Pakistan’s decision to grant the status of Most Favored Nation (MFN) to India reflects the change of the army top brass’s mindset, which believes that confrontation with India will further damage Islamabad’s interests given its strained ties with the United States.
The federal cabinet took the important decision of granting MFN status to New Delhi on Wednesday only after the nod from the military, which had been against the move until recently. The foreign policy managers here said had it not been for the nod from the army leadership, the extension of MFN status to India would not have been possible as had always been the case in the past. “It’s the collective decision and everybody including the army is on board. The military leadership believes that improvement in ties with India is the need of the changing situation in the region and it feels that Pakistan should have normal ties with its neighbours, especially India, when relations with the United States are strained and marred by tension,” a Foreign Ministry official said, asking not to be identified by name. He said that MFN status would have a positive impact on the ongoing Indo-Pak peace process and it would also facilitate result-oriented talks between Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh when they meet on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in the Maldives. Eminent Pakistani analysts such as Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi also believe that such an important step vis-à-vis India could not have been taken without the army being on board. “Actually Pakistan’s strained ties with the United States have pushed it to look for more foreign policy options, to go for increased ties with the friendly states in the neighbourhood, like that with China and also to improve the relations with its nuclear neighbour, New Delhi,” said Dr Rizvi. General (r) Talat Masood, another analyst, agreed that Islamabad’s mindset was changing but said there should be a qualitative change in the relations between the nuclear rivals.
He said the improved Indo-Pak ties would also have a positive impact on the security situation in Afghanistan, where there had been a proxy war going on between the two nations. Another Pakistani official, who also sought anonymity, said no doubt Pakistan wanted improvement in ties with India but there must be a positive matching response from New Delhi to the significant confidence-building measures from Islamabad. “Unless and until that is done, there can’t be real improvement in ties,” he said.
Please be assured, Indians will respond with open heart. Let us hope some Musharraf is not planning another Kargil on the sidelines. India has always gone an extra step in friendship with Pakistan. Our PM Vajpayee went all the way to Lahore and in return got a Kargil. Let has been killing innocent Indians for years. We can be good friends if Pakistani want or else we can be worst enemies if that is what people like Hafiz Sayeed want.
Mr Rajendra i apprecaite your comments being a pakistani.let me tell u that pakistanies have no support for people like Hafiz saeed.v both countries can get rid of poverty if v live in a friendly manner like europe and spend money on public instead of defense.
Pakistan's foreign policy has long been a hostage of the military. It did not produce any good result. Because, at the end of the day common people have to eat and go about their life.
At the end of cold war, every country stepped their foreign policy toward economic activity, trade and mutual assurance of peace. Every country that is with the exception of Pakistan, North Korea and a few dictatorial African countries.
This is a step in the right direction to allow Pakistani people to prosper and step outside the containment. This should have been done with or without any blessings from the brass.
Being A Pakistani I am extremely enthusiastic on the move and assure my Indian friends overwhelming majority of Pakistanis Yearns for good neighborly relations with India. notwithstanding the fact that partition IS a reality,we have been living together for thousands of years and still love to embrace each other.Let bygone be bygones, we are two different nations now but will have exemplary relations in times to come.When Aisam-ul-HaQ and Ravi Bopanna can do wonders in Tennis in Mixed double we two countries together can RULE THE WORLD.Long Live India Pakistan Friendship
Dear Anon you seem to be highly ill-informed regarding Pakistan. Your incumbent Prime Minister Mamohan Singh wrote to Government of Pakistan led by Nawaz Sharif to give him the blue print for opening up Indian economy to the rest of the world. Pakistan is plagued with massive corruption in rank and file of political Parties. For example we can produce cheapest electricity through Thar coal, but reserves are not explored for obvious reasons. I do want to create controversy but the fact is that Pakistani economy is badly jolted due to corruption of oligarchy. If you want to have meaningful debate you are welcome
It is a great deal. It will help common people to come out of poverty. Let us hope that it is a step for better of society. Time is changing very fast, so we should.
All the best
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