When handshakes fall short

On May 26, 2014, Narendra Modi was sworn in as the prime minister of India, fulfilling a long awaited dream for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, was routed by BJP, the driving force for whom was Modi himself. Other parties expected to pose a serious threat ahead of the elections, such as the Aam Admi Party, met their Waterloo as well at the BJP’s hands. The only other survivors in the Indian elections were regional parties, such as the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu.

Modi’s swearing-in ceremony turned out to be a festive occasion. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally attended the ceremony, a move that is both unique and historic.

Mr Sharif must be congratulated for taking this bold step – the first of its kind in the history of Pakistan-India relations – and overcoming the hate syndrome that has been the hallmark of New Delhi vis-à-vis Islamabad.

It would have been very un-statesmanlike if Mr Sharif allowed himself to be guided by tit-for-tat and reciprocated former Indian premier Manmohan Singh’s decision to not attend his own swearing-in ceremony despite being invited.

By accepting the invitation to attend Modi’s inauguration, Prime Minister Sharif has demonstrated his desire to forge a new beginning for peace in South Asia.

His message to the international community is loud and clear: the current Pakistani leadership intends to shake hands with its counterparts in India and resolve all outstanding issues, especially the core issue of Kashmir, through goodwill and dialogue.

Mr Sharif has also vindicated his abilities as a leader and proved himself capable of taking tough decisions on critical national and international issues.

Most national political parties in Pakistan have hailed Prime Minister Sharif’s decision to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. The Kashmiri leadership in Srinagar too has by and large welcomed the move.

Veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani, however, has expressed skepticism about the outcome of the exercise. There are some other voices too, who have spoken against the decision. While their arguments may have some substance, in my opinion it was still prudent for Prime Minister Sharif to accept Modi’s invitation.

The main thrust of arguments against Mr Sharif’s decision to accept the invitation is pointed largely at Modi himself. India’s intransigence is well known and the votes Modi received were based on the Hindutva ideology. A brief look at the new Indian premier’s background also reveals that he as a ‘chalak’ was nurtured by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Modi proudly accepts this background. All militant Hindu communal organisations, like the Shiv Sena and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have supported his drive for power because of this. Modi is the rabidly communal face of India, with a consistent belief in ‘Hindu Hindi Hindustan’.

BJP’s election manifesto declares its plans to integrate the UN mandated disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian union. It is rumoured that the Indian PMO’s office is preparing to scrap Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which is the basis for the present arrangement between the centre and states in the country.

Modi and some of his former cabinet colleagues from his stint as the chief minister of Gujarat were indicted by the Supreme Court for showing complacency during the massacre of Muslims in the state. He is also committed to the construction of Ram Mandir at the site of Babri Mosque.

Many, including myself, cannot digest this image of Modi. Statecraft, however, has to be result-oriented and one must find routes for conciliation in the face of all odds.

Modi did play a masterstroke by inviting Prime Minister Sharif. But the latter responded with sagacity and clearly conveyed that magnanimity only becomes more magnanimous when responded magnanimously to.

Whatever Mr Sharif’s detractors say, he has two grand ‘salams’ to his credit. The first is for the befitting response he gave to the atomic blasts conducted by then Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime. The second is his handshake with Modi.

Before I conclude this piece, it is important to evaluate the Nawaz-Modi meeting held after the swearing-in ceremony. The two leaders held dialogue amid an atmosphere of cordiality. The body language of both was positive.

Despite pleasant gestures, however, I feel it did not generate the expected reciprocity from the Indian leadership. Modi, due to his rigid outlook and the tailored brief of south block, did not initiate any measures to move beyond the chains of illusion and towards a new beginning.

Here again, the credit goes to Prime Minister Sharif, for his bold initiative to rewrite the history of the Subcontinent.

The Indian leadership needs to revisit its stance and approximate ground realities in a realistic manner. Former movement on Kashmir must be envisioned, and the injustices perpetrated against the Kashmiri people must be acknowledged.

India’s state policy to discipline the people of Jammu and Kashmir through death, torture and disappearances must be stopped. The principled stance of the Kashmiri people, which is supported by Pakistan, is that the conflict must be resolved under the auspices of the UN, by the implementation of UN resolutions.

I am reminded of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s declaration, that the Kashmir imbroglio should be solved within the framework of humanity. Modi must keep the octogenarian leader’s advice in mind to thaw Pakistan-India relations. Establishing lasting peace in Kashmir is a critical factor governing the Pakistan-India relationship.

I am confident that the international community will appreciate Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s gesture for peace.

However, the vision for a peaceful neighbourhood must be pursued without compromising national sovereignty. Dialogue between Pakistan and India should take place on the basis of equality.

Iqbal rightly said that a nation is not fit for the tumult of tomorrow if its destiny has no today.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2014.

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