Markandey Katju, a former judge of the Indian Supreme Court, stated that both India and Pakistan are not in a position to afford an expensive war and should instead focus on diplomacy to defuse tensions.
In an article for Geo News, Katju pointed out three crucial aspects. First, he emphasized that war is an expensive affair, and both India and Pakistan are poor countries, incapable of sustaining such costly conflicts. Second, he mentioned the uncertainty of war’s outcome. “Starting a war is easy, but predicting its end is impossible,” he wrote, citing historical examples like Napoleon and Hitler’s failed invasions of Russia. Lastly, he noted that both India and Pakistan are nuclear-armed nations, making the call for war reckless.
Katju further reflected on the actions taken by India after the 2019 Pulwama attack, describing them as the most prudent course of action. He recalled that then-Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed empathy for the Indian lives lost in the attack and offered to cooperate in any investigation to find the true culprits. He also noted that Pakistan had been a victim of terrorism as well.
Katju, who was also the former President of the Press Council of India, commented on the reactive measures taken by both India and Pakistan. While refraining from discussing the legal legitimacy of these actions, he warned that such measures would only worsen the situation, increasing suffering for the already impoverished people in both countries.
He highlighted the water crisis in many regions of Pakistan, particularly the Sindh and Punjab provinces, and the tensions over the Indus Water Treaty. Katju pointed out that if India were to halt or reduce the water supply, it could create catastrophic conditions in some Pakistani areas. However, he stressed that it is the common people, not the political elite, who would bear the brunt of such actions.
The former judge urged both nations, which he called “poor countries,” to unite and focus on fighting their real enemies: poverty, massive unemployment, child malnutrition, skyrocketing essential goods prices, and the lack of adequate healthcare and education. He called on the leadership and people of both countries to act with wisdom and follow the peaceful and reasonable path suggested by Imran Khan after the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Katju concluded his article by urging the people and leadership of both India and Pakistan to focus on peace rather than emotional responses, as it is the only way to ensure a better future for both nations.
