Pak army to continue with bleed India policy; Parthasarathi

New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathi today said Pakistan army would use inter-services intelligence (ISI) agency to continue its "corporate policy" of "strategic depth in Afghanistan" and "bleeding India".

Speaking at a panel discussion on "Pakistan After Musharraf" here, he cautioned that Pakistan army would try to use the fluid political situation in the country for its own ends, saying he did not believe that ISI was operating independently.

He warned that Pakistan would be torn apart by conflicting interests, predicting PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif moving right wing and taking an anti-American position.

Former Foreign Secretary M Rasgotra, who chaired the discussion organised by Observer Research Foundation, suggested India to conduct itself in a way to provide support and confidenced to the neighbouring country as stability and democracy in Pakistan was also in the best interests of India. "We should not do anything which would make Pakistan feel threatened".

He noted that unlike in earlier cases of removals of Pakistani dictators, Musharraf was removed despite support by the United States and China because of pressure from the Pakistani civil society.

Initiating the discussion, Vice Admiral (retd) K K Nayyar said the present coalition government, having achieved its objective of removing Pervez Musharraf, would collapse because of their conflicting interests. He predicted general elections in Pakistan soon, adding Nawaz Sharif's party was likely to gain majority in that event.

Prof P R Chari, Research Professor at Institute of Peace and Conflict, said Pakistan displayed "classical symptoms of a failing State". Besides Allah, America and Army, Pakistan, he said, was also ruled by fourth "A" of (Saudi) Arabia. Besides, two more elements-the civil society and militants - also need to be factored in while analysing Pakistan, he added.

Noted journalist Saeed Naqvi argued that "Pakistan could be unravelling. The State as we have known is not going to remain so".

He belived that the army would return to power after the civilian government(s) failed to match up to the mounting challanges faced by the country.

Diplomat Rajiv Sikri said power demonstrated by the civil society in first forcing General Musharraf to becoming President Musharraf and then a nobody only indicates this power goes beyond the army. "Sheen of the army has gone, "he said, adding" we must support all such initiatives which ensures that the real power rests with the people and its elected representatives".

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