Features
India-Pakistan Peace:Key to Solving Khalistan Puzzle
by Nilantha Ilangamuwa
The India-Canada diplomatic spat has grown into a fierce showdown, pitting Western powers against the Global South, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive accusation against India regarding the death of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar sending shockwaves reverberating across the international stage. Speculations run rampant, fingers are pointed at India’s RAW and Pakistan’s ISI, even as both nations vehemently deny any involvement, leaving the murdered victim’s quest for justice in limbo as accusers present unsubstantiated evidence—a stark reminder of the escalating complexities of regional conflicts on the global arena.
Recent events only exacerbate the situation, with the suicide bombing in Mastung, Pakistan, claiming the lives of 60 innocents. Yet, instead of proactive prevention, the response remains mired in a blame game. The specter of a border wall, reminiscent of those in Israel or along the US-Mexico frontier, looms menacingly, casting a long shadow over the region’s future. At this critical juncture, India’s growing global political influence adds another layer of urgency to the equation.
However, the path to tranquility lies not in confrontation but in fostering mutual understanding between India and Pakistan—nurturing a climate of respect for each other’s sensitivities that can yield mutual benefits. Sadly, this genuine desire for rapprochement appears conspicuously absent, plunging the region into a predicament that darkens the prospects not only for these two nations but also for the entire South Asian region.
To safeguard South Asia from becoming a pawn in the hands of external forces, it is imperative to craft a comprehensive strategy to manage the long-standing rivalry between these two nations, with the paramount goal being the welfare of their populace. Since partition they have spent more time in conflict than in harmony.
Louis Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy of India, serving from 1947 to 1948, remains forever etched as the principal architect of the partition—a decision that, following his proposal, was haphazardly executed by Cyril Radcliffe, a man lacking understanding of the region. This arbitrary division severed historical bonds, driven primarily by personal ambitions, and shockingly, no statesman from either nation has had the courage or capacity to rectify this grave error to this day.
The catastrophic aftermath of this historic blunder eventually forced India’s hand in enabling the secession of East Pakistan, leading to its rebirth as Bangladesh in 1971. This, in turn, ignited a sequence of military conflicts and covert operations between India and Pakistan, tragically turning their shared borders into breeding grounds for extremists, terrorists, and a host of smugglers—an enduring testament to the far-reaching consequences of a decision made in haste.
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this tragedy is the opposition to this division expressed by numerous local leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi himself, who championed Hindu-Muslim unity and undertook fasting and advocacy efforts to prevent divisions and communal violence. He unequivocally condemned the partition, proclaiming, “I see only evil in the plan and nothing but evil.
” Similarly, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement and a staunch advocate for Pashtun rights, vehemently opposed the partition, advocating a united India where all communities could coexist peacefully. He famously implored, “I request the Congress and the Muslim League to make a sincere effort to bring peace immediately. If they do so, the Frontier Province will be saved, otherwise, God only knows what will happen.”
While initially reluctant to support partition, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, eventually conceded to avoid further delays in independence and prevent the escalation of communal violence between Hindus and Muslims. On the other hand, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the All India Muslim League, championed the creation of a separate Muslim-majority state, Pakistan.
He believed that Muslims and Hindus constituted distinct nations with separate interests, necessitating the establishment of a Muslim state to safeguard their political, economic, and social rights. Jinnah’s leadership and negotiatingskills were pivotal in achieving partition, yet it was the pervasive suspicion among communities that plunged the region into enduring darkness. Contrary to the trend of nations overcoming divisions caused by political conflicts or imperialist oppression, as seen in Latin America and Africa, the discord between Pakistan and India continues to evolve into a complex web of strife with each passing day.
In the backdrop of the current crisis surrounding Panjab (Khalistan), thrust into the spotlight once more due to the tragic killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it is imperative to delve into this complex issue. This must be done before the dream-state known as Khalistan, with nominal recognition but devoid of legal status, transforms into a Balochistan of India.
Addressing the real problems in the region is paramount. Despite the current US-India camaraderie driven by anti-China motives, a domestically crafted initiative is essential to foster sustainable growth in India and ensure social stability in the region.
Consider this: if Israel can establish peaceful relations with Arab nations that were embroiled in decades-long conflicts for the sake of common interests, is it inconceivable for India and Pakistan to make sacrifices for peace?
The present plight faced by Pakistan can be strategically harnessed. Geopolitically, the United States once leveraged Pakistan to counterbalance India, which had cultivated strong diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union. Pakistan, under Yahya Khan, served as the covert conduit for Richard Nixon’s secret China trip. Pakistan made significant sacrifices to become a global political player alongside the likes of the US and China.
However, the United States has now aligned itself with India, further exacerbating Pakistan’s social challenges, as evidenced by covert interventions aimed at removing former Prime Minister Imran Khan from office. Understanding this geopolitical backdrop sheds light on the geopolitical context surrounding the Sikh Diaspora’s propaganda project, particularly in the West, focused on the Khalistan dream nation.
Sikhism’s illustrious history bears witness to the courage of spiritual leaders, warriors, and patriots who made countless sacrifices for India. Guru Nanak celebrated the nation’s rich cultural diversity and preached a message of unity and compassion. From the martyrdom of Guru Arjun and Guru Gobind Singh to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, these figures left an indelible mark on the nation’s destiny. However, reports suggest that British colonization in the 19th century aimed to create divisions between Sikhs and Hindus by distorting Sikh history, and these British manipulations persisted, ultimately contributing to the development of a distinct Sikh identity.
The Khalistan movement evolved into a potent strategic weapon utilized by the Soviet Union to undermine U.S. influence in Pakistan, employing tactics ranging from media manipulation and political negotiations to disinformation campaigns, notably during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In the midst of this geopolitical chess game, the Sikh leadership was unjustly painted as anti-Hindu during the Afghan invasion, as the Soviet Union posed as a crucial ally to Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Meanwhile, persistent allegations have emerged of clandestine collaboration between the United States and Pakistan’s government under General Yahya Khan, dating back to 1971, with the purpose of fueling a separatist movement in Punjab. Following the dramatic Operation Blue Star in June 1984 and the tragic assassination of Indira Gandhi in October 1984, a wave of horrifying atrocities against Sikhs swept across India. This remains a deeply sensitive and unresolved issue, casting a long shadow to this day.
Hence, it becomes evident that the issue of Khalistani separatism cannot be resolved through mere accusations. Rather, it has evolved into a complex problem necessitating an understanding of the historical social context that sowed divisions between Sikhs and Hindus. This issue has now taken on an international dimension, manipulated by great powers. First, British colonialists sowed the seeds of division between Hindus and Sikhs, and subsequently, it became a tool for the Soviet Union and the United States to advance their geopolitical ambitions.
The term “Khalis” signifies purity, and “Sthan” denotes land or place, loosely translating to “Pure Land” of Khalistan. Paradoxically, this region has witnessed some of the most impure events throughout its history. It’s crucial to emphasize that the majority of people living in this area, who have been victims of a history distorted to serve the interests of external parties, steadfastly reject separatism.
Therefore, it is imperative at this moment to make a genuine attempt to establish peace between India and Pakistan, one that is more resolute than previous agreements, such as the Liaquat-Nehru Pact in 1950 or the Shimla Pact signed by Bhutto and Indira Gandhi in 1972. This is a precondition for Punjab to be established without external interference. If not, harboring dreams of sustainable development in this region appears to be nothing more than a pipedream.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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