Rocky start

For those looking towards better ties between India and Pakistan as the means to build a better future, 2015 did not start well. At least four Pakistan Rangers were killed as a result of firing across the working boundary dividing Pakistan and Indian-held Kashmir along the Samba sector. The Indian Border Security Force says the firing was retaliatory. This has been denied by Pakistan, which summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to Islamabad on January 1 to complain about the incident. There were reports of continued exchanges of fire early on January 1.



To start off 2015 with such an incident, obviously does not augur well for the year that lies ahead. The last few months, notably since Narendra Modi’s hardline BJP government came to power in May, have seen heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, notably over cross-border firing incidents. There was also a militant attack in Indian-held Kashmir, near Srinagar, in December this year, which killed 11 Indian troops. The omens then are not good. It appears that the trend set last year is to continue. This can only cause the greatest harm to both countries.

The fact is that we badly need calm to prevail so that the process of building bilateral relations can go ahead. It is vital that New Delhi and Islamabad are able to work together for the benefit of the people of both countries. The increased strain we have seen in ties helps no one. It only encourages militant and hardline elements and prevents regional stability that is so vital for development and progress. Both countries are urgently in need of this. The two governments need to think about how to swing things around. The start of a new year should be a good time to consider this. Right now, matters do not look very good at all. There are fears that the tension will mount still higher and this is something we simply cannot afford when there is so much to be gained by ending these unnecessary border skirmishes, which consume vital political energy and claim the lives of both security personnel and civilians.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd,  2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.