For this exercise to succeed there has to be an element of sincerity on both sides.
LAHORE: Indian and Pakistani leaders have had many rounds of talks since Partition at various venues starting from Liaquat Ali Khan to Pervez Musharraf, Asif Ali Zardari and now, Nawaz Sharif. All these failed because the hawks want hostilities between the two countries to continue. Although the main issues are Kashmir and control of river waters, but what would be discussed were minor issues like trade, exchange of cultural troupes, visa facilities, violations on the Line of Control and so on.
For this exercise to succeed there has to be an element of sincerity on both sides. The hawks are found mainly on the Indian side. We are a nuclear power state and should take a harder line on the main issues rather than taking a placid position. Recently, in New York, the Indian prime minister accused Pakistan of being the ‘epicentre of terrorism’ and exporting terrorism to India, knowing well that just the following day, he would be meeting the Pakistani prime minister. He also categorically mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Pakistani prime minister should have declined the meeting because of the Indian prime minister’s remarks, but he did not do so. Had he done that, he would have sent a strong message to the Indian hawks.
It is about time that governments in Pakistan made clear their position on Kashmir because they say one thing on the matter and do quite the opposite.
Muhammad Azhar Khwaja
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2013.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
s.��!�� ='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
