- Baby steps towards peace
Earlier this year Pakistan and India somehow avoided an all-out war after an airspace violation by India and a corresponding response by the Pakistan Air Force that resulted in the capture and immediate release of an Indian pilot after his jet was shot down. Although LoC skirmishes have reduced in intensity and frequency, relations remain strained and tensions high between the two. Thankfully there is some thaw in relations. A two-day Track-II dialogue aimed at starting a broader process of peace and reconciliation began on Friday with a six-member delegation from India taking part, the second leg of which will take place in New Delhi later this year. Meanwhile, Pakistan, displaying a willingness to improve ties, has conceded to India’s demand of removing a pro-Khalistan leader from its committee ahead of the second round of the Kartarpur Corridor talks. Although these are baby steps towards a greater goal, they are welcome considering the atmosphere of discontent.
Perhaps the most contentious unresolved issue between the two neighbours is that of terrorism, which India accuses Pakistan of actively sponsoring, while providing refuge and support to the likes of Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. To that end Pakistan, primarily due to the predicament it finds itself in with the FATF, has taken some action. Senior leaders of the JuD and JeM, including Hafiz Saeed’s brother-in-law, have been arrested for terror financing for the first time as opposed to being detained under the ‘maintenance of public order’ ordinance, a charge that doesn’t stick for long. This was a long time coming, as the presence of these groups in Pakistan has remained the source of not only bad relations with India but also Western countries. That Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested Indian PM Narendra Modi for talks more than once since coming to power suggests that there is little resistance from other concerned quarters, meaning everyone is on the same page. Mr Modi cannot drop the pre-election anti-Pakistan rhetoric immediately now that he was won comprehensively, but will have to sooner or later dial it down to move the conciliatory process forward. It is in the interest of both countries to resolve all pending issues to enjoy the benefits of open trade and peace in the region.
