Pakistan and India also need to take the initiative to demilitarise the border and move their armies away from the LoC
NEW DELHI: I am an Indian citizen but my forefathers hailed from Karachi. To this day we have many Pakistani friends, some of whom are also close family friends. My grandfather always told us good things about Karachi, where he lived before independence. In fact, it was our Muslim neighbours, according to my grandfather, who helped us to reach India during Partition. As a well-wisher of Pakistan and Pakistani people, I would like to give the following advice.
If anyone can make lasting peace between Pakistan and India from the Indian side, it will be the BJP and no one else. Atal Behari Vajpayee almost signed a peace agreement with Pakistan. Peace is a necessity for Pakistan more than it is for India, not least because India’s economy dominates the South Asian region. Pakistan should also seek peace with Afghanistan because a healthy relationship there will be good for its relations with India. Pakistan needs to follow India’s model of a secular state. Pakistan can progress if all religions, communities and regions are treated with equality and given equal opportunities. It should also take steps to marginalise people with radical and militant views.
All nations will take steps in own interest, including China. There is no guarantee that China will always be Pakistan’s friend. China is helping Pakistan only for its own interests and Pakistan should realise this. I would argue that in fact India and Pakistan are natural friends, or at least have that potential, in large part because of a shared culture and language. Our main difference is Kashmir and if we resolve this issue, there is no reason for us to be enemies. In fact, friendship with India could be positive for Pakistan and vice versa. Pakistanis should stop thinking of Hindus as enemies. Hindus have no track record historically of attacking anyone. Both countries need to take steps to foster cross-border movement of their citizens. Pakistan and India also need to take the initiative to demilitarise the border and move their armies away from the Line of Control. Both countries should avoid rhetoric that is aggressive and jingoistic and should institute confidence-building measures.
If all this is done, it will be a good start towards resolving some of their larger problems such as Kashmir.
Rajesh Jhaveri
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2014.
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