Murmurs of change

Over the past several months, almost unnoticed by the international media, there appears to have been an important ‘de-coupling’ in the political economy of South Asia: India and Pakistan, as adversarial as ever on matters of national security and international politics, appear to have resolved to keep the enhancement of economic ties separate from the often hyper-nationalist political debate. Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma’s visit to Pakistan this week, in response to his Pakistani counterpart, Amin Fahim’s visit to India in November, appears to solidify this trend. The discussions that have thus far taken place in Pakistan have not produced any major breakthroughs. But the politicians and civil servants on both sides of the border appear committed to making the process work, and to keep it going regardless of what happens in the arena of global security politics. Credit must go to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has made better ties with Pakistan a goal of his administration, even at the expense of considerable political capital. President Asif Ali Zardari, to his credit, has also managed to push through a process on the Pakistani side that his predecessors were not able to move forward in any meaningful manner.

Pakistan has reciprocated India’s decision to grant most favoured nation status on matters of trade. The talks underway in Islamabad and New Delhi, Karachi and Mumbai are taking place, both at the levels of governments, as well as businesses. There seems to be a sincere desire to open up borders. The world right now is watching with a sceptical eye, and not without good reason. Pakistan and India have had many false starts before. But there is an unprecedented opportunity for Pakistan to offer the world something that it badly craves: freer, more open access to the vast Indian market. As India offers Pakistan more access, the rest of the world stands to benefit.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.