Experts at a roundtable expressed optimism at improving Pak-India relations, but were concerned over the situation in Afghanistan, said a press release issued by roundtable organiser Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad on Tuesday.
“India is eying a global role which has made it more inclined for peace talks with Pakistan,” said Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Director George Perkovich. He advised decision makers to resolve Pakistan’s internal problems which he believed were greater than the external problems.
IRS Senior Fellow Brig. Bashir Ahmed enumerated the destabilising influences in the region as including poor Pak-US relations, the volatility in Afghanistan, and the presence of armed non-state forces in the country.
Lt Gen. (retd) Asad Durrani believed India could never substitute Pakistan in Afghanistan since the interdependence of both countries is too deeprooted to be replaced by another country.
Defence Analyst Lt Gen. (retd.) Saleem Haider said that the India-US civil nuclear deal has been a destabilising influence in the region.
Gen. Asad Durrani argued that the past combat experiences between the two countries proved India and Pakistan to be careful adversaries.
This, he asserted, was reason enough to not get too concerned about prospects of a nuclear conflict in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2012.
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This is true - India cannot replace Pakistan in Afghanistan as the ties between the people of the two countries is of a much more intimate nature than that of India and Afghanistan - where India is seen as more of a stable well-wisher rather than an incalcitrant sibling. However, Pakistan does not see the immense damage that it does for itself with its narrow (seemingly pro-Pakhtun but actually pro-Pakistan) view as opposed to one that helps Afghanistan as a whole move on the path to stability and prosperity.