Disturbing news continues to pour out of New Delhi on issues wide and varied. For instance, India the dubious non-align leader of the Non-Aligned Movement (India has a 20 year Friendship Treaty with the Soviets that has a mutual defense clause. The clause raises doubts about India’s non-aligned status) has started to interfere in the tragic Afghanistan war thus adding to the suffering of the hapless people there.
As mentioned earlier in our editorial columns, India is arming itself to teeth with the result that sufferings of its people are compounding. But more ominously India is displaying a marked proclivity to interfere in the affairs of its smaller neighbors Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and now Afghanistan etc. And all this in the name of “nonviolence and peace.”
Nepal, an idyllic country tucked deep inside the Himalayas, a tourists paradise, a land locked country, and the only other Hindu majority nation in the world is the latest to face the wrath of India’s might. India piqued at Nepal’s decision to purchase weapons from China has accused Nepal of threatening India’s security and as coercive measure has blocked its road outlets thus strangulating Nepal’s commercial jugular vein. Besides this clear violation of international law, it is inexplicable that India should punish Nepal, a friendly country with historical and treaty relations with it.
Even more damaging is India’s military involvement in the Afghanistan war on the side of Soviet puppet government. It may be recalled that India is probably the only major country which did not pull out or thin down its embassy staff after the certainty of civil war became clear. India is reported to have several hundred military technicians, pilots and advisors in Kabul and Jalalabad. They are reported to be manning certain critical battle zone systems, especially inside the encirclements created by the determined Mujahideens.
Since February 15, 1988 the day the Soviets pulled out the last of their troops so blatant has been India’s role as the Soviet proxy that Prof Sibgatullah Mujaddadi, President of the Afghan rebels “Interim Government” felt impelled in warning India to keep out of Afghani affairs. Prof Mujaddadi who had a meeting with the Sikh freedom fighters recently (WSN April 7) expressed solidarity and support for the Sikh cause. Those who are oppressed, readily empathize with one another’s sufferings.
The question is why is India getting involved in the affairs of the Afghans? Has India not learnt from its arrogant bunglings in Sri Lanka? Has the Maladives success intoxicated the New Delhi rulers to be reckless against small neighbors? Has India forgotten that no country including the British and the Soviets has been able to subdue the indomitable spirit of the freedom loving Afghans?
It need to be remembered that in the long run no tyrant, howsoever powerful, can suppress or crush the genuine and legitimate aspirations of a people least of all of the Afghans and the Sikhs, May free Afghanistan be the first to recognize free Khalistan in the United Nations.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
