While commenting on the dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart, India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he regarded Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani as “a man of peace”. The tribute bestowed on Gilani by Singh is justified because the former has taken many steps to reduce the trust deficit and normalise relations between both countries. The evidence of this is India’s support for non-member seat for Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council. If Singh’s remarks are judged against the backdrop of post-Mumbai attack tension between Pakistan and India, which was well reflective in the last year’s disastrous meeting between Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and India’s Foreign Minister SM Krishna, the progress in ties become even more evident. Post-Mumbai bitterness was reduced when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Thimpu and both leaders agreed to resume talks. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s visit to India maintained the momentum and the Gilani and Manmohan talks, SAARC meeting and MFN status to India have taken the normalisation process forward. Gilani is the architect of this positive shift in the ties between Pakistan and India, and to know why it is so one has to revisit to the post-Mumbai attack situation.
After the November 26 incidents in Mumbai, the confidence building measures taken between the two countries, including high level meetings, parliamentarians’ visits, people-to-people contacts, sports events, media conferences and track II initiatives received a setback. This was reminiscent of the 2001-2002 eyeball to eyeball stand-off between two countries, in which India had exhibited its intention to use military means to settle issues with Pakistan. India had to step back because it could not rally international support behind its adventure. India’s jingoism, however, did not subside. In 2006 the Indian air chief on a visit to Washington declared that they had now decided to adopt a pre-emptive doctrine and they had a right to hot pursuit in other countries’ territories. Immediately after the Mumbai terrorism, India, instead of flexing muscles, created a media hype, levelling serious allegations against Pakistan, which brought the relations of both states to the precipice of total disaster. India made unreasonable demands. It also threatened to take action against some militant outfits based in Punjab. External pressure was mounted against Pakistan. In this tense situation, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took on board the military leadership and devised a policy of countering Indian pressure on two fronts: one external and second internal. Had Prime Minister Gilani lost his composure in the face of these war cries, both countries would have gone into a bloody conflict if not all-out war. Peace thus marked the focal point of Gliani’s policy towards India, which he skilfully pursued but of course not at the expense of national defence.
This policy has, as now it appears, following his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and SAARC, started paying dividends. Apart from the issues of Kashmir, Sir Creek, Siachen, Pakistan’s concern is India’s involvement in Afghanistan and Balochistan. These issues will have to be resolved if enduring normalcy is to be achieved. India’s stake is higher, as it is aspiring to become a superpower, which requires attaining peace with neighboring countries. It would be beneficial for both states that while finding ways to settle the issue of Kashmir, they should continue CBMs so that a conducive atmosphere is created for normalising ties. Sports and business contacts will have to be maintained. MFN status to India should be helpful in this regard. On Pakistan’s side, there are lobbies which would like to keep the Pakistan- India relationship hostage to their extremism. They want to ratchet up tension for expedient reasons. Trade lobbies such as those of the pharmaceutical, rice or automotive parts industries may have valid reasons to feel alarmed at the MFN status to India. Their concerns need to be allayed But the vital point that should never be overlooked is that peace is crucial to mitigate the hardships of people of both countries.
The writer has held senior editorial positions and teaches in BNU
