Improving Pakistan-India relations

One of the most serious challenges that Pakistan has faced ever since its inception is how best to develop a rational relationship with its largest neighbour, India. Regrettably, for several years since PM Narendra Modi has been the prime minister, there has been a complete breakdown of relations. With BJP all set to form the government in the third term, albeit with a reduced majority, it is to be seen if Narendra Modi will continue with the hostile policy of isolating Pakistan, or there will be a change for the better.

Despite the open hostility displayed by the Indian government over all the years that BJP has been in power, Pakistan's leadership has been extending its hand of friendship. Most recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a warm congratulatory message to Modi on his assumption of Prime Minister's office. Traditionally, the PML N leadership has enjoyed comparatively a better relationship with India than other parties. The Sharifs in the past when Modi was the PM have interacted positively with him and there was a modicum of exchanges between the two governments during that time. It is however to be seen if the present leadership in the two countries will be able to make any headway in breaking the present deadlock.

The Indian leadership is of the view that in Pakistan it is the army leadership that controls and directs policy especially as regards relations with India. It is not consequential to talk to the civilian government unless they are fully aligned with the army leaderships thinking and enjoy their confidence. As the PML-N government enjoys the confidence of the army leadership and its policy of normalising relations with India is in line with their thinking it provides an opportunity of moving forward toward a functional and stable relationship.

Nonetheless, it will not be easy as there are other considerations that take precedence. Modi is of the view that developing positive relations with Pakistan is not necessarily in India's interest. Ignoring Pakistan and keeping pressure on it at least in the short term seems to be his policy. As a consequence, India-Pakistan relations are undergoing a long spell of tension and there is little hope for a better future. Considering that the two countries are nuclear powers and constitute one-fourth of the world population better relations between them would have a salutary impact at the global level. In contrast any serious rupture in relations places the world in danger.

Pakistan being the smaller nation has obviously greater interest in restoring normalisation. Despite India's occupation and merger of the disputed territory of Kashmir, Pakistan has been insisting that differences between the two countries should be resolved through dialogue. There are no indications that India is presently willing to engage. It continues to blame Pakistan for supporting militant activity in India. Although with national elections in India over and Narendra Modi having assumed the office of PM for the third term, he is decidedly in a better position to steer the country towards improved relations that serve interests of both countries and the region. We have to see if there is any change and desire on the part of Indian leadership for improving relations with Pakistan.

It is only through dialogue and interaction at different levels that the two countries will be able to normalise relations. Opening of trade and commercial links with India will be in the interest of both countries. It will also contribute towards boosting the economy and creating an amiable environment.

When major political problems remain unattended and there are no talks, tensions tend to increase. It is the absence of dialogue and leaving critical issues, like the unresolved Kashmir problem, unattended that led to four wars in the past.

Even now there are no indications that India, under Modi's leadership, will be willing to initiate any dialogue and break the impasse.

It is unfortunate that South Asia has the potential of being a regional economic powerhouse provided there is peace and cooperation among the nations, particularly India and Pakistan.

A cooperative South Asia as an economic region is only possible if relations between India and Pakistan are normalised. Moreover, it would require improved border infrastructure and management to facilitate cross-border trade and other linkages such as cooperation to share in power generation. But as long as relations between the two major South Asian countries remain hostile there is no possibility of moving toward any cooperative ventures. Pakistan's voice will carry more weight if its political parties are committed to clean politics and reputation of politicians is high. Lately, it has suffered and has to be rehabilitated so that trust in them is restored.

Regrettably, there are hawkish voices in India that would like to promote animosity and even would like to see the two countries go to war. Recently there was a disturbing article in an Indian newspaper that India seriously prepares the battlefield as dialogues, six of them, have failed to change Pakistan's attitude.

There has to be an earnest effort to remove the impediments that are the source of conflict or tension between the two countries. The unresolved Kashmir issue and the asymmetry in size and resources between India and Pakistan coupled with its hostile posture add to Pakistan's fears. The bitterness that existed as a legacy of the partition has largely subsided, but when tensions mount due to other factors these fears surface in one form or the other.

However, in order to reduce tension and move towards a functional relationship it is important that the two countries engage at the political and economic level.

Meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries followed by efforts to revive trade and improving border security will open pathways for collaboration and reducing tension. Pakistan has all along been receptive to engaging with India and resolving issues. The present stalemate and freeze in relations undermine the interests of the people.

It will be for the common good and better future for the people of the region if the two countries relate positively with each other.