By Dr Ahmed Haque
PEACE is a fragile plant, which needs constant nurturing. This is especially true when two neighbors with a disturbed relationship attempt mutual reconciliation of differences. When their endeavors are weak, lack sincerity, or lose momentum due to mutual suspicion, the plant dies. A new seed is sown, and the same cycle of irresolute efforts and predictable failures continues. This, sadly, has been the saga of the peace process between Pakistan and India.
As neighbors, they must develop peaceful and cooperative ties for their security, prosperity, and progress. Regardless, peace efforts must continue because of some unchangeable and inescapable truths. One, the ceasefire must assume a permanent character. The tragic deaths of soldiers and civilians, which serve no purpose for either country, must forever become a thing of the past.
Three, both India and Pakistan should recognize that terrorism, bigotry, majoritarianism, and extremism are among the “core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb peace”. Similarly, the rights of minorities have to be protected at all costs.
Fourth, the time has come to reimagine the LoC as a ‘Line of Connectivity and Cooperation’. The history of the post-World War II era conclusively shows that countries prosper when regions prosper, and when they give priority to “geoeconomics over geopolitics” — that is, by building links of physical, digital, trade, economic, cultural, and people-to-people connectivity. South Asia is the world’s most populous region; yet, it is also the least integrated and has the largest number of poor people. We can make it a region of prosperity for all by jointly implementing ambitious connectivity projects, which, as is self-evident, are unthinkable without cooperation with China. This also means that India should not be suspicious of CPEC but see it as an opportunity that could lead to connectivity of the whole of South Asia, benefiting India as well.
Sharif’s chemistry with Modi
After Shahbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister of Pakistan, PM Modi congratulated him through a formal letter. However, the Prime Minister in his letter had also demanded action against terrorism to create an atmosphere of dialogue between India and Pakistan.
In what sounded like an overture to India, Sharif on Friday said that his government would try to improve relations with the neighboring countries. He asked his supporters if they agreed with his point of view (regarding ties with neighbors), and hundreds of supporters present to hear him backed him with a roar. While Sharif stopped mentioning India directly in his speech, the use of the word “neighbors” could hardly be missed as Sharif in his previous tenures also tried to mend ties with India. In the past too, PM Modi had an informal bridge-side meeting with former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
A year ago all that the people saw was a quick handshake but away from TV cameras Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif held an hour-long secret meeting on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Kathmandu. Here, Indian Peace Activist Dr Ahmed Haque looks into why Islamabad and New Delhi should actively seek to resolve their mutual suspicion, not least because the neighbors share a 3,000-km border. Experts note that everything — including Kashmir — can be resolved if there is a will in both capitals
Here are four reasons why the two countries should actively work towards a working relationship.
1. Food security
The most pressing issue for Pakistan right now is ensuring food security in the wake of devastating floods, which decimated crops. A thaw in ties could lead to a resumption of trade. From a purely economic standpoint, it can provide the “quickest means of bridging a looming demand-supply shortfall in various kitchen commodities”.
Dr. Ahmed notes: “In purely logistical terms, it makes sense for Pakistan to first tap its neighbors for its immediate needs before turning to global markets.
“Both the cost of shipment and the time taken for the goods to reach local markets will be much lower in case foodstuff is imported from India rather than anywhere else.”
2. Increased connectivity
Connected to the previous point: South Asia is the world’s most populous region yet, it is also the least integrated, and has the largest number of poor people, according to an article by Musharraf-era foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri and former Atal Bihari Vajpayee aide Sudheendra Kulkarni.
He suggests that it can be a “region of prosperity for all by jointly implementing ambitious connectivity projects”, given that mutual mistrust is addressed. He notes that this also means “India should not be suspicious of CPEC but see it as an opportunity which could lead to the connectivity of the whole of South Asia, benefiting India as well”.
3. The risk of nuclear winter
Both are nuclear-equipped countries. Last year, a US Global Trends Report warned that India and Pakistan may “stumble into a large-scale war neither side wants”. An escalation brings with it the risk of a full-on nuclear exchange, which would be MAD (mutually assured destruction).
4. More matches, religious and cultural tourism
We all want to see more India-Pakistan cricket matches. Better ties would make such lucrative events more frequent. It would also make religious and cultural tourism easier, as well as visits for people who have family and friends on the other side of the border.
In the end, both sides owe it to their people to forge a peaceful path based on coexistence and friendship.