Engagement, the only option

Amid media frenzy and under unprecedented security, Indian Navy officer turned-RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav met his mother and wife on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jadhav, who is on death row after being convicted of his involvement in espionage, terrorism and subversive activities against Pakistan, was allowed to see his mother and wife purely on humanitarian grounds. A senior Indian diplomat was also present at the 40-minute meeting but the Foreign Office clarified this should not be construed as consular access, a contentious issue that prompted India to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Without going into merits of the Jadhav case, Pakistan’s gesture allowing the Indian spy to have audience with his mother and wife must be applauded. Also the development should not be seen in isolation of overall bilateral ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The big question is: will that lead to some semblance of normalcy in an otherwise antagonistic relationship between the two estranged neighbours? The Indian High Commissioner hoped that Pakistan’s gesture might augur well for the future engagements. India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has repeatedly spurned Pakistan’s peace overtures until what it claims Islamabad addresses its concerns on alleged cross-border terrorism.

India may have its grievances but Pakistan also has a long list of complaints, including RAW’s involvement in abetting terrorism and creating unrest in Pakistan. The fact that despite simmering tensions, the two sides successfully worked out details of the meeting is a positive development. This is also a reminder for the Modi administration that no matter how intricate issues between Pakistan and India are, ultimately they have to sit across the table whether on the issue of Jadhav or perennial disputes such as Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, Pakistan’s decision to allow Jadhav to meet his family should serve as template for India to follow, as Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal aptly put it: “One good deed should beget another.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2017.

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