India - Pak relations: An outsider's take on the way forward
The infrastructure for terror and the overt and covert support to the terror groups operating in Pakistan further muddles the water. There can be no breakthrough as long as elements like LeT roam around unhindered and plan against India.
INDIA-PAKISTAN bi-lateral saga has had an acrimonious past and most often than not has involved accusations, counter accusations and deadlock. Since the day of independence up to the present moment both sides view each other with a perpetual suspicion and hostility to others action and motive. The Pakistan army no doubt is the most powerful force in the country and its view count most in the final case. An institution which has had a history of nursing anti-Indian sentiments and continues to be hostile to the opposite side cannot be expected to be amenable to overnight to some sort of a peace deal struck between the two governments. That would undermine their authority and the sway they have over socio- political discourse in Pakistan. Incidents like 26/11 and subsequent revelations about the hands of Pakistani establishment (ISI) being involved, openly attempts to undermine Indian interests in Afghanistan and the repeated cease fire violations to aid intruders sneaking into Indian side are ample proofs that there is significant ideological change or change in thought process of the Pakistani establishment. The infrastructure for terror and the overt and covert support to the terror groups operating in Pakistan further muddles the water. There can be no breakthrough as long as elements like LeT roam around unhindered and plan their disruptive activities aimed at crippling Indian state with the backing from the influential sections of the establishment. In this context it is my opinion that the Indian government should continue to engage the Pakistani side in talks irrespective of the current happenings. The message must be put across clearly that India will not tolerate any activity aimed at undermining Indian state by the Pakistani actors, state or non state. At the same time we should also putforth our commitment and discuss all bilateral outstanding issues including Kashmir water etc. genuine Pakistani concerns must be addressed. The army would also need to be kept in the loop in both countries as they are vital stake holders and their views will be of paramount importance. By having talks between the representatives of the both armed forces an attempt can be made to shed the hostile suspicions nursed by both. In the meanwhile, trade relations should be given a boost as they will be of immense value to each other’s economy. The ordinary civilian prisoners should be released immediately and a mechanism be put in place to exchange innocent fishermen and juveniles crossing over inadvertently without too much of paper work. On the issue of climate change which promises to be one of the most crucial challenges in the near future, India and Pakistan could make joint efforts in the multilateral conferences to protect their interests. Also, both counties are hungry for energy to fuel their economies and in this regard there is again immense scope for collaboration and co-operation, which will also have a softening effect on the suspicion each harbor about the others energy programmes. The Himalayan glacier melting, threat to the ecology are all issues which can get both the countries on the same side of the table. Agreements and common efforts can also be made to harness the waters of Himalayan Rivers effectively to reduce wastage and aid in drought management. There are whole raft of avenues unexplored where scope for co-operation is immense and can lead to fast betterment of relations. The India-China border dispute has a long history and negotiations even now seem to be making no headway, but that has not come in the way robust trade ties and joint efforts in various critical multilateral for a. e.g. Copenhagen. India and Pakistan need to get over the differences on the core issues and start focusing on these areas. That is not to say that issues like kashmir shouldn’t be discussed at all. My point is that a deadlock or lack of progress on the issues like Kashmir, Sir Creek etc should not come in the way of co-operation in other fields.
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.Indian and Pakistan Muslims have common ancestry; both are converts from Hindu civilization. Basic problem between two countries is Islamic fundamentalism. Pakistan army, a fully secular army at the time of partition, has utilized fundamentalism to shore up its position. Canard regarding Indian attack has been deliberately projected to generate anti India mindset. Pak army and its outfit ISI has to be weaned away from interfering in disputes between nations before any meaningful progress can be made, it should be left to democratically elected civilian Govt.
All countries in South Asia including Afghanistan should form union on the line of European Union. State nation concept between Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri lanka be done away with. Yet each one of these countries will be politically independent. Currency will be common for all. As far as territorial disputes are concerned Kashmir, NWFP and Balochistan be placed under United Nation for short duration after which referendum be held in these areas to ascertain people opinion, which should be implemented for final solution of lingering problem.
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