After Nawaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Narendra Modi, hardliners on both sides of the border started their hate-campaign to discredit the peace move initiative between these two arch rival countries. I just wonder what our politicians’ real priorities are and who the forces are which influence the politicians to change their mind. Last week, Nawaz Sharif was very rightly questioning in a seminar that how come Pakistan, a nuclear state, is facing power breakdowns of 6-8 hours duration on daily basis. In Pakistan, general public is on the streets demanding power and gas to run their daily chores in industries, offices and homes.
Pakistan wastes tens of MAF of fresh water into the sea instead of storing it for power generation; lack of trust among provinces on building new dams leads to expensive thermal power generation option. Same goes for India – Narendra Modi promised during the elections campaign — ‘Toilets first, Temples later’. India, another nuclear state, wherein half-a-billion people, about 48% of the population, have no access to basic sanitation and defecate in the open. In villages, 65% people have to defecate in the open fields, same goes for slums and shanty towns around the major metropolises. Increased number of reported/unreported rape and sexual assault cases have been blamed on vulnerability of women and girls while off to public toilets or open fields.
I wonder what the real priorities of these two states are which take pride in equipping themselves to teeth with nuclear weapons and missiles. Who will choose between stockpiles of nuclear weapons and improved law and order, economic growth, basic sanitation and clean water for the general public?
Sadly, the policymakers have no clue what it is like to spend a summer day without electricity, or to walk to an open field to defecate.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Indo-Pak relationship has been a subject of debate despite which there has been a change that shows a growing thaw after a long political winter. The political frost of antipathy, distrust and negativity is being gradually treated thus preventing it from developing into a bilateral gangrene that shall be detrimental to both sides. There is no doubt a growing awareness and a change with regard to perception the people of the two neighbouring countries have been sharing since 1947. There is a greater degree of 'glasnost' a political openness that is initiating the 'perestroika' or restructuring of the bilateral relationship of India and Pakistan. A critical and antipathetic approach which has been primarily responsible towards continuance of bilateral distrust now seems to be taking an apparent backseat as the citizens of India and Pakistan have begun to realise the futility of such an approached. This misplaced patriotism is now getting eroded from the public minds at a gradual pace. There cannot be overnight changes nevertheless this apparent change has helped in narrowing down of bilateral differences and a more suggestive and constructive approach towards the neighbour has started which will show the desired results during the next few years. A greater degree of understanding, trust and amity alone is the answer.
Foreign policy of any nation can never be static or confined to fixed parameters. There are no doubt broad guidelines that govern a foreign policy which undergo modifications, amendments and changes depending on the changing political and strategic conditions of a nation. During the late forties and fifties right upto the early nineties that had been the period of the Cold War when the foreign policy of most nations was affiliated with either one of the two power blocs the CENTO and COMECON with a few exceptions who were a part of the Non-Aligned group of nations. If analysed in depth every group consisted of member nations that shared polarities and leanings based on their political, economic and strategic interests. The 'Two Giants'; USA & USSR; of that period had ensured a strict control over the member nations which had been an open secret. With the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a world that was turning multipolar a visible change has occurred with regard to alliances and diplomatic relationships. There are ongoing transitions within nations that had experienced authoritarian regimes during the past towards democratisation. Thus the Geo-strategic and political interests of every nation have begun to change so also has the need to review the nation's foreign policy. This is a universal phenomena and holds true across the globe.
In case of South Asia wherein The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Republic of India have been the major players besides the other nations and their diplomatic relationship plays an influential role in maintaining the balance in power in the region hence a cordial and amicable relationship needs to be further developed. There is no doubt that Indo-Pak relations are undergoing a positive and constructive change which has been an encouraging development of recent times besides a growing trust that has been able to reduce the element of antipathy between the two neighbours.
The United States of America off course has been treating Asia and the nations of this continent as business clients and hence a need for the Asian countries to unite as a confederation becomes essential. Sino-Indo-Pak relationship can play an influential role in this regard provided cooperation from nations like Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the two Korea too is available. This exercise of framing the Asian Confederation out of this Asian Fraternity can be time taking and not an easy task nevertheless the beginnings must be made and the time has come for it. Pakistan and China share a relationship and Sino-Indian relationship too has its own parameters which now need to develop on tripartite lines. Asia has issues that pertain to not very cordial relationships between neighbouring countries. Also, the geographical and ethnic diversity of this continent furthers complicates the very idea of a Fraternity. However, the problems have to be handled by the nations of Asia themselves rising above the rigid paradigms of patriotism which has been at times more negative based on distrust and antipathy. A review of the foreign policy with a new look is the only way that there can be peace and progress not just in one particular nation but the entire continent that is Asia. Foreign policy needs to be perceived in a new perspective not just by Pakistan or India or for that matter a particular region viz South Asia or South East Asia or Central Asia but the entire Asia as a continent. In the context of South Asia India and Pakistan have a major role to play for which a more cordial relationship and a better bilateral understanding along with trust and amity becomes an essential part. An approach that is more of a Continental one is required and the desired thrust in this regard has become all the more essential.
The new thrust areas of joint work between India and Pakistan can be towards harnessing of water resources, effluent recycling and saving the environment including the biosphere and working towards recycling of marine water in the coastal areas. There has been a considerable pollution due to discharge of industrial effluents into the Arabian Sea in the region of Kutch as well as the coastal area around Sindh due to which marine life is affected. Fisherman need to to beyond their coastal waters to fish as a result of which they transgress into the territorial waters of the neighbouring country or countries leading to arrests. The subject is seldom given a rational analysis which is needed and prevention of marine pollution is becoming essential. Similarly in the sector of irrigation especially desert irrigation modalities to joint working can be prepared and implemented which will help in increasing agricultural produce in India and Pakistan.
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