Military Option Against Pakistan Only With Consensus, Says Ex-PM Gowda

New Delhi: The fundamental question India has to address after the Uri terror attack is whether it is ready to go to war with Pakistan, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda told News18 on Tuesday.

“And that cannot be a majoritarian decision. We will have to have a consensus, for which we will have to bury our political differences,” he said. The former PM felt fresh efforts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically may not bear fruit as there would always be countries willing to stand with Pakistan.

“War or a military option can’t be just a government subject. The Pakistan Army chief has declared that they are ready for anything indicating that they will not hesitate to use even nuclear weapons. In such a scenario, going for a war or a military action would be extremely risky. Gone are the days of conventional war. If the government decides that war is the only option they should be ready to face the consequences,” he said.

The former PM said that Pakistani military runs the country and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was just a puppet.

Gowda said that the Narendra Modi government has contacted neither him nor the opposition on the issue and it would be improper on his part to give “unsolicited suggestions” to the government.

“The BJP alone has 282 MPs in the Lok Sabha. They have an absolute majority. They can take any decision. But I advise them to weigh all pros and cons before taking a firm decision,” he said.

Criticising India’s Pakistan policy over the last two decades, he said it was a mistake that India gave legitimacy to military-led governments in Pakistan in the past.

“When General Pervez Musharraf ousted Nawaz Sharif from power, even several Muslim countries refused to recognise his government. But India rushed to recognise his government,” he said.

Asked about his experience in dealing with Pakistan while he was the PM between 1996-97, Gowda said: “I tried to deal with Pakistan. But realised that elected governments in Pakistan has little say in matters of peace with India”.

Gowda said that handling of Kashmir situation was not satisfactory and peace can’t be restored by using only Army.