In the first palpable sign of post-election diplomacy on Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called India’s newly elected leader Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his party’s massive victory in the elections.
Showing his willingness to work with the BJP leader despite all the negative rhetoric during the election campaign, Prime Minister Nawaz also invited Modi to visit Pakistan.
With this gesture, Islamabad showed at least publicly that it is prepared to brush aside any negative fallout of his thumping win on the relationship between the two neighbours.
Privately, however, officials are increasingly apprehensive of Modi’s victory. They think he may not augur well for the region’s stability, particularly efforts to normalise ties between the two neighbours. Keeping those concerns in mind Prime Minister Nawaz’s government, which has been pushing for improved ties with New Delhi called off its decision to liberalize trade with India just ahead of the parliamentary polls.
The move is part of government’s strategy of ‘wait and watch’ before embarking on granting most-favoured nation status or non-discriminatory access to Indian goods, a new term coined by the PML-N administration to avoid any public backlash.
But, Pakistan’s powerful security establishment has its own concerns. It fears that Modi could team up with Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who is all set to become Afghanistan’s next President, against Pakistan.
Islamabad often views New Delhi’s increased role in neighboring Afghanistan as threat to its own “strategic interests.”
During his election campaign, Modi spoke little on the foreign policy including ties with Pakistan as well as his government’s approach towards Afghanistan.
But BJP’s insistence on abolishing the special status granted to the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Constitution and Modi’s warning of not tolerating infiltration attempts does suggest that the BJP government may be more aggressive towards Islamabad.
Many analysts are of the view is that BJP cannot afford taking India’s relations to a point of no return with Pakistan because such a policy will undermine its own economic reform agenda.
“His (Modi) election could work either way,” commented defence analyst Lt. General Talat Masood.
“Given the landslide victory and people’s support, he (Modi) is one leader who can bring real change in ties with Pakistan if he is genuine in pursuing the peace process,” General Masood added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (40)
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@chandran: pl do not worry about his oxford education. he has thorough about chanakyaneethi
@Someone: if you really want to know about Modi and if you have the patience please read modinama by madhukeshwar, you will know everything!!!!!
@shaukat ali: you were also a part of that 1000 years rule....
@Someone: It does not matter Pakistanis are free to think what they want India needed Modi and the people voted and you should not talk about fundamentalism there are 1 percent fundamentlists and 90 percent Pakistanis are fundamentalists.
@Ch. Allah Daad: what is wise in that? was it some chess game
Bottom line is that 99% of Pakistanis view Modi as a Hindu fundamentalist and terrorist. And that is not made up, there are documented facts behind this conviction. It ain't for no reason that this fundamentalist yahoo was denied visa to Western democratic countries for many years. I don't see any progress as far as bilateral relations are concerned, till Modi is PM of India. We should wait him out for 5 years.
@shaukat ali: Not just us , whole world is scared of Pakistan. You guys are polio exporters.
We are sure that nawaz sharif and modi will be able to bring some sanity to indo-pak ties. They both are business-oriented, so like taiwan and china boosted their business relations to the 150 billion dollars annual mark- we can see indo-pak trade reaching 20 billion dollars very soon- provided no one sabotages such ties. Inshallah- we can see a lot of indo-pak people -to- people contacts too, more touristic trips, more cultural exchanges, more sensible human relations.... away from the vitriolic rhetoric of the past.....
@Nikki: who are you to decide whether he is sensible or rigid? Mr Modi will decide if it is in India's interests or not? From now on it would be India's interests and not the whims and fancies of others.
@Shamsher Singh Bajwa: @jssidhoo: Stop wasting your time telling them about the UN resolution. They have been taught the wrong history from kindergarten. So it will not help.
"But BJP’s insistence on abolishing the special status granted to the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Constitution and Modi’s warning of not tolerating infiltration attempts does suggest that the BJP government may be more aggressive towards Islamabad." As pointed out, the special status to J&K in Indian Constitution is an internal matter for India and so, of no concern to you. It does not have any effect on your position of disputing its ownership. Then, would you tolerate infiltration attempts into your country? Wouldn't you defend yourself against them, even if you are called aggressive?
@chandran:
This is more dangerous if he has no knowledge, advisor will use him if he is in conservativs lap.
Dear firends,
He is not a oxford educated person like Dr.Manmohan singh he is having zero knowledge in foreign policy. Some body has to advise him on that subject. Please dont worry. He always speaks for domestic consituency.
I have been an ardent supporter of secular politics. However I rejoice the victory of Mr Modi without fear for two reasons. One this victory assures all of us that the elections in India are fair and do reflect the will of the people including secular and communal of all shades. I am also totally sure that secular people in India far far out number the communal. And if this time all together have voted for Mr Modi some how they have been assured that he will walk his talk of "justice and progress for all and appeasement for none." Secondly this has signaled an end of collation government era as with experiments we have found that the best meaning Party or Prime minister can hardly function due to extreme limitations of. I am sure a strong government at center will do good and no matter who comes as PM the democracy in India with its checks and balances is strong enough that the secularism will remain intact as ever. The last BJP Government demonstrates my faith.
@shaukat ali do you speak Arabic as your native language and not punjabi sindi etc? If not then its a convert. And if that indeed is a case. Then it means you were ruled under the same Muslim rule.
@Humza: My dear Humza , yes agreed the UN resolution must be honoured in totality and for this the first condition is that Pakistan will have to withdraw his forces from occupied Kashmir and Pakistan will never agree to it. As for as I understand if a referendum is carried out the Kashmiri people will prefer Independence instead of joining India or Pakistan.
the muslims ruled over all of india for a thousand years, we understand that they have inferiority complex. poor souls, they feel threatened by pakistan.
In a sense Pakistan is also indirectly responsible for BJP's victory because Pakistan never showed any interest in punishing the culprits of Mumbai attack killing innocent people for no reason, beheading Indian soldiers all those things created anger towards Pakistan (Pakistan can't blame Indian people for this), Congress Government did not showed interest in taking strong action against Pakistan, so Indian people felt Modi will be strong leader and he will take action against the ill doing of Pakistan. This is also one of the reason for BJP's victory
@Ajeet: You do know it's "Delhi that Afghans have always ruled over"? What an idiotic to thing to say.
Why is Pakistan govt even thinking of inviting a man who is 'Hitler of India' who allowed genocide of 2000 innocent men, women and children?? Please Mr Sharif, remain in your senses.
@Great Thinker: In a abusive relationship victim end up shocking there attacker, So do not think Pakistan will take abuse lightly by BJP.
@Kingjanjua: " ... Aint nobody scared of Modi (ex-tea boy) in Pakistan. Seriously. ... "
The tea-boy just made HUMAN history by winning the largest elections in HUMAN HISTORY. To put that in perspective - 45 times the population of the erstwhile Ottoman Empire voted in these elections.
@unbelievable: Pakistan should have caution Modi regards to any Hostility toward Pakistan or its territory.
Sir, you have dealt with the earlier BJP PM. Vajpayee so you know, he may go the extra mile for peace but if Pakistan army or non-state actors attack India, there eill be a disproportionate response.
So if there is genuine onterest in peace, great - both countries can benefit. But please do not think that you can fool Modi by words which you are unable or unwilling to back by action. Modi is a practical man not a wagah candlewalla
Humza the resolution required " that in order to ensure the impartiality of the plebiscite Pakistan withdraw all tribesmen and nationals who entered the region for the purpose of fighting and that India leave only the minimum number of troops needed to keep civil order. " Pakistan has never withdrawn its troops from the area of POK in fact lot of non Kashmiris have settled there so the UN resolution is history . The last agreement between us was the Shimla Agreement lets follow that.
I appreciate this gesture from NS. Even the RSVP gandhis didnt have the basic courtesy of congratulating Mr Modi.
Judging by the views of Modi-ites , they don't desire peace with muslims Akbar uddin owaisi is at least of this opinion
This Nawaz did kargil now come you will get more proper response!!!
@Humza: Mr. Humza have you ever read the U.N Security Counsil Resolution 47 on Kashmir? Read it yourself and you will see that referendum is not possible, b/ in order for that referendum to take place Pakistan must first move its Armed forced out of Kashmir. India waited until 1956 for that to happen, when Pakistani armed forced didn't move India declared elections. Not only that your own Mr. Bhutto also has signed the Shimla agreement which makes it very clear India and Pakistan will solve the Kashmir issue bilaterally without involving the U.N.
lol... Pakistan talking peace.. very funny indeed.
@Great Thinker: I think the people of Kashmir should be allowed to say who is the aggressor in the region because the main issue is Kashmir. If I am not mistaken a referendum on the region has been mandated by the United Nations. Wouldn't it be best to simply let this referendum take place under the UN and the matter will be resolved to the satisfaction of the people who live there?
India and Mr. Modi has bigger issues in their hands Pakistan is not an issues. Nobody wants to do anything with Pakistan because they don't need too. Pakistan should be more scared of Pakistanis then anyone else. Modi has to make sure India get back on track and he can undo what corruption of Congress has done in last 10 years.
Good gesture,Modi should visit if he is sensible PM.No space for regidity in politics.
Does Pakstan consider abolition of special status to J & K and non-tolerance of infiltration as sign of agresiveness. Wow!!!! Grow Up Pakistan. You have been the aggressor all along and if India has the intent of defending this aggression from Pakistan, then it is the minimum expectation from the Indian electorate. Pakistan will have to live with it.
I say Shabash to Mr. Sharif for being a statesman.
Aint nobody scared of Modi (ex-tea boy) in Pakistan. Seriously.
India, Afghanistan, and the USA probably know Pakistan better than anyone .. and all three know the civilian govt doesn't control foreign policy. Calling Modi was a nice gesture but words alone don't mean much to Pakistan's neighbors.
Paks worry about stability in the region? Don't be too funny!
Very wise move by Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. Hope both leaders will join hands to tackle terrorism and poverty in sub-continent.
Modi will find Dr Abdullah Abdullah a good friend and Afghans have always ruled over Pakistan.