Even if Sharif went a step further than Modi to move on from the past, Pakistan has shown its sincerity of purpose to India, the region and to the world. PHOTO: REUTERS
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India and his meeting with new Indian premier Narendra Modi has evoked mixed reaction, especially in Pakistan with some people on this side of the border thinking that their prime minister was invited for being lectured to. Hardliners and hawks on both sides (though in India’s case Narendra Modi himself represents that constituency), have painted the trip as an embarrassment to Pakistan with Modi reportedly pressing Sharif on the same old issues — terrorist sanctuaries and Mumbai investigations — while the Pakistani premier ‘failed’ to bring up Kashmir, Sir Creek and didn’t even hold the customary meeting with the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders. As always, the truth is somewhere in the middle but having said that one can unequivocally say that the impact of the prime ministers of India and Pakistan meeting on the Pakistan-India relationship is undoubtedly positive.
Closer analysis of the points of contention will help reveal the entire story. Firstly, the source of the supposed pressing on terrorist sanctuaries and Mumbai attacks is the Indian media, which, even by most conservative estimates, has historically taken a myopic and nationalistic stand on relations with Pakistan that are not always grounded in reality. Their source, in turn, was the Indian Foreign Office, which released a briefing on the meeting even before Prime Minister Sharif left India. One can argue that the Pakistani version of events was limited to a cosmetic press briefing by Prime Minister Sharif just before departing, and hence Pakistan’s actual version on what exactly transpired during the meeting was omitted from the immediate analysis of what happened.
In all fairness, Sharif’s briefing was never going to be too revealing and the detailed version was the job of the Foreign Office, which came a day later. You can blame the Indian state machinery for being too trigger happy with their own detailed version of the meeting given that Sharif hadn’t even left yet or the Pakistanis being too slow to respond and release their own version of events. But that is a largely superficial argument over semantics and not a material analysis of what the meeting means for India-Pakistan relations.
Pakistan’s version came on May 28 in the form of a press briefing by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. In his talk, Aziz said that the Mumbai attack was indeed brought up not as a point of immediate contention but as one of many issues that were briefly touched upon and listed as issues that would come up moving forward. In the same vein, Pakistan did bring up Kashmir as well as the Samjhauta Express carnage. That’s fair enough. Aziz stressed that Modi was told that the law was taking its course regarding the investigations into the Mumbai attacks, and the adviser also added that no timeline was sought or given meaning the mentions were informal. Usually such meetings are followed by a joint communique of some sort to avoid such schisms in versions. That there was none was a procedural failure.
As for the meeting itself, there is plenty to take away even for the most jaundiced of eyes. The first major meeting held by the most powerful Indian prime minister in a generation on day one of his tenure was with Pakistan and that too by a man that many feared would take a very hard line on Pakistan, and a man that many still view through the prism of the Gujarat Muslim massacre. That’s significant. Even if Sharif went a step further than Modi to move on from the past, Pakistan has shown its sincerity of purpose to India, the region and to the world. No one should fault the prime minister for going an extra step forward for peace, and showing eagerness to improve relations, which is in everyone’s interest. That places the ball in Modi’s court on a matter that is as inescapable for a globally ambitious India as it is for a recovering Pakistan. One hopes the Modi Administration realises that. But these are all essentially still semiotics. Let us talk material progress. Both sides have agreed to officially restart dialogue after a period of hostilities. And that is progress by any standard.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (11)
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As long as you treat India's (and Afghanistan's ) concerns about terrorists not being prosecuted by Pakistan as myopic, little progress can be made. Pakistan's new strategy is as irresponsible as the current one. It hopes that India's desire to be a world power will motivate India to resolve "disputes" of the past! Either way Pakistan does not want to address the export of "strategic assets" and the mayhem they cause. Now that is myopic and conduct unworthy of a nation state.
@raja Gujarat and indian kashmir are our internal matter why is your country lecturing and preaching on our domestic issues? Dint you separate at 1947? You lost right to speak that day in our internal matters. But what happened in mumbai was not domestic, it was international. It came from your country to the heart of our city . Do you Get the difference?
@Pacifica: You have a point. But let's refrain from self righteousness. Yes, Indeed Pakistan have challenges, but India faces the same criticism in Kashmir and Gujrat. Finger pointing has to stop on both sides so extreme elements on both sides of the border cannot leverage it to push their agenda.
If asking justice for our brothers is tired old story then we will keep repeating this old story! Mumbai is and will remain for India a core issue.
Mr. Editor,
Terrorist sanctuaries and the Bombay attack may be the "same old issues" for your country that is ravaged by terrorist attacks every other day. But for us in India it is a very serious matter indeed, and not something that we will permit to be brushed under the carpet. The fact is that the terrorists spawned by your military and operating from your country attacked our economic capital and murdered innocent people indiscriminately. Unless those responsible are punished - and seen by us to have been punished, this issue will not go away. For those who raise the Samjautha bombing - note that the culprits behind that attack were identified, tried, and sentenced to jail terms. As opposed to people like Hafiz Saeed openly carrying out rallies and what not across your country. A good start would be put him on a tight leash, like a house arrest, and cut off his funding. It doesn't need a trial to put him in permanent preventive custody or something.
When realities and perceptions do not match, spin and innuendo come to the rescue. The meeting in New Delhi was nothing more than a get to know occasion, where everybody voiced their concerns. To expect mountains to move after one meeting is irrational. PM Sharif knows where Pakistan is today placed in relation to its neighbors as well as the global community --- much better than citizens who falsely believe the Military can somehow rescue them from every misadventure. He knows who are the trouble makers in South Asia, though he may not know the best way to defang them. He is on the right path but whether he will be derailed like the earlier government, is to be seen. Having squandered all the goodwill and spread nothing but ill will, Pakistan unfortunately is not in a position to dictate events, focus will be on managing them.
"....and didn’t even hold the customary meeting with the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders.
Gone are the days of these meetings. I will be surprised if these Hurriyat leaders ever make anywhere near Pakistan High Commission under Modi's rule.
While Modi move to invite all SAARC leaders was indicative that he wants peace with all it's neighbors, MNS's response despite Pak military was equally bold. Both MNS and Modi understand business and that is why they wish to change the current situation. The need is greater fir MNS as Pak economy is in shambles and needs immediate correction. Out of all 4 neighbors, it's border with India is the longest and a flat terrain with excellent connectivity. Transport of goods through roads and railways is possible at the minimal time and cost. Electricity can be transmitted with ease and in almost no time. Hydro power, locomotives, oil and gas pipelines etc can easily be made available to Pakistan although it has been trying for all those things from Central Asia and China. Pakistan is the second largest nation in SAARC and deserves it's due place. But the problem arises when it gets into denial mode that it has no role in terrorist activities. It's army plays all these game to control areas in Afghanistan, Kashmir and even NE India. It certainly acts much bigger than it's size, which does not auger well for the region. Why is it not possible that goods are transported from Herat to Burma and Bangkok by road or people drive down without visa across these nations just like the EU? If situation is left to extremists on both sides and Pak army we can go on taking without tangible results. I only hope MNS is able to tackle the on his side and Modi thinks like a statesman.
Firstly, the source of the supposed pressing on terrorist sanctuaries and Mumbai attacks is the Indian media--, has historically taken a myopic and nationalistic stand on relations with Pakistan that are not always grounded in reality.
The reality is that in any country in the world if there is IT industry or services it has India connection. If there is unrest or civil war in any country in the world it has a Pakistan connection. India is famous for BPO in IT industry and Pakistan is famous for BPO of unrest. The first major meeting held by the most powerful Indian prime minister in a generation on day one of his tenure was with Pakistan
Duh it is nothing but showing self- importance. Mr. Sharif was one of eight SARC leaders. One can argue that meeting with each and every leader was equally important.
What Pakistan need is a different way of thinking. For example King of Bhutan who was also present at the same venue. He waited two days after coronation to meet with Modi and walked away with commitment of Indian investment in four hydroelectric projects. If Pakistani were less one up and level headed instead of accusing India of stealing water they would have sought investment and expertise in hydroelectric dam projects in Pakistan with a business plan of co power generating or revenue sharing. Common sense is in short supply but spin doctors are dime a dozen.
It is seen that Pakistanis, writers and editors go to extensive hyperventilating to hide the bitter truth...Pakistan has no ability to control or prosecute anyone. Never mind prosecuting the jihadis. Rest is just hot air to obfuscate and create verbal diarrhea.
For once and only for once can both India and Pakistan work hand in hand for the next 10 years. Come on, till 2024. I mean at least give peace, honesty and cooperation a time period of 10 years. If within these 10 years we both do not benefit mutually, we move back to abusing, cursing, killing, blaming and conspiring but if we do benefit then too we can sit and decide on what to do next. The potential is unlimited but am afraid the mindset is limited.