Nawaz and Modi
If India-Pakistan wants to implement their economic agendas, they better start fresh and get rid of hatred & animosity
The writer is Sindh’s minister of culture and tourism
For the last 67 years, we have been nurturing a society based on betrayal, hope, sacrifice, mettle and peace. Our relationship with India has also reflected hatred, revenge, animosity and a cynical approach to every smart move from across the border. Be it a straightforward friendly invitation or threatening demands from our neighbour, the most apt approach is to view it under a kaleidoscope of shrewdness, never forgetting the past outcomes of the wars fought and the Indian propaganda time and again against Pakistan. And above all, never forgetting that the invitation from the 15th Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, could have an ulterior motive.
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.
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.