An Enemy Imagined? Documentary on Pakistan-India Hostility

Pakistan-India hostility has been the hot topic for the media in both countries. But very rarely is there an attempt to pose serious questions and search for unbiased answers. An Enemy Imagined? aired on October 13, 2009 was once such attempt by the Dawn News. The documentary looks at threats that emanate from Pakistan’s eastern border, assessing if these are genuine threats or merely played up to alter political perceptions.�
The non-judgmental quality of the documentary title was refreshing. Views of the academicians, retired Foreign Service Personnel and members of the Armed forces have been juxtaposed to understand the nature of threat posed to Pakistan by India.
There is a wide spectrum of views showcased in the documentary. Shehryar Khan, Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, holds that India is not merely a perceived threat but a real threat that needs to be taken into account. Former Air Chief Marshal, Asghar Khan is of the opinion that “we have been obsessed with threats from India; there are other things to do.” The latter comment did surprise me, coming from someone who has served in Pakistan’s armed forces.
The views of Aasim Sajjid and Rasul Bux Rais, both professors at LUMS, on the 1971 war belied the perception that a linear anti-India sentiment pervades in the Pakistani society.

The documentary would have been even more impressive if apple halves (depicting partition) and dummy soldiers in a mock war zone had been replaced something more real and illustrative. Nevertheless, the diversity of opinion in Pakistan projected through the documentary was extraordinary. It’s sad that the Indian media, accustomed to negative reporting on Pakistan, took no notice of the documentary.