The writer is Sindh’s minister of culture and tourism
What is the intent of Modi, good or evil? What significant points came under discussion between Modi and Sharif that may lead to ‘building better ties’ as Sharif stated as his intention to visit India?
From the Pakistani point of view, Sharif’s visit to India could only be justified if the outcome eventually favours Pakistan. If the discussion leads to some resolution of the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism, it is definitely healthy. However, if it is yet another futile attempt disguised under the blanket of friendship and later unveiled as a strong anti-Pakistan, anti-Muslim slogan, then Modi needs to be watched carefully. Sharif needs to have been more than just a mere guest in India. In future meetings, he needs to be intelligent and probing, and think ahead of Modi and not get carried away by the smiles and hand-shaking gestures.
More so, the prime minister has to comprehend the fact that Modi will obviously think of India first, so he needs to stand firm to guard our principles and make Modi bend and not vice versa.
Understandably, had Sharif declined the invitation, that would have led to an aggravated level of mistrust, more cross-border prisoners, a decline in prospect of any cultural exchange and blatant display of hatred and animosity. Sharif should now answer his fellow countrymen who rightfully question Modi’s intention; a mastermind behind anti-Muslim Gujarat riots of 2002, an archetype that used his anti-Pakistan ‘ideology’ to win the game. Modi, however, decided to clean his sleeves by extending a warm welcome to Nawaz, after all, relenting to the fact that animosity leads nowhere.
Yet, it would be immature to guess how Modi will influence the minds of the people of India and Pakistan. Will Modi’s facade of ‘economic revival’ lead to peace and stability in the region? Or would Nawaz’s stance on ‘confrontation into cooperation’ bear results? For both leaders, a breakthrough in friendship would mean a historic victory, more powerful and influential than anything else.
The 45-minute meeting of the two leaders on May 27 that discussed a five-point agenda could be a starting point for the two countries towards better relations. After all, Modi is a hardliner, a doer, a person that strongly stands to achieve his manifesto — the upsurge of economic stability in India. If this remains prime agenda on the cards, then Pakistan’s position becomes even more significant as a trading hub to access central, western and southern Asia. If both countries wish to implement their economic agendas, the challenge would then be to throw away, destroy and burn old relics of hatred and animosity and start fresh.
Will the six decades of old deep-rooted animosity fizzle into thin air? Or will it take another five to six decades to decide the best course of action needed to improve the bilateral relationships? Only time will tell. Till then, it is just a wait-and-watch game.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (49)
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Sharmila you do need to grow up and expand your horizon. Lying to your own self is pathetic, and solves nothing.
India does NOT need Pakistan to grow economically. Pakistan is not an investor country, does not have any high technology to transfer, does not have any domestic market of any significance to which to sell to, and does not control any trade route. All these are facts - not opinions - and you know them too.
Growth in India will depend primarily on domestic factors - we do have a large internal market - and also on key nations like US (Investment, Technology and Market), Japan (ditto), Australia (Raw material), Brazil (Raw material) and perhaps, China (Market). Just these 5 countries are enough, for driving growth over next 20 years. Period.
So, we can basically ignore Pakistan and grow by 10% + over next 20 years, overtaking first US and then China by 2047.
@Rex Minor: Mr Minor they will give oil to us. King Abdullah said that 'India is my second home', and they supply most of our oil, and as for the Iranians, when Obama wanted to bomb Iran India vehemently opposed it, so they know who their friends are. About not giving oil may be they called you and told you. I am from Hyderabad[although marathi speaking as my dad was from Mumbai] and lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 years and many Iranians are my friends. They tell me a different story about people from your country. I speak fluent Arabic and lets have a conversation with the arabs and I will invite you and lets discuss all these issues with them. Fahamta!
@Rex Minor:
And you indeed are a minor!!
@Hilarious:
you are ideed hillarious!.
Rex Minor
How much of talent and intellect is hiding in the crowded world of Pakistan, it is hard to tell but here is the Minister author who I reckon has the potential to becoming the leading voice of vernunft from the region. The Prime Minister of Pakistan shoud take heed and call upon her to represent Pakistan as the Minister responsible for foreign relations . He should stop trying his initiatives and grand projects of the 21st century hoping to realize with the support of people of the 70's and 80's.
Rex Minor
@Modified I agree with you.... Stage has already been set for final war..... Hard to swallow but true. I don,t know why people wants to talk in such crucial stage. More failed talks will be like adding fuel to the fire.
@Hari Om:
Let me give you a good news Sir! Those who are in power today have made the decision that the third World War will not be fought on the European soil but in Asia. The contrahands are organising themeselves and will have enough energy to blow everthing around them more than once. What is therefore needed is thousands of aircrafts and protective clothing against the horror which every one in the region will need to escape from. China is ahead now but the Japanese are catching up with their copying techniques.
Rex Minor
@Gp65:
You are the lady living in the USA who said once that you were brought up by your parents that lying is a sin, but later denied that there is a prohibition in the Bible belt COUNTIES of the USA. Your denials are disturbing at times. Stop acting as the devils advocate. What I say is based on reason and logic and human science and will be the consequence for those who deny others the space and the freedom to live; Mr modi must demonstrate to the 50 odd muslim majority countries that he is a civilised member of the world community and not a Parahia as is his perception worldwide. He should send his ambassador to the Gulf states and request better treatment and living conditions for his country men. What the German Ambassador did this week visiting Qatar and demanded of the Minister better treatment and working conditions for the Indian and Nepalese workers, Mr Modi could as well..
Rex Minor
Pakistan realizes that it is not in the same league as India, and never will be. Pakistan creates its own problems i.e. terrorism and expects sympathy from others. Pakistan creates its own hatred amongst its own population, on the basis of religion, ethnicity, language, the list is endless. Pakistan does not even have the courage to face its own history, and therefore unbearable events such as 1971 war is nearly whitewashed. Since 14th August 1947 more Muslims have killed fellow Muslims in Pakistan than all the wars combined with India many many times over. So when Pakistani's do not and cannot live in peace within their own nation, how does Sharmila expect that this nation has the capacity to make friends with others. It cannot make friends with India, cannot make friends with Afghanistan, cannot make friends with Bangladesh, cannot make friends with Iran, most of all Pakistani's keep murdering each other at an astonishing rate, there is so much hatred within, that this would require a very serious debate why this society has become so sick, this raises a relevant question, why was Pakistan created.??? in retrospect was it worth it???.
@chandran:
Long live Rajapakse Long live Tamizh Elam Long live their enemity
@ Bewildered: “India wants to make economic progress comparable to China, and to achieve this objective, internal and external peace with the neighbors is a prerequisite for progress and development.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++
You argument is flawed.
China has made economic progress without internal peace (Eg: Xinjiang) and also without external peace (Eg: Territorial Disputes with India, Vietnam, Japan, Phillippines etc,).
Meanwhile India has also made economic progress despite Pakistan’s attempt to deny India internal and external peace by fomenting Islamic terrorism and launching armed incursions such as the Kargil incident.
Moving on to other countries, read up on the "Korean War Boom" in relation to the US. It may surprise you to know that lack of external peace precipated a period of robust economic growth in the US.
Pakistan on the other hand, going by the budget document of Pakistan Government ie: Economic Survey, has lost PKR 8264 Billion as a consequence of the blowback of policies followed by Pakistan to compete with India.
The Bottom Line is that Pakistan cannot stop India’s progress even at great damage to Pakistan’s own economy. Pakistan at best might be able to marginally slow India’s economic progress at great cost to Pakistan.
@Rex Minor: Has Saudi Arabia or Iran made the claim that they will not sell oil to India led by Modi? Yet you keep spouting this inane stuff, even when Modi was just CM of Gujarat, Saudi Arabia was willing to invest in Gujarat. http://muslimmirror.com/eng/five-muslim-nations-including-saudi-pakistan-to-attend-gujarat-summit/
You really should read a little more instead of churning out absurd scenarios.
@Dr Priyanka:
"The 5 million kashmiri pandits will be relocated back to Kashmir."
Although, I thoroughly know the nature and character of Indians trolling here on ET pages, I still had some hope that a highly educated Indian possessing a doctorate degree (don't know if it is real or fake) would have some moral integrity intact. But, that was only a hope, after all, and Indians will remain Red Indians. 5 million Kashmir pundits displaced (out of a total IOK population of 12.5 million), and the world didn't come to know about this mega human calamity. Were their camps setup underground or in caves, so that the world couldn't see them?
This is what Wikipedia entry on "Jammu and Kashmir" says:
"There are roughly 1.5 million refugees from Indian Administered Kashmir in Pakistan Administered Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan.[58] An estimated 50–100,000 Kashmiri Muslims[59][60] and 150–300,000 Kashmiri Pandits have been internally displaced due to militancy.[57][61]"
@Dr Priyanka:
Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if the Lord won't have you, the Devil must! Not a singly drop of oil from the House of Saud or the Iranian Khameni for the High Priest of Hindutwa! Indian industry will disappear faster than the Earth completes its round..
Rex Minor
@umar farooq: The 5 million kashmiri pandits will be relocated back to Kashmir. They will be absorbed into the mainstream. No more living in camps on the outskirsts of Srinagar. They are the direct descendents of sage Kashyap on whose name Kashmir is named. Then article 370 will be repealed. Then there will be a strong governance in Kashmir. No more illegal entries, exits are ok. Whomsoever thinks that they are going to mess around with Kashmiri pandits like in the past will be answerable. I would like to continue but I am going to have some tea first!
I would like to ask the writer a few questions. For example :
'Modi needs to be watched carefully': ok you watch and then what?
'Make Modi bend and not vice versa': although I come from a congressi family, even I in my wildest imagination cannot or will not know how to 'make Modi bend' and pray! how were you planning to do that Ms Faruqui? do let us know?
'Modi, however, decided to clean his sleeves by extending a warm welcome to Nawaz': decided to clean his sleeves- dont think so, all SAARC members were invited not just your PM, so this statement does not hold water. 'Will Modi’s facade of ‘economic revival’ lead to peace and stability in the region?': how do you know dear writer it's a facade. Just see his video where he is addressing the business forum or whatever in the US by tele-conferencing or whatever and you can listen to his achievements. To prove to [or reassure] yourself that it is not a facade you will have to visit Gujarat! By the way I'm not a gujarati, I am a marathi.
Article written with lot of patriotic imagination but author would be hard pressed to provide supporting facts except her own strongly but wrongly held beliefs.
@Rex Minor ''the man responsible for the massacre of thousands and thousands of citizens on his watch but not convicted because of the grand conspiracy of the Congress, judiciary and BJP..''
my doubts regarding your sanity are confirmed when i see you spouting such pearls of wisdom...
The hatred and animosity are minimal. It is mostly indifference. And in matters related to India's economy, Pakistan does not even exist. If Pakistan unravels politically it may just affect India's affairs at the edges, but no more. How much was India's economy affected by 1971? All the while Pakistan has been hacking at its nose to spite its own face, India has not even been looking. It will serve Pakistan well to acquire an accurate perspective on this matter. Then they may spend more energy on themselves.
A breadth of fresh air one gets reading the article of Miss Sharmila Faruqui, highly talented and intellectual lady of the 21st century, talking about the peoples of eightees. An excellent, straight forward and to the point account of the Hinduwa High Priest who the millions have voted in to feed them, give jobs and wages which can save their families from starvation. Mr Modi is no stranger in the West, shunned by the European leaders and refused entry visa by the Americans is suddenly on the world stage. And who but a man whose prudence and good judgement are not known to be his strong assets. Mr Nawaz Sharif had no mandate from those who elected him and should have waited his turn and not rush to shake the hands of the man responsible for the massacre of thousands and thousands of citizens on his watch but not convicted because of the grand conspiracy of the Congress, judiciary and BJP..Aslong as the people of India and Pakistan do not desire nd seek peace, they will remain deprived of it. Peace seeking people know how to seek peace!
Rex Minor
@Bewildered: Think of Baluchistan ... what say ??
Ms Sharmila Faruqui. "More so, the prime minister has to comprehend the fact that Modi will obviously think of India first,"* You are absolutely right here "so he needs to stand firm to guard our principles and make Modi bend and not vice versa". It is day dream. Do you think after writing your first line, second can be justified? Who will bend a person who think about his country first? "a mastermind behind anti-Muslim Gujarat riots of 2002, an archetype that used his anti-Pakistan ‘ideology’ to win the game." Are you writing these charges with any solid prof or just saying it to drum up your theory. "After all, Modi is a hardliner, *a doer, a person that strongly stands to achieve his manifesto" You are absolutely right here. "a trading hub to access central, western and southern Asia" How long you will keep harping on wrong notion that Pakistan is center of Universe and India need Pakistan to access central, western and southern Asia ? "Or will it take another five to six decades to decide the best course of action needed to improve the bilateral relationships?" So for it look like it is only way to do it. Hopefully Pakistan will be stabilize by then. Singh ET PLEASE PUBLISH THIS.
What PP have done in the last five years of their govt. They have not even talked about kashmir issue. Most of the sindh politicians are getting money from india because they dont want kala bagh dam. And sharmeeli faruqi is one of them.
@ Abdul - lol!!! Good one, mate!
Modi has appointed Ajit doval as security advisor hardliner for Pakistan. Modi is trying to omit article 370 from constitution which gives kashmir special status. We want kashmir matter resolved according to will of kashmiris but modi is doing opposite. Then how relations can be normalised?
"Only time will tell. Till then, it is just a wait-and-watch game."
M God, what profound insights you have given us. This article should in all seriousness be nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. How ever did we live without your wisdom for 67 years now. You really should've been around when Jinnah made this country. It would have saved us decades of "betrayal, hope, sacrifice, mettle and peace."
A very interesting and instructive article by Ms Sharmeela. India can indeed benefit from trade with Pakistan like the other neighbouring countries of Pakistan are benefitting such as Iran and Afghanistan. People from Afghanistan come to Pakistan for medical treatment.Indians too could do the same and benefit from the vastly advanced medicare available in Pakistan. Also considering that Pakistan is so highly industrialized probably Indian workers could look towards Pakistan for employment. And of course, Indians could also benefit from the advanced educational and technical institutions existing in Pakistan.
i love pakistani brotherly people always because you people are sworn enemy to india that is better because known devil better than unknown devil vice versa. long live pakistan long live india long live our enemity
This read like a forced piece of writing.......by someone who is not altogether clued up on the subject. In my view both have much to do at home to be unnecessarily bothered with each other.
Well the critical time for making tough decisions has arrived. India wants to make economic progress comparable to China, and to achieve this objective, internal and external peace with the neighbors is a prerequisite for progress and development. As far as Pakistan is concerned, without resolving the Kashmir dispute, peace with Pakistan would only be wishful thinking. India has to settle Kashmir dispute with Pakistan as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people through an impartial plebiscite, not what India or Pakistan see right. Any solution other than that wouldn't be helpful either to India or Pakistan. Remove Article 370, or intimidate/attack Pakistan, be ready for destruction unimaginable. Try to linger upon, and you won't see any progress, let alone fulfilling the dream of competing with China. Wise learn from history, fools don't. Here is a lesson from history for Indians. Never ever in the history of mankind a nation was able to keep other nation under subjugation for indefinite time. Sooner or later Kashmiris will get what they want, no matter what, whether Pakistan help them or not. Indians should decide now if they really want to be losers in history.
After all, Modi is a ………………….. person that strongly stands to achieve his manifesto — the upsurge of economic stability in India. If this remains prime agenda on the cards, then Pakistan’s position becomes even more significant as a trading hub to access central, western and southern Asia. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Minister Sharmila Faruqui’s presumption that the Indian PM and by extension India somehow needs Pakistan “as a trading hub to access central, western and southern Asia” is delusional hogwash.
First, Pakistan does not have a border with any Central Asian country.
Second, India has land borders or unimpeded sea lines of communication with all South Asia countries barring Afghanistan. Indeed here it is moot to point out that for the purposes of acting as a hub, India is better placed to be a hub for Pakistan given that Pakistan does not have land border or unimpeded sea lines of communication with two South Asian countries, namely Nepal and Bhutan whereas India only has one instance of such a situation.
Third, India has unimpeded sea lines of communication with all West Asian Countries.
Madame Minister’s next presumption that the Indian PM and by extension India somehow needs Pakistan for “the upsurge of economic stability in India” is no less delusional hogwash. With a USD 225 Billion sized economy that’s in financial crisis requiring an IMF handout, it is illogical to presume that Pakistan can somehow contribute to “the upsurge of economic stability in India” which has a USD 1859 Billion sized economy that is not on oxygen in the IMF intensive care unit.
@Bharat: @Deepwater: Pakistan's strategic location that it has kept touting for 65 years is a contrived construct. Only a few countries such as Panama have a real strategic location and the world is at the mercy of such countries. The Panama Canal and Colon Free Zone account for 30%+ of Panama's GDP and is never going to diminish in importance short of a cataclysmic event that would rearrange the world map..
@Bharat: You have good sense of humor when you say Pakistan is trading hub to access central, western and southern asia.
Its the old silk road mentality, Bharat, from back when traders would travel with horses and camels laden with goods. Pakistanis still think in antiquated territorial terms and believe that they just have to sit and wait for the world to come knocking at their door. Never mind that cargo can fly on planes or sail in ships entirely circumventing problem areas. Pipelines can be built in oceans and a great amounts of gas can be shipped in liquified form. (Not to bring up a sore topic but even drones are controlled from half a world away.)
I fully expect India-China and Indo-Burma road routes during Modi's administration. Iran will be the gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. One day the Pakistanis will wake up to realize that the trade is happening all around them and they are not being missed.
Typical Pakistani, sees everything through green prism.
ET why was my comment censored?
Still stuck on the first meeting and discussing it over and over again? Modi has already moved on and focusing on domestic issues. As far as our point of view. We were celebrating democracy and first ever one party govt after so many years by inviting all saarc countries. We welcomed them did hi hello,the day ended, party over,matter end. And we moved on to domestic issues. However across the border they are still stuck up over it like only they were invited. "Mastermind" do you have proofs of your own propaganda author? As far economical development of india dependant on pakistan it's not true. We have grown since 91 to now and become trillion dollar economy, worlds third largest economy with Pakistan's contribution in it negligible compared to our trade with rest countries of the world. It will only grow further from here. About access to Central Asia and Middle East, we are not dependant on Pakistan even here, india has built chabar port in iran that's india's gateway to Central Asia and Middle East. We have excellent relationship with oman and UAE , have large coastline apart from that we are also into agreement of building under water deep sea gas pipeline between iran-oman-india. No where are we dependent on your country for our economical development.
Excellent article. With a clear perspective. Modi's hands have blood on them. His reputation is tarnished...worldwide. Nobody can deny these facts. [Supreme court does not count.] Perhaps, it may turn into a a wait and see game. Modi trolls,..Indian trolls will be descending on this blog.
Pakistan is a hub to south Asia? For India? Have you looked at the map?
In any case India has strong trade relations with Countries of West Asia without utilizing Pakistan. India is the largest trading partner of UAE. india is one of the largest customers of Iran. India does not need the good offices of Pakistan to trade with countries in West Asia.
Your hubris is amazing.
'Sharif needs to have been more than a guest in India'
This was the oath taking ceremony. He was invited only as a guest. The most that could have been expected of he meeting is that a rapport wold be established between the 2 leaders. Sharif at least went when inited. Zardari went to India without an invitation putting people in a spot. The foreign minister was forced to host him on his personal visit. In any case, was Zardari able to solve Kashmir in 5 years that you expected such a result from a 30 minutes meeting with a man that has been office less than a day?
'Strong anti-Pakistan, anti-Muslim slogan, then Modi needs to be watched carefully'
First of all there was no sloganeering. Secondly Pakistan is not a representative of all Muslims, certainly not Indian Muslims and you should stop pretending you are. Thirdly,instead of watching Modi, you maybe better off watching your non-state actors (and we all know who they are) and ensuring that they are upto no mischief. This is because if there are attacks on India from boys in Karachi getting on a boat, Modi will not be as weak and unresponsive as Manmohan Singh. So don't attack India then you have nothing to worry about from Modi. India has plenty of its own problems and that is what Modi will be focused on. India will never start a war of choice.
You started off well, till the first paragraph ended, then the maddersah teachings you must have got, took over. What is the suggestion, message you want people to take out of your article? On 2002 riots, give facts, links which point out that Modi was the mastermind of the riots? Give facts that prove that Pakistan is a trading hub for Central,western, Southern Asia?
The most likely outcome is, there would be no change in the situation as neither party has moved an inch from their 67 year old position ... therefore it is the game of staying power ... in this situation (1) Pakistan and India may agree to bring down the relations from hostile to neutral and learn to ignore each other or (2) they may continue more of the same for the next 60 years.
The people of India are however determined to move on despite Pakistan.
It looks like this author wanted to write a rational analysis promoting peace and economic co-operation..........In between she has thrown in standard Pakistani delusional stuff....not too bad overall.........You are more honest than Kuldip Nayyar and Arundhati Roy for example, .......but then that's a really low bar.... You have good sense of humor when you say Pakistan is trading hub to access central, western and southern asia.
Modi’s intention; a mastermind behind anti-Muslim Gujarat riots of 2002,
So u mean that Modi woke up one fine day and said "Lets kill some muslims before breakfast".
Only Pakistanis think that the train burning was an "accident" and the reaction to that was a mastermind..
There are many records which show that Modi had requested police from other states and they refused and had to airlift the army to douse the situation..
If Modi is mastermind of the riots,then you must be the mastermind of Karachi target killings because you are one of the minsters of Sindh.
More muslims got killed in Karachi this year than in Gujarat since 2000s.
Still stuck on the first meeting and discussing it over and over again? Modi has already moved on and focusing on domestic issues.. As far as our point of view. We were celebrating democracy and first ever one party govt after so many years by inviting all saarc countries. We welcomed them did hi hello,the day ended, party over,matter end. And we moved on to domestic issues. However across the border they are still stuck up over it like only they were invited. "Mastermind" do you have proofs of your own propaganda author? As far economical development of india dependant on pakistan it's not true. We have grown since 91 to now and become trillion dollar economy, worlds third largest economy with Pakistan's contribution in it negligible compared to our trade with rest countries of the world. It will only grow further from here. About access to Central Asia and Middle East, we are not dependant on Pakistan even here, india has built chabar port in iran that's india's gateway to Central Asia and Middle East. We have excellent relationship with oman and UAE , have large coastline apart from that we are also into agreement of building under water deep sea gas pipeline between iran-oman-india. No where are we dependent on your country for our economical development.
I think Miss Faruqui needs to read the piece by Moeed Yusuf in DAWN. That should clear her mind on what India and Indians have in mind.
I appreciate the fact that this piece has greatly increased my knowledge of what is no doubt a subject. With my worldview expanded, fact-base deepened, and toenails sharpened, I am ready to head out into this world knowing that I spent the last 1 minute reading an extremely brilliant article full of extremely useful facts, knowledge, information, and factual info-knowledge. My thanks to this author for graciously trapping me in her cobweb of fervid intellectualism.
I believe that her most useful contribution is undoubtedly this: "Will the six decades of old deep-rooted animosity fizzle into thin air? Or will it take another five to six decades to decide the best course of action needed to improve the bilateral relationships? Only time will tell. Till then, it is just a wait-and-watch game."
Before I read these incredible lines, I had no idea that I was so oblivious to the highly obvious. For letting me snail-walk to this realization, I thank the author.
Those who are dreaming of Indo-Pak peace should watch Indo-Pak debates on Indian TV channels. At least I have no hopes of peaceful relations. For Pakistanis all Indians are "crooked Baniyas". Fact is that very few Pakistanis know about India. If I were Modi, I won't waste time normalizing relations with Pakistan as that will never happen. Wait and watch the fire work between two countries once Americans leave Afghanistan.