Diplomatic face-off

Letter June 27, 2020
It is always wise to keep the back-channel diplomacy open so that the situation does not spiral out of control

KARACHI: The Pakistan-India relations are already on the crossroads, with diplomatic spat and face-offs appearing from time to time. But recently, they seem to be deteriorating even more. Over the years, Pakistan and India have had a strained relationship, plagued with the skirmishes and acts of aggression and intrusion.

Whatever the reason India might give for its diplomatic spat with Pakistan, one thing is apparent: India has received negative response from the international community over its skirmish with China. The former’s attempt to contain the Covid-19 situation through effective health and economic measures has also not been up to the mark. Therefore, provoking Pakistan diplomatically and accusing Pakistani diplomats of engaging in espionage, which has been denied emphatically under the light of international laws, is in reality an attempt to deviate from the rising criticism on the BJP-led government in India. Provoking Pakistan appears to be their way forward.

Regardless of India’s hawkishness that pertains to the hardliner rhetoric of the BJP-led government ready to beat the drums of war, Pakistan needs to display a mature response in relation to such instigations. It is always wise to keep the back-channel diplomacy open so that the situation does not spiral out of control. After all, Pakistan has always defended itself against such antagonistic situations because it has desired peace in South Asia by opening doors for talks.

Hadia Mukhtar

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.

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