The revived process of dialogue between Pakistan and India, and the signing of a protocol on a new Visa regime during a visit of the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna to Pakistan, are undoubtedly very positive developments. The government deserves unqualified appreciation for its efforts to woo India into re-nudging the stalled talks on normalization of relations between the two countries, without any pre-conditions that India had been demanding to be fulfilled. There are, however, no winners and losers in this effort. The Indian leadership, by reciprocating to Pakistani endeavors in this regard, has also exhibited pragmatism and vision. Pakistan is of the view that the two countries cannot remain stuck in their past and need to move forward keeping in mind emerging geo-political realities, threats to regional security and their socio-economic development. The best way to take a break from past hangovers is to facilitate and expand people to people contact.
The new arrangement is a very laudable effort from a humanitarian perspective. The partition resulted in the division of families and many people had to endure the trauma and agony of not being able to visit and see their near and dear ones for a very long time. Even when the ice finally thawed, the procedures and documentation involved were so cumbersome and convoluted, that they almost discouraged and obstructed the reunion of families. Even the time taken to process and finalize the visa requests was very frustrating to say the least. Making the procedures easy and reducing the time-lag in granting visit visas for purposes of family reunions, pilgrimage to holy places and the agreement to issue visas to senior citizens on their arrival at the Wagah border to save them from the hassle and rigors of running around to complete visa formalities, puts the two countries several notches up on the ladder of morality humanitarianism. The increased frequency of such visits and greater number of people taking advantage of these new measures will enhance people to people contact which is very vital to embark on a journey to amity between the two countries.
Liberalization of the business visa, to facilitate businessmen from both countries, and particularly enhancing the visa validity period to one year with multiple entries, will lead to a quantum jump in trade between the two countries. Pakistan and India have complimentary economies and the two countries combined present a very big market for products in which they have comparative advantage. The geographical proximity between the two countries will also accrue benefits of cheaper imports by people and businessmen of the two countries. Presently, the volume of trade between the two countries stands at US$ 2.6 billion and business circles are of the view that it has the potential of an exponential increase of up to US$ 20 billion within a decade to the mutual advantage of both neighbors. Pakistan has already declared India a most favored nation in view of this potential, waiting to be realized. The move has also been appreciated and welcomed by the business community on both sides. The collateral advantage of this increased trade volume between the two countries will be the creation of new industries and enhanced employment opportunities for the work force in both the countries.
The resolve by the two countries to tackle religious intolerance extremism and violence together- nuisances that are a big threat to both countries and regional peace- demonstrates their realization of the fact that these are challenges beyond the prowess of any individual country, due to their spill over effects and can only be confronted through concerted and cooperative efforts. For two countries that have fought four wars and have been profiling each other as staunch enemies, this new thinking and approach adopted represents a radical paradigm shift in the domain of bilateral relations and a good augury for burying past bitterness. The linkages and dependences created by the envisaged measures will certainly help in erasing the unenviable and debilitating legacies of the past and change the mindset of people that will enable the governments of the two countries to initiate new and bold policy measures to strengthen the new found bonhomie between the two countries which ultimately might help in finding a plausible solution to the core issue of Kashmir.
The solution of Kashmir will surely dissuade the two countries from a mad arms race and the resources thus saved could be employed to change the social and economic situation of the teeming millions on both sides. As they say, there are no permanent friends and enemies in international relations, Pakistan and India can learn from history which is replete with instances of bitter enemies becoming friends and fighting for common causes. The resolution of a territorial dispute between Germany and Poland in the backdrop of the World War II and Germany becoming western ally and a pivotal ingredient in the economic and political integration of Europe are best demonstrations of this maxim.
The international community which is very much concerned over the continuing animosity between the two neighboring nuclear powers and regards it as a threat to the regional and global peace, has also welcomed revived dialogue between the two countries and are watching te developments in this regard with great interest and are even prepared to encourage and strengthen the sensibility shown by the two countries. There are no two opinions about the fact that peace, tranquility and progress in our regions is inextricably linked to transformation of relations between Pakistan and India that are wedded to the realization of goals in conformity with new realities and an unswerving commitment tinged with honesty of purpose. Whether the leadership on two sides can keep the momentum going and not let the process go off the track remains to be seen, but there is no doubt the fact a meaningful step has been taken in the right direction.
