Extending the hand of friendship to India

It might take time, but there is no alternative to peace

Nawaz Sharif’s address at the plenary session of OBOR’s High-level Dialogue stressed the need for cooperative and inclusive development. Sharif made an impassioned plea for India to be a part of the CPEC (which was purely an economic undertaking open to all in the region) instead of politicising the flagship project of the OBOR. Sharif called for transcending the differences and resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. The region’s economic integration, he maintained, would bring an end to poverty and create conditions for the eradication of terrorism and extremism.

India has only isolated itself by declining to join the CPEC and boycotting the OBOR moot. All countries in the South Asia region with the exception of India and Bhutan were represented at the moot. Heads of government of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar and high-level delegations from Bangladesh and Nepal are attending the two-day Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. The event is being attended by 29 heads of state and government and delegates from around 130 countries. At a time when India’s neighbours have joined hands to build connectivity and economic cooperation through the Chinese led initiative, New Delhi needs to realise that economic diplomacy is a more effective way of winning friends than muscle flexing.

Nawaz Sharif’s plea comes at a time when cross border shelling continues along the LoC between India and Pakistan. The recent series of daily exchange of fire which has led to double digit casualties began after two Indian soldiers were found beheaded on the Indian side of the LoC. India accused Pakistan army which rejected the allegation as false and demanded actionable evidence. New Delhi needs to realise that terrorist networks like ISIS or al-Qaeda can commit highly condemnable actions of the sort to keep the two countries at loggerheads. There were meanwhile three terrorist attacks in Balochistan leading some in Pakistan to point fingers at India. Prime Minister Modi needs to understand that economic diplomacy is more effective in winning friends than muscle flexing. Pakistan meanwhile has to keep the door open for talks with India despite the latter’s hostile posture.