Peace with Pakistan appears impossible, former RAW chief

Former Research and Analysis Wing chief Vikram Sood, on January 10, said that compromise or negotiation with Pakistan is futile and peace with the country is impossible.

He was in dialogue with Sriparna Pathak at a session on “Great Power Games” during the 8th Mangaluru Lit Fest. Speaking about India’s neighbours, he said, “In the past, whenever Sri Lanka or Bangladesh faced difficulties, India stood with them. However, when India faces a crisis, no one stands by us.”

Discussing the current conflict involving the U.S. and Venezuela, Mr. Sood said, “First, the United States intervened in Ukraine, then Israel, and now Venezuela. It is a country that seems intent on creating problems worldwide. While it may not be publicly obvious who causes these issues, they operate with the mindset that they have a President who can fix everything.”

“Strength, military, and power are essential for good governance. To be a strong nation, we must focus on these aspects. China previously dealt an economic blow to America by becoming independent in the manufacturing sector,” he added.

“On the contrary, despite having a massive military and nuclear power, the U.S. has not directly won any war. Their decline began with the 1945 attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima,” he said.

India’s relations with U.S., China

On India’s relations with the U.S. and China, Mr. Sood said, “Neither America nor China has ever stood by India in times of need. India must choose the path of dealing with both nations logically. To become a powerful nation, the necessity of a strong government is paramount. Just as a U.S. government representative does not come to India to beg for help, India too must reach a stage where it does not have to ask anyone for assistance.”

He said, “Recently, we have been seeing such developments. The Balakot airstrike, the Uri counterattack and Operation Sindoor are a few examples. We must establish our stance even more firmly on the international front. If we do not rise now, we may never be able to do so.”