Pakistan diplomacy at its best.

Pakistan Cricket Board is running through financial crisis for long time now. They need at least 30 Billion Pakistani Rupees for meeting their expenses on their domestic cricket in next 8 years. They are not generating enough as almost all countries have refused to visit Pakistan on security grounds and other political problems. With India – Pak series (6 to be played in Pak and 2 in India in next 8 years) they were to generate 300M$ in 8 years which would give them a very big financial boost. International fixtures particularly with India are of utmost importance for them as these matches are seen as a mini war and people, poor or rich throng to stadiums, watch matches on television and help boost revenues of PCB. These matches are their sole source of money. There is no doubt that some of the money will be spent on Indian reporters and Indian pro-Pak people who provide oxygen to Pakistani efforts of sports, cultural diplomacy. Now look at the revenue generated and finance they need for funding their domestic cricket. They are almost same. Means what? Pakistan is greatly dependent on India and other countries for keeping their domestic cricket alive. In other words, its Pakistan who need India and not India who need Pakistan.

However, the picture in India is different. It’s the BCCI who signed a MOU with PCB to play 8 series in coming 8 years. BCCI even promised that they won’t back out. Back out is possible only in case government denies permission. This was done during the Congress rule and mostly every person in BCCI and also Congress government knew that the next government will be a non-Congress government. Thus, a “good game” was played and entire onus of continuation or cancellation of any India-Pakistan bilateral series was conveniently put on would be BJP government.

Many people (including me) had questions about visa provided to these visitors. Shahryar Khan came on diplomatic visa and passport, Najam Sethi came on some old multiple entry visa which was still valid. Both these visas were provided by then Congress government. If Shahryar Khan was coming on a private visit on behalf of PCB, he should have come on his normal Pakistan citizen passport with either old valid visa or a fresh visa. The very fact that he came on diplomatic passport indicates that he was acting on behalf of Pakistan government.

Now why did these guys visit only now? That was due to the invitation of BCCI newly elected president Mr. Shashank Manohar. Such was the commitment of BCCI that they even promised to PCB that in any case BCCI won’t back out and cause a financial loss to PCB!!! Wow, what a great deal of friendship.

So it was not government of India lead by PM Modi who arranged these things. They were planned by then Congress government to happen during the BJP government.

Now let’s look at these events from Pakistan side.

Now that Pakistan is cornered in the world on various aspects such as cease fire violations, terrorism, etc… Nobody paid any attention to the K – rhetoric in UN meeting, they needed something to bail them out and cry of being victimized unnecessarily by Indian government or any other political party (mostly Shiv Sena). They caught hold of people like Sudheendra Kulkarni, bollywood actors, journalists and hatched a diplomatic conspiracy. They arranged shows of Ghulam Ali (already immensely popular in India due to his Gazals), book launch by another former diplomat Kasuri, plays of Pakistani artists, etc… They already knew that Shiv Sena is not going to spare them as they have seen the history of Sena. They also know that all news channels are mostly against Sena for their anti-north Indians stand. Thus clever Pakistani diplomats make use of this and hatch a plan to purposely schedule shows and meetings in Mumbai. BJP is fighting with Sena in Maharashtra on various issues even if they are in a coalition government. Pakistanis knew that BJP needs to settle scores with the Sena. BJP fall in the trap and simply don’t provide any security for any shows, BCCI headquarters, etc… They did provide security to Kasuri’s book launch but not before Sena blackened the face of Sudheendra. By doing that they wanted to score some points over Sena but what happened was completely different.

Pakistan made a huge hue and cry about Sena on international front. Indian media helped them do so. And eventually a message went to the world that Indian government won’t protect people whom they invited. Now on international front India goes on back foot against Pakistan and now has to either play or say we are not going to play. If we play, there is a backfiring from Sena and many other common citizens like me who ask government why they grant visa to Pakistanis. People even ask Mr. Narendra Modi about his election campaign promise to teach Pakistan an unforgettable lesson. One the other hand If we decide not to play, Indian government is seen as a non-co-operating government inspite of Indian people’s and “sincere and peaceful” efforts from Pakistan. Further they also cry that look there are many “sensible” Indian citizens who support our peace cause but Indian government is not co-operating.

Meanwhile Pakistan keep violating the ceasefire with cross border firing and killing our soldiers and civilians. They are also are free to tell to the international community that violations are made by Indian troops not from Pakistani army. By saying that they also tell the world how India is not at all worth trusting when it comes to sports and cultural diplomacy. We (Pakistan) are making every effort to normalize things with “liberal, sensible” Indian citizens and Indian government encourages Shiv Sena and other extreme parties. Further they also make issues of Dadri, rapes, and other incidents.

Indian media either does not understand or does not want to understand the conspiracy of Pakistan. And why does the Indian media not understand this? Well the Indian media is not Indian at all. Each and every news channel is owned by a multinational media company which is not Indian. They have their own agenda of business and making money. As long as the Indian government supports them to make money, they support the government. The moment they see that there are some restrictions on their money making, they start to talk negative about the government. In any case they are not at all concerned about India, common people, rapes, killings. Money is the sole factor.

Therefore, in the entire episode there is an unseen hand of Pakistan government who just by simple actions created a negative atmosphere about India to the world. Everyone, the media, Sudheendra, bollywood, even intelligent BJP fell for trap. Only and only Sena has been understanding this for long long time. And they retaliate fiercely against any such Pakistani effort.

All above points clearly indicate the root cause of the issue:

1.       Congress government granting long term visas to Pakistanis.

2.       BCCI’s unnecessary interest to arrange a bilateral series. They have enough money already.

3.       So called private citizens, bollywood, etc… being pro-PAK.

Shiv Sena’s act is just the fruit of all above wrong doings by somebody else.

How does Indian government prevent all this pro-Pak talks?

Simple measures can help prevent any kind of attempts by Pakistan to intervene in India.

1.        First of all, ban all the Pakistani artists coming to India. Don’t grant them visa. Any valid visas should be cancelled and all Pakistani artists should be sent back to their countries.

2.       Any civil communication with Pakistanis should be banned completely. No facebook friendships, no tweets, etc… No cultural, sports exchanges. No book launches. No Indians travelling to Pakistan for any private ceremonies.

3.       Other than Indian government, no private person, news channel, reporters, etc… should be allowed to do any kind of communication with anyone in Pakistan.

4.       No news, positive or negative to both India or Pakistan should be aired on any Pakistan related activities apart from the news released by official government statement.

5.       A total censorship should be maintained on anything to be published about Pakistan.

That will help Indian government to corner and isolate Pakistan on each and every front and make Pakistan beg to the international community to release the ban. Otherwise whatever Indian government does internationally will be a futile as our own “Indian Pakistani” guys back-stab us. All above measure will also prevent Sena from acting the way they acted.

When people say, politics and sports, culture should not be mixed, they should not forget the following incidents:

1.       Isolation of SA from world of sports for over 2 decades. Issues were political.

2.       WI and AU refused to play WC matches in SL on security grounds. Real reason behind was human rights issue in war against LTTE.

3.       2009 England cancelled their Zimbabwe tour against Robert Mugabe’s election as President. Purely political.

4.       2008 Shahar Peer was denied visa to Dubai.

5.       USA boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics following invasion of Afghanistan by Russia.

Many more of such examples can be given to substantiate that unless countries align politically; sports, culture exchanges don’t really matter. It’s better to break ties than try maintaining rotten relations.

Now there will be a lot of “sensible” people who will criticize me for my opinions. But they need to realize that sometimes war is required to create peace. The day these sensible people understand this, India will be free from all the terrorist activities.