Speculations were abound during the 18th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), held in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu from November 26-27, 2014, regarding a possible one-on-one meeting between Pakistan’s Premier Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Premier Narendra Modi. The speculations whether the heads of governments of India and Pakistan would at all meet on the sidelines of SAARC summit grew stronger as the proceedings of the summit kicked off on November 26. No indication whatsoever emanated particularly from the Indian Premier’s side or his entourage of a possible meeting between the two Premiers. The chances of the meeting became grimmer particularly when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif categorically stated that since impasse in the bilateral parleys between India and Pakistan was the making of the Indian side, it will resume only if India takes the initiative in this regard.
All that was uttered against Pakistan by the Indian Premier and vociferous hammering of the Kashmir issue at the summit by Pakistan’s Premier Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif made the atmosphere further uncongenial for a possible meeting between the Premiers of India-Pakistan. The ice, however, was ultimately broken during the closing session of the 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu on November 27, 2014 when the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, to the pleasant surprise of everyone present at the summit, ultimately chose to shake hands. The summit naturally echoed in applause when PM Modi and PM Nawaz Sharif shook hands and beamed for the cameras at the close of the event, after giving a cold shoulder to each other for two days.
The question that however arises is that was the handshake meaningful or was it illusive? If it was illusive, meant solely for the consumption of the media and those in attendance at the summit, then one would be compelled to say that it was truly very unfortunate. On the contrary, if it was sincere and was meant for resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue between the two countries then it certainly is worthy of genuine appreciation. Only time will prove the real motive behind the handshake.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad