Book launch: India termed core problem in South Asia

Speakers say need to focus on development, governance, say speakers

ISLAMABAD: The core problem in South Asia is the structure and state of Indian society. Indian military assets are deployed against Pakistan and Indo-US strategic nuclear partnership shakes the strategic stability in South Asia.

Pakistan’s foreign policy stands for development and prosperity of its people, justice, peace, freedom, and independence. But Pakistan goes beyond these material gains. It supports liberation wars, freedom struggles, self-determination, struggle against oppression, and injustice.



This was stated by Center for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) President Major General Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery at a book launch event organised by CGSS. The book is titled Nation Building Paradoxes in India and Pakistan” authored by Ambassador Syed Hassan Javed. Vice Admiral Retd Ahmed Tasneem, presented his remarks about the book by stating that India’s most successful policy has been the land reforms and economic stability. Pakistan must depoliticise civil services and police. Our concern must be on economic development, trade, good governance and justice. In Pakistan, the chances of exploitation are lower as compared to Indian society.

Former foreign secretary of Pakistan Ambassador Riaz Khokhar one of the speakers at the occasion stated that is very brave to cover details about Pakistan and India in one book. It is true, that India is a very stratified society, with an evident class hierarchy, and also a home of sectarianism. He stated that he has great respect for their professionalism but there is no doubt they have a very complex foreign policy. He stated that the problem with India is that they entirely refuse to negotiate with Pakistan. India has a very complicated relationship with their neighboring countries. He stated that India is very quickly progressing in the economic sector and so we also need to focus on this sector. He said Ambassador Hassan has focused very rightly on Pakistan and we must focus on the problems of the current time like water, climate, population etc.



International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) International Relations Professor Dr Muhammad Khan stated that Ambassador Javed has been very realistic in describing Indian society as being divided. India is a country full of contradiction and the biggest example of this is that India has a very high poverty rate, but at the same time most of the richest people in the world are also in India. But on the positive side, India has grown politically and economically as well.

Coming over to Pakistan, Pakistani society as compared to Indian society is not divided but due to lack of governance and management, Pakistan has gradually declined in progress as compared to the past. Also, Pakistan lags behind in developing an effective foreign policy that may foster good relations with other countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2018.