Time for a new chapter
I followed the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to India from his arrival to the departure. I did not find any false note either in his observations or meetings. He did not mention Kashmir. Nor did he meet the separatists who are always keen to have talks with the Pakistani leaders, not the Indians. From all angles, it was a positive and constructive visit.
That Nawas Sharif’s advisor Sartaj Aziz reignited the embers of bitter hostility by briefing in Pakistan on Kashmir and several other counts is not understandable. He had to indulge in rhetoric for domestic consumption. Lobbies of the armed forces and maulvis were assured that Nawaz Sharif vented his annoyance in private while talking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Still I wish Sartaj Aziz had not done so because the meeting had changed the climate of opposition in India. Even the rightists in the country had conceded that a new chapter of equation had begun in the history of India and Pakistan relations. Sartaj Aziz, whatever his compulsions, did not have to be a hawk to take us all back to square one. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh’s statement may have queered the pitch, but Sartaj Aziz is not a bureaucrat and he should have kept India-Pakistan relations at a higher level.
Therefore, I do not see a breakthrough in the stand that the two sides had taken from the time the two countries had parted company in August 1947. In fact, I have sensed more optimism on earlier meetings between the prime ministers on both sides. Nothing concrete has come out because the establishments in India and Pakistan are basically hostile to each other. No passage of time has lessened their influence or attitude.
Yet the relationship of love and hate smoulders all the time. People in the two countries yearn for friendship or at least normalcy. The meeting between Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif has once again has evoked hope for better days. Once again, foreign secretaries of the two governments are to pinpoint what keeps the countries apart. If the past is any guide, the goodwill will not fructify into normal relations. The reason why I say so is the enmity which has been fostered in the minds of people.
It was to be seen and believed the enthusiasm with which the visit of Nawaz Sharif was awaited in India. The nation should have been engaged in Narendra Modi’s resounding victory or the decimation of the Congress party which has ruled India for several decades. Instead the attention was focused on Islamabad.
Four or five days between Modi’s unexpected invitation and acceptance by Sharif dominated the Indian media and the drawing rooms with discussions on whether the Pakistan prime minister would come to Delhi at all. And it was all positive. People wanted him to come and literally prayed that he would. That he had to bring around the armed forces and the extremist elements in his own country was conceded. But it was argued that his arrival would be an apt step to strengthen democratic ideas in Pakistan. Therefore, when he telephoned to say yes, a wave of relief swept through the country. Most newspapers made his acceptance as the first lead.
I recall how at the time of partition there was so much bloodshed — nearly 10 lakh people were massacred on both sides. Yet a few weeks later when I bought a few tapes of Noorjehan at Lahore, the shopkeeper refused to take money since I was [considered a guest] from India. A similar treatment was meted out to the Pakistanis. The days of killing were only a few, an aberration of sort.
It is beyond me to make out why Pakistan has unilaterally ended the agreement to post two journalists from either country to cover the situation. Pakistan did not have its journalists in position for more than a year. I could have understood the reason if the two Indian journalists had violated any law or sent a dispatch which had hurt Pakistan’s sentiments. There was nothing like that. Regretfully, news agencies and correspondents from the West are free to report.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India took a similar zigzag path. Prime Minister Modi, considered a hawk, surprised even hardliners in both the countries when he invited all heads of SAARC nations. Nawaz Sharif was inclined to accept it. Yet the India-Pakistan animosity came in the way. The army and the extremists exerted so much pressure that the visit seemed abandoned. Ultimately, Sharif asserted himself to attend swearing-in ceremony. His was not only a gesture because after meeting Modi, Sharif said that a new chapter had begun in the history of the two countries.
The fear that Modi is anti-Muslim was allayed when the two met. Modi realises that he has to take the Muslims along to traverse the path of development, the slogan which has given him and his Bhartiya Janata Party a majority, 282 seats in a 543-member Lok Sabha. It is churlish on the part of Pakistan to question the credentials of a person whom the people of India have elected in fair and free polls. There are enough voices in India to force Modi not to go away from secularism, part of the basic structure of the constitution that even parliament cannot change.
True, Modi’s party and its mentor, the RSS, are known for their Hindutva approach. Yet they would put the country in a big turmoil if they exerted pressure on Modi to build a temple where the Babri masjid stood or to tinker with Article 370 which constitutionally gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir when it acceded to India.
What kind of country Modi wants to build is the question. The cabinet he has constituted gives a message that he wants the different elements to feel that he will not discriminate against any segment of the society, religious or linguistic. The first heartening step of his government to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to unearth black money is a good omen. We should give him time to fulfill the aspirations of people he has aroused.
I'm not surprised how quickly KN has fallen in line line with new Bharti god. In six months we shall know what is down the road.
There seems no dispute on the need for Pakistan and India to live as neighbours in peace. However,that does not mean that Pakistan must renounce its support for the fundamental rights including the right of self determination of the people of Kashmir and demand for a just and fair resolution of the Kashmir dispute? Does a constructive approach to Indo Pakistan relations means accepting India's position on all diputes including Kashmir and indus basin waters?Mr. Nayer is a senior journalist and should understand that neither the people nor the government of Pakistan can accept what he asks for. Peace is needed by both Pakistan and India. It is not a favour to be granted by a big brother.
Kashmir should be discussed only if Kalat is given he same consideration.
Ok let us discuss it. First tell me who you are and I will come to your place.
truly an article by a Indian hindu. I expected nothing different from KN. He has his head buried in the sand.
Optimism that had been poignant in the context of Indo-Pak bilateral relationship has suffered a minor set back. This setback can be a pure political reaction in order to prevent those political lobbies; not in favour of a cordial relationship between the two neighbouring countries; to stay calm and not deter the further movement of a cordial relationship. The reactions of the media do indicate an element of pessimism the effect of which need be sequestrated the earlier the better. The relationship of the two neighbours has recently seen a phase of cordial development wherein trust, amity and a congenial environment has been visible to a certain extent although the balance still remains on a platform that is precarious.
What cordial relations, our PM going to India as guest and you don't have the basic civility your mouth for few hours. This is low.
The change of governance in India is being eyed with a degree of scepticism and distrust by a majority of the media in Pakistan. The rise of Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh are all perceived as hard core Hindu groups which to an extent can be considered as appropriate but considering it as a threat to Pakistan or a major setback to the future of a cordial bilateral relationship may not be the right or appropriate manner of assessing this political development. Kashmir has really not be the issue that has affected bilateral relationship between the two neighbours but has simply been used as a whipping boy to serve the vested political interests of persons holding office in the two countries. The 'K' issue has neither benefited India nor Pakistan hence efforts should now be made to resolve this archaic issue by finding a viable solution. As had once been suggested accepting the 'Line of Control' [LOC] as the defacto international boundary by the two neighbours would be laying to rest the issue once and for all. As regards the issue of aspirations of the people of Kashmir the people of that state like those of any other state or province as the case may be want economic betterment, employment and a better quality of life. The biggest enemies of humanity are poverty and unemployment to be further infected by corruption and law and order problems. Terrorism and religious fundamentalism; the ugly political aberrations of modern times; whether nomenclature as 'Freedom Movement' need to be put an end to with a heavy hand. This applies to Kashmir as well as states like Balochistan.
If seen from an unbiased point of view the visit of the prime minister of Pakistan and not having met the Hurriyat leaders was a positive gesture and the impact of this on bilateral relationship shall be perceptible in the future. As regards the approach of the Indian side drawing any inference would be too early with regard to a government that has just assumed office. Kashmir issue has simply been the whipping boy which has benefited none.
South Asia has been the feasting paradise for the political hawks and vultures that have been a part of this region or from the other nations. Bilateral relations among the South Asian nations have seldom been very cordial with a history of bloody military conflicts and territorial intrusions. The major players within this part of the continent have been Republic of India and The Islamic Republic of Pakistan bilateral relations of which have been a well-known truth to the entire globe.The three fratricidal wars and the border intrusion within Kargil have been the most bitter and bloodiest military conflicts between the two neighbours.Indo-Pak relations since 1947 with the creation of these two nations have seldom had a cordial bilateral relationship; except for the brief spell when the Janata Government had been in power in India; and the present off course when there has been a positive change towards amity and trust.
An important step which need to be taken by the Governments of India and Pakistan while considering development of economic relations is an 'EXTRADITION TREATY' which will help in checking the movements of anti-social and anti-national elements between the two nations. Extradition Treaty will be a real test that will decide the future of Indo-Pak Relations.Then comes the task of moving over towards economic ties and development of trade and commerce between the two countries. The' Most Favoured Nations' clause will act like a catalyst or booster towards economic relations and there are possibilities of conversion of bilateral relations to a much better pedestal from where they are as of now. From an enemy number one India can be perceived as an opportunity number one by the business class in Pakistan and vice versa. Exchange of technology and joint ventures or business collaborations along with trade are the areas that can be developed and to make it short political nationalism to be replaced by economic nationalism. Pakistan from a threat becomes an opportunity for India. But for all this that seems a pipe dream to get converted to a reality a lot of effort is required from both sides that includes efforts not just by the Governments of India and Pakistan but, the business groups, the common people and a long term strategy is needed to be framed. Organisations like Federations of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry, Associated Chamber of Commerce etc and similar organisations in Pakistan have a major role to play. The going will be initially tough and only the tough shall get going but there after the fruits will be what we all have been waiting for the fruits of friendship, peace and amity. For three generations Indians and Pakistanis have suffered and now it is no more as we all have had enough.
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