Both Modi and Sharif enjoy heavy mandates
The advice to Nawaz Sharif to accept Narendra Modi’s invitation indicates that FO is learning to take independent stands on an India related issue. There is however a rider added to the recommendation. FO thinks the visit would only be useful if it leads to the resumption of dialogue process that would be “meaningful and constructive”. What is more the dialogue has to be “uninterrupted and uninterruptible”, whatever that might mean. Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi has lobbied hard during and after the Indian elections for an early resumption of talks between the two countries, which shows the FO is pursuing the government’ policy of improvement of ties with India. The immediate domestic reaction to the invitation was from leader of opposition Khurshid Shah, who urged the prime minister to accept the invitation in the larger interest of the people of the two countries.
Narendra Modi has made a bold and unexpected move. While he has extended invitation to the prime ministers of all the regional countries, it has been noted by Indian media that it was in fact meant primarily for Nawaz Sharif. Coming as it does in the wake of Modi’s election days’ hard talk about Pakistan, it is being interpreted as an olive branch. Bridging the trust deficit with India has been one of Sharif’s top priorities since he came to power last year. He once again stressed cooperation rather than confrontation in South Asia at Pakistan’s Envoys Conference. Days before his winning, Narendra Modi was quoted as saying that India is fighting a war on poverty in South Asia along with Pakistan.
What remains to be seen is whether the two leaders would be able to override their respective security establishments to reach out to one another? In Pakistan the issue of giving India the MFN status continues to hang fire on account of opposition from powerful circles. Another barrier in their way is the chauvinistic section of media in both the countries. Indian media made Manmohan Singh go back on his Sharm al Sheikh understanding with Gilani. What strengthens Sharif and Modi is the big electoral mandate given to them.
The delay on the part of Sharif in sending a reply was presumably caused by back stage negotiations between the two sides. Nawaz does not want to come back from India without something concrete vis a vis initiation of the stalled talks. But would it be realistic to expect too much from Modi on his first day in power?
