I just finished reading Mayank Austen Soofi’s article “Indians on Pakistan – Vox pops from next door” published on 11-05-2011. Politics in both Pakistan and India has no clear dimension and strategy, I believe.
It is the industrialist in India that developed and is developing their nation and it is their population that is providing a potential market to transnationals, which is ultimately uplifting their economy.
I have no doubt that Indian politicians or at least ruling junta/establishment is wiser and shrewder than the Pakistani but I am unable to understand how can they think of making ties with countries thousands miles apart ignoring a country lying besides them?
We not only share same culture and heritage but are equally paramount for each other’s economic growth and prosperity.
Pakistan is a gateway for India to hit the markets in Far East, South East Asia and Europe through Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistan being a trading country highly depends on Indian industry.
My point is that the consent is manufactured by the establishment of both countries against one another. People have nothing to do with it. Both countries come closer when the rulers want them to be good neighbours and both start throwing ‘garbage’ on each other when rulers’ moods swing.
Pakistan and India have never had people-to-people ties. The population of both countries are too poor to influence their establishments. The only direct contact between them is internet.
Terrorism knows no state, nor boundaries. It’s not child a delivered by the womb of Pakistan. It’s an international conspiracy and a great game of which Pakistan is a small part.
The seed sewed by CIA with the help of ISI during the Cold War has become the trees and we named the new species “Al-Qaeda”. People have nothing to do with this. I am equally deterred and depressed on the brutal killing of people in Mumbai.
Lastly, culture is stronger than religion. That is the relation Pakistan and India have.
USMAN SHAHID
Lahore
