http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/india-offers-to-help-pakistan-eradicate-polio-infection/article6531898.ece
The article above reports that the health minister of India
has offered to aid Pakistan in eradicating polio in the country. The offer of
aid from India is a bit surprising because Pakistan and India have not been
friendly neighbors since the end of WWII. There have been multiple disputes,
often centering on the territory of Kashmir. India’s offer of medical aid
probably stems from the country’s desire to keep polio out. Pakistan would be
wise to accept India’s aid because India has experience treating the virus, the
Pakistani people are unlikely to trust aid from the United States, and India
gains mutual benefit from the eradication the virus in Pakistan.
Polio is a virus that causes
inflammation in the spinal chord that can extend up to the brain stem. Swelling
in the spinal chord and brain stem can cause paralysis or breathing problems.
Recently the virus began spreading in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
According to the article 85% of the world’s polio cases are in Pakistan. India
had its own polio problem in the past, at one point serving as home to 60% of
the world’s polio cases. India is now a certified polio-free nation. India has
major crowding issues and living conditions there are conducive to the spread
of polio. Despite the obstacles, India still managed to eradicate polio through
heavy vaccination and could help Pakistan do the same using a similar
vaccination campaign.
India will face resistance from
Pakistan because of a CIA operation that took place in 2011 while the CIA was
hunting for Osama bin Laden. In an effort to locate bin Laden the CIA employed
a vaccination campaign in Pakistan. The campaign used fake vaccinations in an
effort to acquire DNA that could be linked to bin Laden. Pakistanis found out
about the campaign and the Taliban banned vaccinations. Since then vaccinators
have met violence and even been killed in Pakistan. The way the United States
employed fake vaccinations means it is unlikely that Pakistan will accept any aid
from the US in fighting polio; indeed, Pakistan will probably have a difficult
time trusting any vaccination plans. That being said Pakistan should trust
India.
India
shares a border with Pakistan. Contact between citizens in border regions could
lead to the reappearance of polio in India. This is an outcome India would like
to avoid as its urban areas are still densely populated and the dirty
conditions are conducive to the spread of polio. In this case it is feasible to
believe India would put aside past conflict with Pakistan in order to achieve
an outcome that benefits both nations.
If Pakistan
hopes to rid itself of polio it needs to start vaccinating citizens. In order
to most quickly vaccinate its population it would greatly help if Pakistan
accepts India’s assistance. India’s mutual interest in eliminating polio from
the region has led it to extend an olive branch to Pakistan. It would be silly
for Pakistan to decline.
These two countries share a common enemy: Polio. The principle of Realpolitik is applicable to this situation: the enemy (Polio) of my enemy (Pakistan) will be my enemy tomorrow. Realists would argue that India is ensuring its own security by helping Pakistan fight the Polio virus. Constructivists would probably argue that by allying against the virus, the two countries have formed a security community, by forming a "self" and an "other". If the two countries could cooperate and successfully eradicate the polio virus, maybe it could be another small step towards peace between the two countries as this would improve the relationship between the two countries.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that this was a great post and it was well-written!
DeleteI like your application of that maxim here!
DeleteMatthew: I found this post to be interesting and I definitely feel that Pakistan should accept the vaccines. While what the CIA did cam cause doubt for Pakistan, this is a disease that can be easily prevented. Accepting the vaccines shows the people of Pakistan that the government is putting them first and not worried about a partition that happened many years ago.
ReplyDeleteIR idealism seems to explain this situation nicely, since it relies on the "feminine" trait of caring about human security. So would constructivism, since the underlying tensions complicate the context of this offer. Therefore, so would realism, since the security dilemma the two countries are in is nicely explained by it.
ReplyDeleteI hope Pakistan accepts Indian aid, since polio eradication is a very worthwhile goal. However, given their deep hatred of each other, I think it more likely that Pakistan will reject India's offer out of both national pride and mistrust.