According to ‘The Economic Times’, “The chemistry between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani seems to work for the volatile India-Pakistan relations.” Indeed, the process of composite dialogue between nuclear armed South Asian neighbours initiated in 1997 and revived in 2004, got derailed following the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2009.
Thereafter, India maintained its pressure on Pakistan for its alleged linkages with the militants operating in India. Pakistan, however, denied this and maintained that, it condemned all terrorist acts committed by any one and rejected any linkage with any militant group. In an environment of accusations and counter accusations, Prime Minister Gillani and his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh had a meeting on the sidelines of NAM in Sharm-el-Sheikh, the Egyptian picnic resort in July 2009. This meeting proved as the melting of ice in the Indo-Pak bilateral tense relationship. It was for the first time after Mumbai attacks that, India agreed to delink the cross border terrorism from peace process. Though, the chemistry of this changed Indian stance was different, which rather compelled her to keep silent thereafter. Nevertheless, the diplomatic channels remained operative for the improvement of bilateral relations thereafter, and with little constraints, the process made its way forward.
The Thimphu round of SAARC, (16th SAARC Summit), held in April 2010, further reinforced the peace initiatives, started at Sharm-el-Sheikh between both countries. From Thimphu to Addu, both countries travelled a long distance with lot of CBMs. Apart from the foreign and interior secretaries’ level meetings, there have been ministerial meetings of both countries. So much so, Pakistan has granted MFN status to India before the 17th Summit of SAARC. Indian Prime Minister Dr Singh declared his Pakistani counterpart as the, “Man of peace” and said that, “We have wasted a lot of time in acrimonious debate in the past. The time has come to write a new chapter in relations between India and Pakistan.” He was optimistic of the dialogue process commenced, after the Thimphu moot and emphasized to do more in the coming days for furthering this peace initiative.
Pakistani Premier, Mr Gillani, declared his meeting with his Indian counter part as productive one and said, “We had a good meeting. I hope the next round of talks will be more constructive and open a new chapter in relations between the two countries.” Mr. Gillani said that, during his meeting with Dr. Singh, they had a detailed discussion on all issues, including core issues related to “water, terror, Sir Creek and Siachen.” Either by design or just as a coincidence, the Premier did not make a mention of Jammu and Kashmir issue; indeed, the mother of all issues and the root cause of Indo-Pak sixty-four years of rivalry. Except Sir Creek, all other issues indeed, emanates from Kashmir dispute, thus its resolution is more important before other issues. Indeed, most of other issues would automatically be resolved, if Kashmir issue is settled as per the wishes of its people.
Notwithstanding the microbes, the warmth in the Indo-Pak relationship is really an encouraging step and would be a great confidence building for the region as a whole. Indeed, ever since of decolonization, South Asia has been hostage of Indo-Pak rivalry. Unlike European Union (EU), and ASEAN, the region could not be integrated economically, politically or from security perspective. Resultantly, nothing could be done for the betterment of its inhabitants, forming a sizable portion of the global population. Today, majority of the world’s poor people live in South Asia. Even India has over 50% poor, if global standard of poverty are applied there. Pakistan and other South Asians have almost similar statistics of poverty. Would this beginning of a new chapter in the bilateral relationship of India and Pakistan is really going to change the destinies of 1.4 billion people of South Asia, or fell prey of another 26/11, is quite premature to comment upon. However, one can hope and pray for the best. Nevertheless, this is for sure that, if the leadership of both countries is determined, sincere and visionary, there is no way that, peace and stability of the region can be derailed. This would provide opportunities for economic well being and social integration among South Asian communities. In fact, a perpetual peace and stability would give way to economic prosperity of the region, the most needed factor for the poverty alleviation from the South Asia.
The question mark for a meaning end to this promising beginning is that, do the Indo-Pak leadership really serious to redress the grievances of those, who have been deprived of their basic right to live with freedom, as enshrined in UN Charter. Really they have made up their minds to address the root causes of wars, rivalries and confrontations. Without this preliminary phase, promotion of bilateral trade and commerce may be a temporary phase. Indeed, redressing the core issues, would not allow the non-state actors to through a spoiler for the repeat of incidents like; the 26/11 or attack on India Parliament of December 13, 2001, causing mass mobilization of two nuclear rivals. At times it appears as if the Indo-Pak leadership is mounting on a tree from its top, through weak branches and leaves, rather through a strong stem.
Would the weak top bears the heavy load of South Asian heavy weights, is really a big question mark. It is not that, I am opposing the peace process, but, has not such initiatives proved sand dunes in the past? After all, this is not the first beginning of Indo-Pak peace process in their sixty-four years of independent history. Moreover, through cosmetic measures, let us not befool 1.4 billion people of South Asia. Therefore, let us be realistic in our approach and accept the harsh ground realities for a better South Asian future with peace and stability as its destiny.
For a durable peace in South Asia, we cannot buy the themes which say; “let us promote trade and commerce between India and Pakistan, and leave the resolution of Core issue (Kashmir issue) to our future generation.” Do we really desire that our future generations should suffer too?
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