Front foot this time
As the foreign office deliberates upon the Indian invitation, it must set a few conditions of its own. It is still not completely clear, for example, what the Modi government really wants. First it shoved off Nawaz’s sincere leaning towards peace. Then Modi spearheaded a belligerent team of senior government officials who went on a verbal rampage against Pakistan. Raising the ghost of the ’71 war in Dhaka was the lowest point of this campaign. Then there is the constant talk about talks; the latest being the national security advisors’ meeting proposed at Ufa apparently.
But now India has once again begun shelling at the Line of Control and Working Boundary. Why does it feel the need to posture for talks and continue provoking diplomatically as well as at the border? Also, what is its latest position on Hurriyat? Nobody – not even his detractors – can accuse Nawaz of not reaching out to India. And it was out of goodwill that he departed from the norm of meeting Hurriyat leaders in Delhi; when he went for Modi’s inauguration. But New Delhi has since then required a permanent detachment as the bare minimum for serious talks. This is a clear departure from the previous position, even under BJP government.
Then, of course, there is the matter of the ‘core issues’. Surely the Indian government does not believe any manner of serious talks can take place without Kashmir, Sir Creek, etc, on the agenda. By putting so many roadblocks in place, New Delhi only betrays a strong desire to keep real talks at a distance. The foreign office, therefore, must indicate, at least, that Islamabad requires clarity on some of the most serious issues. So far it seems there is little chance of meaningful progress so long as the present BJP government is in power in New Delhi.
