Welcoming Modi
Communication and not ammunition must be the new face of the Pakistan-India dynamic
“Modi is coming to Lahore.” “Is Modi coming to Lahore?” “Aren’t you going to comment on Modi’s visit to Lahore?” Huh? What’s this new drama unfolding this quiet Christmas Friday in Lahore, I thought, still half-asleep, as I read various tweets in which I was tagged. After a call from an Indian news channel requesting my Skype presence later that day to talk about the same subject, I finally realised that it was not April 1, but December 25, and Narendra Modi, Indian prime minister, had tweet-announced his visit to Lahore. The power of Twitter had been reconfirmed, and bowed to.
While wishing people a merry Christmas, remembering the Quaid-e-Azam on his birth anniversary, and wishing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, along came the news of Modi’s visit. For all of us who watch the Pakistan-India peace dynamic on one level or the other, the news was huge. And for most of us who truly wish for peace between the two countries, it was nothing less than the icing on all three cakes. What better way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas than divest life of ill-will, mistrust? In reiteration of Jinnah’s wish to see Pakistan and India as friends, and not warring neighbours, this thaw in the icy status quo between the governments is not mere tokenism but a very real, a very positive development. And India’s Modi’s expression of goodwill to wish Pakistan’s Sharif in person on his birthday is the best birthday greeting for the latter in terms of the dynamics of the Pakistan-India relationship.
Why can’t we be like leaders in Europe, Modi asks Nawaz
Amusing it was to see the bewilderment (read: rancour) of media on both sides to be kept out of the loop of this unheard-of and unexpected — to say the least — development in the travel itinerary of the always-on-the-go Modi after his short visit to Kabul. Much has been said about the trip, as some foamed in the mouth, some turned typically jingoistic, some sounded openly hostile, and some expressed hope. Political parties in Pakistan hailed it as a sign of maturity, while in India, it was used as a prop to attack the ruling BJP as a master of yo-yo politics in the context of its Pakistan policy. Naysayers abound on both sides and hardliners remain adamant about sticking to their mantras of sticks-not-carrots. Amidst political dithering, multiple-pronged analyses of experts and power games of media personalities, there is the unequivocal stance of the ordinary mortals like you and me: we wish to see peace, and eventually, friendship between Pakistan and India. With many ifs and buts thrown in for good measure.
After the National Security Advisers’ meeting in Bangkok, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s attendance of the Heart of Asia summit in Islamabad, the brief but warm visit in chilly December, Pakistan-India diplomacy must be looked at for what it is. It is an announcement by the two prime ministers to treat one another with respect, which in turn impacts the diplomatic and governmental relationship between the two countries. The perception in Pakistan of Modi being a hardliner, a staunch nationalist toeing the line of Hindutva in his governmental policies, saw a shift last Friday when Modi visited the Sharif residence in Raiwind to be a part of the latter’s granddaughter’s wedding celebration. Following the warm hug on the tarmac, and handholding, the visit to the Sharif residence personalised Modi’s political visit, adding a very human touch to cold machinations of state interactions. What ensues will be interesting to watch, but Modi’s visit to Lahore — the first one of an Indian prime minister in 11 years — is nothing short of maverick fence-building, and a diplomatic triumph that is bigger than long summits and longer promises.
Sartaj Aziz fails to satisfy curious MPs over Modi’s surprise visit
There is no alternative to a sustained dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the long-standing issues of Kashmir et al, and the constant issues of ceasefire violations, cross-border firing and acts of terrorism. Once the two governments build a bridge of communication, no issue — notwithstanding its complexity and longevity — will be hard to resolve. Communication and not ammunition must be the new face of the Pakistan-India dynamic and nothing substantial will be achievable without there being uniformity of policy among the civilian and military leaderships vis-a-vis India. It is time to put into implementation the plan of the South Asian Free Trade Area after TAPI’s successful inauguration. It is time to highlight common economic interests that would not merely be beneficial to Pakistan and India but the entire region. It is time to address all issues of terror, and provide justice to the 2008 Mumbai attack victims. It is time to look at Kashmir as an oozing wound and not a political pawn. It is time to strategise a paradigm that is acceptable to both countries, and is not haunted by the history of bloodshed, paranoia and real fears. It is time to accept the fact that there is no alternative to dialogue.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2016.
While wishing people a merry Christmas, remembering the Quaid-e-Azam on his birth anniversary, and wishing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, along came the news of Modi’s visit. For all of us who watch the Pakistan-India peace dynamic on one level or the other, the news was huge. And for most of us who truly wish for peace between the two countries, it was nothing less than the icing on all three cakes. What better way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas than divest life of ill-will, mistrust? In reiteration of Jinnah’s wish to see Pakistan and India as friends, and not warring neighbours, this thaw in the icy status quo between the governments is not mere tokenism but a very real, a very positive development. And India’s Modi’s expression of goodwill to wish Pakistan’s Sharif in person on his birthday is the best birthday greeting for the latter in terms of the dynamics of the Pakistan-India relationship.
Why can’t we be like leaders in Europe, Modi asks Nawaz
Amusing it was to see the bewilderment (read: rancour) of media on both sides to be kept out of the loop of this unheard-of and unexpected — to say the least — development in the travel itinerary of the always-on-the-go Modi after his short visit to Kabul. Much has been said about the trip, as some foamed in the mouth, some turned typically jingoistic, some sounded openly hostile, and some expressed hope. Political parties in Pakistan hailed it as a sign of maturity, while in India, it was used as a prop to attack the ruling BJP as a master of yo-yo politics in the context of its Pakistan policy. Naysayers abound on both sides and hardliners remain adamant about sticking to their mantras of sticks-not-carrots. Amidst political dithering, multiple-pronged analyses of experts and power games of media personalities, there is the unequivocal stance of the ordinary mortals like you and me: we wish to see peace, and eventually, friendship between Pakistan and India. With many ifs and buts thrown in for good measure.
After the National Security Advisers’ meeting in Bangkok, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s attendance of the Heart of Asia summit in Islamabad, the brief but warm visit in chilly December, Pakistan-India diplomacy must be looked at for what it is. It is an announcement by the two prime ministers to treat one another with respect, which in turn impacts the diplomatic and governmental relationship between the two countries. The perception in Pakistan of Modi being a hardliner, a staunch nationalist toeing the line of Hindutva in his governmental policies, saw a shift last Friday when Modi visited the Sharif residence in Raiwind to be a part of the latter’s granddaughter’s wedding celebration. Following the warm hug on the tarmac, and handholding, the visit to the Sharif residence personalised Modi’s political visit, adding a very human touch to cold machinations of state interactions. What ensues will be interesting to watch, but Modi’s visit to Lahore — the first one of an Indian prime minister in 11 years — is nothing short of maverick fence-building, and a diplomatic triumph that is bigger than long summits and longer promises.
Sartaj Aziz fails to satisfy curious MPs over Modi’s surprise visit
There is no alternative to a sustained dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the long-standing issues of Kashmir et al, and the constant issues of ceasefire violations, cross-border firing and acts of terrorism. Once the two governments build a bridge of communication, no issue — notwithstanding its complexity and longevity — will be hard to resolve. Communication and not ammunition must be the new face of the Pakistan-India dynamic and nothing substantial will be achievable without there being uniformity of policy among the civilian and military leaderships vis-a-vis India. It is time to put into implementation the plan of the South Asian Free Trade Area after TAPI’s successful inauguration. It is time to highlight common economic interests that would not merely be beneficial to Pakistan and India but the entire region. It is time to address all issues of terror, and provide justice to the 2008 Mumbai attack victims. It is time to look at Kashmir as an oozing wound and not a political pawn. It is time to strategise a paradigm that is acceptable to both countries, and is not haunted by the history of bloodshed, paranoia and real fears. It is time to accept the fact that there is no alternative to dialogue.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2016.