our columnists who lives in Delhi. He sounds cheerful but he's not hiding his fear. "I had a zillion ideas for tonight's column but life is very hectic this week. So my apologies for informing you so late I will skip my column this week, very reluctantly.
"I am having a nice cup of tea in the heart of Connaught Place (in New Delhi) now just in case tomorrow is too late to have tea for Indians and Pakistanis. Anything can happen over a cup of tea these days. Cheers nevertheless," he says.
For some inexplicable reason, we don't WhatsApp each other, so I respond by mail and say it's a Mirage (a reference to the Mirage 2000 aircraft used by the Indian Air Force to strike terror targets). He should try a stronger brew when faced with such situations, I advise him and then wonder: "Was I being insensitive to folks in India and Pakistan?" He signs off on our old-fashioned email banter with a counter: "This is as good a time as any to get knocked out, but the many swank chai and coffee bars of Connaught Place are a great addition to the NCR's attractions. I am sure we will all survive and live happily ever after."
Indeed, we will if the Indian and Pakistani leadership show statesmanship to start afresh after this episode that has led to the closure of airports in both the countries in what is akin to a state of war, though both sides carefully worded their air incursions as 'non-military' which is open to interpretation.
There is a climate of distrust and unless that changes and soon, children in Pakistan and India will not be safe. In this climate of hate, it would be unwise to have children who will be unwitting victims of conflict they never caused in the first place.
The Democratic Congresswoman's allusion to climate change and foul air took my mind to war clouds hanging over the subcontinent and Asia if the situation is allowed to spiral out of control. The air is rife with fear and people and their kids are worried. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has again called for talks which is the right approach to prevent the atmosphere and discourse from getting further weaponised.
Alexandria is right about the current physical environment being unsafe for children. Wars only make it worse, emotionally and psychologically. The tragedy is too heavy to bear. India and Pakistan have fought three wars - in 1947 1965 and 1971. There have also been limited conflicts like Kargil. There are 'core' and 'basic terror issues as each side perceives it. Terror is terror. It opens old wounds and airs hate which our children do not deserve to breathe. If there is less denial of terror, and action is taken to root out violent groups from safe havens, there will be open discussions and talks about the territory of Kashmir.
India and Pakistan have an opportunity to learn from the past, from the latest tit-for-tat over terror. My suggestion to the leadership and the people is this: let's weaponise reason to clear the clouds of hate. If we do, I am sure we will all survive and live happily ever after.
allan@khaleejtimes.com