Prisoners of hate
Not even the reportedly high security section of Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat prison can protect an Indian prisoner. The racial hatred that can run through such places, where men are incarcerated in sub-human conditions, is not something that can be wiped out by the most persuasive diplomacy of foreign office types in suits.
No matter what great principles are enunciated in diplomatic initiatives that New Delhi is inevitably committed to while dealing with prickly Pakistan, the ground realities are far different. While people-to-people relationships can be warm among neighbours, there is no way to deal with the challenge of prison conditions in a country that is not exactly known for being a stickler for enforcing rules and regulations.
While India could deal with the imprisonment of Ajmal Kasab in a professional manner until the time came to hang a terrorist caught red-handed, the same cannot be expected of Pakistan where layers of administration are known to work to completely different agendas.
Sarabjit Singh is not the first prisoner to be attacked inside a Pakistan prison. Chamel Singh, accused of espionage, is not alive to tell the tale since only his body came back to India last month after his death in January this year.
There is little scope to look forward to happy endings; only pressure from the highest sources in our government can force Pakistan to see reason in such matters.
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