As the Balkan war lingers on, another conflict, even more threatening to world peace and steeped in ethnic and religious division, is flaring up in Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The world is as prone to war on the eve of the 21st century as it was at the beginning of the previous millenium. Few lessons have been learned by mankind, its democratic and dictatorial rulers. Small egocentric and financial interests, fanatical devotion to myths and historical grandeur still lead men to sacrifice the present and future for a past that never was. Military and political leaders seem to believe that technological advancements in warfare may somehow make wars less painful and inhuman than machete-wielding tribal conflicts.

More disturbing is the total mindlessness of issues over which seemingly mature people are willing to lead their countries to destruction and isolation.

Seventeenth- and 18th-century wars were fought primarily over control of the high seas, trade routes to Asia and America and the treasures that lay in newly discovered lands. Economic interests led to barbaric warfare among European powers over the colonization of distant territories.

As the boundaries of colonial territories solidified in the 19th and 20th centuries, the cause of wars became consolidation, protection and expansion of economic interests. Technological advances of various nations often fell into the hands of despots with fatal nationalistic ideas, giving way to unprecedented barbarism in the "civilized world." Men left Mozart concerts in cultural capitals to kill men and orphan their children. Millions were gassed to death as armies followed dreams of greatness across Europe, dragging most of the world into dark despair with them.

But with all the technological, scientific, literary and cultural exchanges among peoples around the globe, the world is no wiser about the cost of conflict than it was in the days of Genghis Khan and his marauding armies. The wars of last few decades, with the exception of the Iraqi conflict, have taken place in mountains. Ethnic warfare continually disturbs the peace and beauty of the Balkans, Caucasus and the Himalayas. Modern states are ever willing to push their people, using the tried-and-true lever of religious and ethnic hatred, en masse into the abyss.

An 18th century poet once wrote of Kashmir, "If there is heaven on earth somewhere, it's here, it's here, it's here."

Two nuclear powers now face each other, eye to eye, over this heaven. Still pursuing its ethnic agenda, Pakistan wants to take land today that it failed to grab 50 years ago. India, the largest democracy in the world, now possesses some hard-won wisdom about warfare. While its philosophical, idealistic leaders sang songs of tolerance and "Panchsheel" (the five principles of peaceful co-existence) in the dreamy world of new-found independence, Chinese troops shattered the peace of the Himalayas, invading India after raping Tibet. Thus India learned not to let its guard down. India's poet-turned-politician Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee recently became the first Indian prime minister to travel by bus into Pakistan. While he called for trade and friendship during his historic visit, the military men of Pakistan sent mercenaries into Kashmir to fight a covert war by proxy. These hawks are threatening a peace that has lasted decades because they can live only by the sword. Over the past five decades, the military men who have largely ruled Pakistan have made great profits through conflicts in Afghanistan and with India. They even seem willing to sabotage a democratically elected government at home. But do they expect a nation of 850 million and its collective democratic will to allow itself to be abused by incursions onto its sovereignty?

There is a lesson to be learned from the West's superior strength over men like Saddam and Milosevic. Democracy has its own strength, and the only lasting peace can be one of peaceful co-existence, of which India is perhaps the finest example in the world. Hundreds of ethnic, religious and cultural groups live in peace in India despite overwhelming poverty.

Milosevic chose to stir ethnic hatred and claim ancient lands. Now he has bombs raining down on his people day and night. Some in Pakistan seem willing to risk the same in an even more dangerous part of the world.

Thankfully, in the situation, the Western and Russian response has been-for once-to push for tolerance and dialogue. The leaders of Pakistan would be well advised not to disturb the peace, lest there be a war-a final one.