Both India and Pakistan need it
A meeting of Pakistan’s envoys for SAARC and ECO region recommended last month that Islamabad follow its peaceful neighbourhood policy despite provocations from India. The statement came amidst increasing signs of friction between the neighbours. The latest manifestation of the phenomenon is the Charwah Sector cross-border shelling. Meanwhile the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) moot provides an opportunity for talks between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India. With both countries poised to join the SCO as full members, there is a likelihood of the body bringing them together over time.
While the border incidents have decreased compared to last year, there is also a marked increase in fiery exchanges between government leaders on both sides. The two defence ministers have particularly issued provocative statements. Indian Union Minister Rajnath Singh too has frequently chimed in. While in Dhaka Prime Minister Modi contributed his bit to the ongoing acrimony by accusing Pakistan of promoting terrorism. Islamabad accuses India of promoting terrorism in Pakistan to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. While Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry is due to visit New Delhi, there is little hope of the melting of the ice in the absence of a breakthrough at the political level.
There are indications from both Islamabad and New Delhi of the possibility of Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi meeting on the sidelines of the SCO moot. While a meeting of the sort arranged during the SAARC summit in November failed to create a thaw, this time the presence of China and Russia might be able to produce better results. As Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping put it, the SCO will play a constructive role in bringing Pakistan and India together. The US military strength in Afghanistan would get down to a Kabul-centred, embassy-focused presence next year. This will require SCO to ensure that Afghanistan does not fall in to the terrorists’ hands. For this Russia and China will have to help India and Pakistan improve their ties.
Thaw seems to be on the horizon. India Pakistan must work at improving ties between themselves. Narender Modi and Nawaz Sharif must pave the way for peaceful co existence, since it is in their best interest. Both the nation are facing tremendous problems. Skirmishes on the border and negative rhetoric on both the sides.
We will have to sort out all the differences for the sake of the regional peace and prosperity.. The Shanghai Cooperation organization will provide the stage to launch the peace initiative between the two rivals.
Once pakistan stops interfering in kashmir and get out of the policy of using terrorism as a foreign policy tool,then things will be alright and both countries can move forward.
Till Pakistan do not take concrete steps to punish the Mumbai massacre killers, India will not move forward.
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