Putting off talks only delays their inevitability
Against the backdrop of the Heart of Asia Conference being held at Amritsar in December, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India has come out with an unequivocal readiness for dialogue on the periphery of the conference – if so offered by the host government. The advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, recognising the dangers inherent in the present deaf and mute bilateral relationship, had earlier announced his participation in the Afghanistan-specific meeting. This was despite the self-defeating Indian move to scuttle the SAARC moot in Islamabad and some inflammatory statements against Pakistan from across the border. Unfortunately, in matters concerning the latter, India has only one knee jerk reaction: it is willing to cut off its nose to spite its face. Overt acts of aggression termed as ‘punishing Pakistan’ also caused civilian and military casualties across the Line of Control, but the government wisely put even this aside for reopening the long stalled dialogue.
It is now up to India to respond in the right spirit of conciliation demanded at this grim time. The world’s no doubt largest democracy has really gained nothing by resorting to these petty statements and hostile acts. Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity at any cost has been further strengthened and its readiness to meet any challenge significantly upgraded. Indian pronouncements meant to vilify Pakistan with the aim of isolating it in the comity of nations have also backfired badly. Its Cold-War-ally Russia is in the process of mending ties with Pakistan and in no mood to listen to the hard-line Indian stance. The Russians recently spurned the Indian government’s call to cancel military maneuvers with Pakistan on account of the Uri attack which in accordance to another of its set habits, it blamed on the neighbouring country without investigation or evidence. Harsh realities seemingly being ignored by the Indians make it imperative to fight in a ‘tournament of shadows’ across a green baize table, rather than in the real dreadful thing.