The new buzz is that both India and Pakistan can flourish if they allow ‘connectivity’ between the two economies. It is not so new either. At South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) all the good and sane things have been said and signed on; and connectivity is one of them. Therefore it is not surprising that PML-N leader Mr Nawaz Sharif has announced the ‘doctrine of roads’ as the new paradigm of relations. The leader who dares to change fundamental doctrines is a leader indeed.
Addressing a seminar organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) in Lahore on August 13, he said: India and Pakistan had the same culture, their peoples worshipped the same God — meaning they were not animists — and spoke the same language. He wanted the two states to compete in the realm of economics rather than in armament.
He spoke about roads. He said he had plans to build his motorway up to Kabul via Peshawar as well as to Gwadar and Tashkent, and in 1999 had counted on India to extend it from Lahore to Kolkata, reproducing the ‘connectivity’ established long time ago by the Muslim king in Delhi, Sher Shah Suri. He wanted India and Pakistan to trade rather than prepare for war which damaged the quality of life of the common man by downgrading the region’s economic infrastructure.
Before people start flying into a rage, let us recall that under Saarc the transport ministers of the region have already agreed to three road corridors through Pakistan to Afghanistan via the Wagah Border, a Colombo-Kochi sea link, and a ‘demonstration container train’ from Pakistan to Bangladesh through India and Nepal. There is a South Asian Free Trade Area in force that makes cross-border investments possible, making war impossible.
South Asia’s internal trade is only $4 billion. It has the potential of $80 billion. In August 2008, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a Saarc summit: “Economic cooperation, connectivity and integration will be the cornerstone of Saarc in the years ahead”. Now Nawaz Sharif has shown statesmanship by announcing his doctrine of roads.
When Mr Singh visits Bangladesh in September, some issues like sharing rivers, sending electricity over the border, settling disputed patches of territory on the 2,500-mile border will be tackled. Roads will be built with $10 billion across Bangladesh to link India with its north-eastern states. After the deal, Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate is expected to go from the current seven per cent to nine per cent. India has already handed over half a billion dollars in a soft loan for the project.
Bangladesh has come round to thinking differently. Not long ago it thought like us when it rejected a Myanmar gas pipeline going through its territory to India. China got it instead. Pakistan waived its ‘Kashmir-first’ doctrine to allow a similar gas pipeline from Iran to go through to India; so there is a precedent to lean on. But this shift from ‘warrior state’ to ‘trading nation’ will need a big leader like Nawaz Sharif to realise.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (57)
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@Feroz: this has happened all through the history no wonder if this time again..
@Frank: Nawaz Sharif Pakistan Leader was gifted a Brand New Luxury Car E Class Mercedes
Read more: http://www.cars.currentblips.com/2011/09/nawaz-sharif-pakistan-leader-was-gifted.html#ixzz1Y4IDdJM8
Nawaz's daughter Marium got knocked up by his then ADC Captain Safdar during the same Saarc conference mentioned in the article. A trivial fact that I wanted to point to to highlight the moral values of this 'visionary' leader. Sharif's are nothing more than the Palins of the US.
@mindcontrol
You are right.But I suspect @Frank is not alone in flashing the 'Referendum card' at the drop of a hat without knowing the conditionalities attached to it.
@Frank
When was the referendum held which resulted in a part of Kashmir being handed over to China.?
@Frank
Yes, I agree. So when are you holding the referendum you promised all those years ago? Please hurry up so we can reduce poverty, need and bigotry, untwist history and celebrate our shared inheritance.
Looks like you have not read the UN Resolutions as yet.Withdrawal of Pakistani troops and in fact all Pakistani nationals not 'normally resident' in Kashmir , is a precondition for the 'referendum'. Now you know where you should address your fervent pleas for peace and development. Good luck.
Noor
Yes, I agree. So when are you holding the referendum you promised all those years ago? Please hurry up so we can reduce poverty, need and bigotry, untwist history and celebrate our shared inheritance.
@Dr Priyanka: So you are back,?how is HYD(daccan)? ,poor Mumtaz,you did not have to break her "LOTA" like this?Let at least one good hearted soul think and dream of peace and Shanthi. between India and Pakistan, @Mumtaz,Your wish of Pak/India friendship will bear fruits,when I do not know.Keep up the lamp of hope burning,Priyanka is self loather.India is really what you fancy.Sweet dreams,do not pay attension to people who are negative about India/Pakistan,Remember you heard it from me.Signed Hariharmani,nj of USA.
@Mumtaz: Oh please don't be so impressed with the Indian economy. The common Indian is not benefitting! Help us please!
@Frank: On the subject of Kashmir:
Nobody with half a brain would ascribe to nations the moral values that define the character of individuals. Therefore, even though state policy might seem abhorrent and evil at times, it is what nations do and have done since time immemorial. However, the question that begs to be asked is : To what end these games? People mired in poverty, need and bigotry, a radicalized population, hatred and sheer ignorance on both sides of the border, twisted histories and the repudiation of a shared inheritance. European powers shrugged off eons of mutual distrust and hostility in a snap after WWII to vastly improve the lives of their populace. We, in the subcontinent seem to be loath to do so. Sometimes, I feel that we are still a pre-industrial, tribal people smeared with a veneer of civilization. Even the veneer wears thin at most times. As regards Kashmir, Pakistan had no right to ‘Take it Back’. You can only take back what is or was rightfully yours. My childhood in Kashmir (Indian Kashmir) is a fading memory. The war that Pakistan unleashed on the valley in the late eighties coupled with the brutal response of the Indian state devastated Kashmir. But even more insidious and evil was what it did to the social fabric of the valley. the kind of social harmony, brotherhood and peace that the valley enjoyed was scarcely found anywhere else in India before 1989. The religious obscurantism, bigotry and social disruption that Pakistan engineered is irreversible. The Kashmir of old breathes its last .. vanishing like the early morning mist on Dal lake at the break of day.
observer
Are you trying to act cute? There is no such thing as 'Indian Kashmir'. India invaded Kashmir at the time of independence as a part of its attempts to kill Pakistan at birth. They went in claiming they were only there to help the Kashmiris and would soon leave, but once secure there they starting declaring Kashmir an integral part of Bharat Mata. They also believe every square inch of Pakistan is a part of their mythical Bharat Mata. Furthermore, India has funded separatists in Pakistan throughout the country's history:from the Mukhti Bahini to the Baloch groups of today. If a country like that does not constitute a threat, I don't know what does.
faraz
That was a good post and we are now starting to agree on things. I agree our army hindered rather than helped the Kashmiri cause. Your analysis is spot on. They allowed India to paint the Kashmiri freedom movement as a jihadi movement. The army has made mistakes without a doubt and it also has its faults as an institution. But it also has its good points. Where you and I are in conflict is your refusal to accept a nuanced view of our armed forces. All you do is regurgitate the opinions I read in the American newspapers every day. Incredibly, they have somehow managed to persuade you that India is no threat to Pakistan, despite the masses of evidence to the contrary from 65 years of history.
@Frank
I was born and bred in Lahore, and I absolutely agree that Sharif's plan to beautify Lahore is a major reason behind Punjab's under-development. I absolutely hate the construction of flyovers, underpass and motorway in a country where people die of hunger. Sharif did turn Pakistan into a colony of Lahore. They are as corrupt as any other regime that has ruled Pakistan. And I am not a supporter of any of these corrupt political parties. I pull out facts about the army when you defend it, if you start defending any political party, I will pull out facts about that party with equal diligence.
Well Indian atrocities in Kashmir are not an external threat to Pakistan. We are a nuclear state and nobody is foolish enough to attack a country which has over 100 nuclear bombs and efficient delivery systems. And by killing Kashmiris, Indians are making things worse for themselves. The rigged elections and atrocities in Kashmir exacerbated the situation and forced India to deploy 500,000 troops that resulted in huge economic loss. An economically weak India could never have sustained such prolonged troop deployment.
Pakistan could have secured a diplomatic victory by highlighting this report in the capitals of the world, but because of our past interference in Kashmir, the just movement of Kashmiris is painted as terrorism. Because of our jihadi groups, the Indians claim higher moral ground; our Kashmir policy is an utter failure.
@Frank
You don’t know a thing about the crimes commited by the Sharif family but you can pull out ‘facts’ about the army at the drop of a hat? The Sharifs bankrupted Pakistan.
I am sure you knew all about what appears below, but were keeping quite in aid of truth "His role in Karachi after his father''s election in the allegedly rigged 1965 Presidential elections against Fatima Jinnah is a subject of criticism by many writers. Gohar Ayub it is said to have led a victory parade right into the heartland of opposition territory in Karachi, in a blatantly provocative move and the civil administrations failure to stop the rally led to a fierce clashes between opposing groups with many locals being killed Gohar Ayub also faced criticisms during that time on questions of family corruption and cronyism through his business links with his father-in-law retired Lt. General Habibullah Khan Khattak. One Western commentator in 1969 estimated Gohar Ayub''s personal wealth at the time at $4 million dollars, while his families wealth was put in the range of $10-$20 million dollars"
http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Gohar-Ayub-Khan-514
How much would 1969 dollars be in 2011.Just wondering.
Here’s something about the imaginary threat to Pakistan.
How is India's treatment of separatists and infiltrators in Indian Kashmir a proof of external threat to Pakistan? And would you say that by the same token the discovery of tortured and mutilated bodies in Balochistan, is actually a proof of external threat to India.
faraz
You don't know a thing about the crimes commited by the Sharif family but you can pull out 'facts' about the army at the drop of a hat? The Sharifs bankrupted Pakistan. They sucked the life blood out of the country to enich themselves and to beautify Lahore. The whole country was practically a colony of Lahore during their last rule.
This maybe true, but some sources please.
You're saying this to me? It's your city and its extravagances that are generating the poverty you see.
Here's something about the imaginary threat to Pakistan.
mind control
My knowledge of the activities of the Sharif family are not based on this newspaper report. You asked for some substantiation and I gave you some. This is not a court of law and I am not a lawyer. If you want more information about how the Sharif family sold Pakistan to India for money do some research yourself. It seems they are planning on doing something similar again.
Musharraf wanted Nawaz Sharif out of his hair and offered him an exile deal, which Nawaz Sharif, then imprisoned in Attock jail, readily accepted. In this way he also escaped trials and possible punishment for massive frauds, kidnappings and a lot more.
@Frank
I am 26. I dont know of any money recieved by Sharifs but Kargil war cost us 4 billion dollars and GDP shrank. Do education, health, clean water mean anything to you? Do you really live in Pakistan. When i go out of Lahore, my heart bleeds at the poverty and misery of the people. This drama of external threat must stop. Or the country will implode.
100% correct. I just pity that some of the youth are moving towards Imran Khan at the expense of Nawaz Sharif and to the benefit of the highly corrupt PPP. Imran cannot give a strong leadership at this point in time. Maybe tom. But for now we need to support NS for his mature, aggressive, anti establishment and statesmen like politics. Please notice that PTI is playing with ISI and establishment. Mistskes which NS did in the past but from which he has learnt alot and moved on. PTI needs to learn and mature. Yeah, NS does have a tainted past but "every saint has a past and every sinner a future". I am all in for NS in these elections.
@Frank
According to papers made available to the press this week by the Congress party, the main beneficiaries of the deal signed in February to import 80,000 metric tonnes of sugar from Pakistan were Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sugar-mill owning family.
The source of the papers (made available by congress party) should have alerted you. Now the facts, The Lahore Declaration called for facilitation of trade . India was facing a scarcity of sugar, Pakistan had a surplus. So importing from Pakistan was logical. Ownership of sugar mills or steel mills or housing projects in Pakistan is something that is not in Indian hands.Look at table 3.2 in the following link which clearly shows that sugar production in India was much lower in 1996-1997 and 1997-1998, than in subsequent years.
http://fcamin.nic.in/dfpd/EventDetails.asp?EventId=236&Section=Sugar%20and%20Edible%20Oil&ParentID=0&childcontinue=1&childcheck=0
Now if for a moment we concede what you postulate, what prevented Musharraf from trying Sharif on this specific charge. After all he did charge him with hijacking an aircraft.Time to give up the conspiracy theories.
Idea of Mr.Shareef is realy grt...he had the vision and strategy how to possible it....Pakistan is in need of charasmatic leadership and in current seen nwaz sahreef is the only leader to deal with the worse of pakistan
fact are astonishing
Quite visionary of Nawaz Sharif to talk like this. Nawaz continues to show his maturity. One should credit him to have talked like this openly. India currently has a growth rate of 10% whereas Pakistan less than 3%. India is booming like anything and according to some it has the potential to "overtake" China in 25 years time. Its a pity Pakistan being a neighbor of India, and having so much similarities in terms of history, culture, some of the languages etc, is not taking benefit of it. We need to come close to India to be prosperous. NS wanted this and was on his way when the Army sabotaged the whole plan by staging Kargil and then a coup. I sincerely hope he succeeds this time.
Ramping up trade b/w India and Pakistan is a no-brainer, but is also a non-starter regardless of characters involved. Pakistan's pathology has become too poisonous, and much of its shrinking liberal constituency ably voiced by Khaled Ahmed Marvi Sirmed, Kamran Shafi and others might wish, the current discourse is dominated by Zaid Hamid, Shireen Mazari, Mirza Beg and other cretins with no vision -- they will take Pakistan down with them. Sad.
@Muqaddam Khan: We have better things to do like making money and fighting corruption than creating trouble in neighbourhood. That is Pakistan's passtime (Stragetic depth - Afganistan, Uligur uprising support etc.)
@Zee: "The idea of having friendly relations with India was repeatedly preached by Musharraf during 2002-2007"
You got to be kidding us all, when were you born? in 2003? The first peace process was started way before your birth, in 1998 by NS, back then its didnt go down well with Musharraf
"I think PMLN just copies ideas from other parties, they have run out of ideas of their own." Right now i think PMLN is the only party that has pushed this idea around, others have just out right rejected this.
mind control
'Sugargate' taints Vajpayee's election campaign By Ranjit Dev Raj (Asia Times 1999)
NEW DELHI - It is called ''Sugargate'' and it is a scandal that, curiously enough, has the potential to derail the political careers of the prime ministers of both India and Pakistan.
[..]
According to papers made available to the press this week by the Congress party, the main beneficiaries of the deal signed in February to import 80,000 metric tonnes of sugar from Pakistan were Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sugar-mill owning family.
[...]
The deal sweetened the famous bus-ride across the border to Lahore undertaken by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that month and claimed as a diplomatic breathrough by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until the Kargil conflict erupted.
This is an excellent and practical idea but the Military will scuttle any such ideas because when such an idea succeeds the defense budget can only fall. Also for the idea to succeed the terrorists need to be eliminated first because no country will open their borders as long as armed radicalised suicide loving people still exist. It will continue to remain an utopian dream when the country is unable to even marginally rein in militants.
The Political leadership as well as most of pakistanis would love to have an economic struggle with india rather than a military struggle. But political leader ship is weak and Army does not want to change the security doctrine they created over 60 years. And until a strong national leader like Nawaz can get into power and makes the big changes that does not seem to be possible. I dont see any national leader to have a vision to take pakistan out of the hands of army who has gotten us into troubles all the time. Nawaz since he came back from exile has shown tremendous change in his behaviour. He has a vision and i like to see him in power with some good team so he can take the country out of mess.
@Frank
During the last united PML government in 1999 the Sharifs and the Choudhry brothers were offered massive personal financial incentives by the Vajpaee government to make ‘peace’ with India.
Would you like to substatiate this? Or should we take your and Zaid Hamid's word as gospel truth?
Here is a link to the Lahore Declaration and the memorandum of understanding, http://cns.miis.edu/inventory/pdfs/aptlahore.pdf
Incidentally the General Sahib who abrogated the understanding ended up owning large farm houses and flats in London. Looks like promoting enmity with India is much more profitable.But I think you would know that first hand.
The Man who thinks Kerry , Logar is one person, Definitely a visionary leader with solution to Pakistan's problems..
oh come on sir..dont get carried away...NS was just presenting himself as an acceptable leader to US and other western powers which have big stakes in India..
@Frank: You posted this comment the other day too. On the contrary the "silent majority" might actually like this idea and turn Nawaz Sherif into a great statesman.
Nawaz Sharif is the only leader to save our sinking ship
Let work with India but is India really ready to work with Pakistan. There is no difference in policies adopted by Israel and India towards their neighbours. India always works on a strategy to destabilise its neighbours. This policy was the great hurdle to SAARC progress.
Ofcourse, A leader who thinks the solution to unemployment is Taxis, Poverty Reduction can be done through "Sustee Roti" (Giving it to 10 Crore awam in Punjab for which Gov does not have money). Education problems of Millions of students in Punjab can be resolved by making "Danish School" for 2,3 thousands students. And Solution to the housing problem is providing "Ghareeb Awam" is a Ashiyana House worth "12 Lac" Rupees. Definitely Visionary!!!!!
The idea Mr. Sharif has initiated, may not be perfect, opened new window to think. As nation, we have developed the habit to enjoy emotional, black and white debates...but less rational, thinking...let us start thinking about alternatives to solve our issue. We spent 64 years in adventurism but achieved nothing...rather poverty, terrorism, political anarchy and corruption have become our identity. Economic stability can lead us to come out from this vicious circle.
nawaz sharif really spoke like a visionary leader.
faraz
How old are you? During the last united PML government in 1999 the Sharifs and the Choudhry brothers were offered massive personal financial incentives by the Vajpaee government to make 'peace' with India. Selliing out Pakistan is a much more lucrative business than fighting for and defending Pakistan.
WHAT???
Nawaz Sharif wants Pakistan to become a Bania Nation? And he probabaly also wants to abandon the promised Ghazwa-e-Hind. Zaid Hamid, you must come to Pakistan's rescue and bring Shireen Mazari along, please.
But, seriously, it is an idea whose time has come.With the American and European economies in disarray , we in Asia must rely on our own resources and efforts to promote the welfare of our people.If Pakistan continues to play spoil sport, I am sure even the deeper than oceans friend will tire of Pakistan soon.
Let us hope PMA Kakul introduces a course on Regional Economic Security soon enough. Without this constituency on board the idea is a non-starter.
Suggestions given in the article are sensible and in the interest of the region, but un-necessarily glorifying Nawaz Sharif has spoiled importance of the vision. NS made Motorway between Lahore and Islamabad to get better hold of the capital and increase his own constituencies. The road is not straight but altered again and again to please elites of the area. Why such roads were not made or even planned on papers between Karachi-Sukkar-Multan-Lahore, Quetta to Karachi, Quetta to Peshwar, Gwadar to Peshawar etc etc. Now NS is misleading the nation as he spent most of the National budget for development of his region, Lahore to Islamabad. Now the whole nation will repay the expenses and loans taken for these constructions. Was it fair and was he a national leader? Further , while we are repenting on our recent past, China has built railway line upto Tibet and extending it to Nepal, India and Thailand for its trade and speed more than 250 km/hr on very high mountaneaus plateau. Railway is cheapest, safest, most convenient way of travelling while Motorways are mainly for elite class, Mr. NS and of-course a showy business for whom who have big cars/lamosines and money to sit at road side costly restaurants. What have we done to our Railways only to benefit transport mafia and making travelling unsafe and problematic for common man as elite and rulers travel by Air only.
Trade can become source of lasting friendship between nations. Interdependence can lead to reinforcement of relationships between nations and societies. There are cynics and will always be there in future..its for wise leaders on all sides to look into future and go ahead building bridges so that trade can prosper m thereby making relationship stronger. Time to look ahead and keep moving, ignoring the doubting johns, who are present in small numbers all around.
@Meekal Ahmed:
Sir I have read your articles and comments and have developed deep respect for your opinion. I have been hearing Nawaz Sharif's recent statements including his SAFMA speech and they appear statesmanly. Yet you seem to have a poor opinion of him. Could you please elaborate your thought process? This is not to challenge your opinion but an attempt to broaden my framework of analysis
Doctrine? Nawaz Sharif? You have a good sense of humor Khaled Sahib.
The idea of having friendly relations with India was repeatedly preached by Musharraf during 2002-2007 but it didnt go well in public. I think PMLN just copies ideas from other parties, they have run out of ideas of their own.
important words from him, but do u really think we had the vision and capabilities to make a vision for the region....
On which basis the writer claim that BDs GDP will jump from current 7 percents to 9 percnt is not clear to anyone.Secondly the 10bn dollar comes from the Bangladeshi pocket which need to develope seriously her infrastructure as the interest of own not india.And coming to the soft loan it can be applied similarly like others Bangla-india deal wheres infrastructure will be built for india in Bangladeshies money ironically BD must buy the all chief infrastructure materials and machinaries from india!So its win-win situation for india not for Bangladesh.
Expanding Trade ties with india is In Pakistan's Interest. Pakistan should start importing Petrol from india it will reduce cost prices to 17rs per liter.
Now you Will see PTI supporters Spamming here , Nothing will be 'on topic' :P
Really brave of Mr.Shariff to speak like this. Hope this continues.
A "big leader" like NS?
Oh, dear.
Peace with India would put an end to lots of housing schemes, perks and privileges. And people will focus on domestic issues rather than grandiose divinely ordained strategies. Many vested interests dont want this to happen
@ Mr khaled ahmed in the last line you forget to mention pakistan said ok to gas pipe line but india abandon the idea when american nuc deal is not it mr khaled so there is third party allways.
Good article by Mr. Ahmed.
That speech was in all probability the end of Nawaz Sharif's political career. BTW, did you think the attack on the Supreme Court was the work of big leader?