KARACHI, PAKISTAN:
Presently, the world is experiencing several unconventional threats such as climate change, food insecurity, and economic hardships. No nation can tackle these issues alone as governments need to work together to fight these challenges. But countries can only forge a consensus by setting aside war-mongering attitudes and directing energy towards providing relief to citizens.
The economic and political integration of the European countries, in the form of the European Union (EU) is a model worth emulating. The European countries learnt to coexist peacefully after being heavily devastated due to internal strife in the two World Wars. The results of the integration are evident from the consistently higher ranking of European countries on economic and human development indicators. The example of the EU serves as a guiding light for the least integrated South Asian region. The regional countries, including Pakistan and India, should realise that they are better off together than indulging in animosities.
Both countries suffer from high poverty rates. The two countries can reduce defence expenditure and divert it towards developing human capital if they agree on peaceful coexistence. The deep-seated mistrust has also hampered trade potential. The peace prospects generated by the Lahore Declaration in 1998 and later the 4-point formula during Musharraf’s era were hampered by the arrival of Prime Minister Modi. Both countries should draw lessons from the changing global geo-political dynamics. Saudi Arabia and Iran have learnt the futility of consistent infighting and are committed to reviving bilateral relationships. Similarly, the US and China have also managed to maintain a delicate balance in mutual relationships despite bitter hostilities.
Asad Aziz
Khushab
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2023.
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