Ashok Bhan
In the current visit to New York to participate in the UNGA, the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan may seize the opportunity to interact with each other. This meeting is critical not only to recover the lost grounds for improving bilateral relation, due to the recent debacles in the dialogue process, but also to discuss how best to promote peace process.
There is speculation as to whether or not the PMs of the two countries would meet in the USA. In my view, it is unlikely that the two PMs, Modi and Shareef, would ignore each other in theglare of the world leaders. They have met twice, in New Delhi and Ufa.Therefore, the international community is hopeful that PM Modi, who has recently invested time and energy to promote a better understanding with mostnations, would also reach out to Pakistan to reconcile its differences through the democratic means.
PM Modi has pursued a credible foreign policy for which he is duly credited for his vision and mission to reach out toall the major countries. Failure to improve ties with Pakistan would not only be a diplomatic negativity on the approach to maintaining a balanced foreign policy but also tilt the balance in favor of Pakistan, which is favorite of bothChina and the USA at the moment. The prudent diplomacy is always to engage withall the nations. India can ask for action against Hafiz, Lakvi, Dawood, Hizbul, LeT, and all the terrorists operating against India from Pakistan Soil at least face to face.
Internationally, in the increasingly globalized world, the focus is moving towards Asia. If South Asia wishes to become part and parcel of the ways of prosperity and dynamism sweeping through an economic integrated Asia, then integration within our own region becomes a necessary condition. To contribute to this process, Indiais ready to give all its neighbors a stake in its own prosperity and dynamic economy.
There is a serious trust deficit between India and Pakistan which can only be dispelled by the economic inter-dependence. The two countries have a greater responsibility for finding mutually acceptable solutions in an atmosphere of trust and confidence which is required to be built in the bilateral engagements and negotiations. A section of Pakistanis continue to believe that hostilityat the LoC and cross border terrorism and also reference to the so called irrelevant UN Resolution on Kashmir; as a leverage to coerce India to talk about Kashmir imbroglio. These sections are promoting a narrow vision of diplomacy for the reason that India is a nation of 1.25 billion population with enormous resources, developing vibrant economy, including the latest technological strength, the largest functional democracy in the world and the modern nuclear capabilities, willnever change its stated position on Kashmir. In fact, a wider section of opinion in India is persuading Prime Minister Modi to implement the unanimous resolution of Parliament for retrieving Pakistan occupied Kashmir from Pakistan.
It may also be argued that unfriendly relation with Pakistan would perpetuate the security related crisis emanatingfrom war of words between the leaders of the two countries and the problems of insurgency and militancy in the J&K state, and non-state actors perpetrating their terror activities from the soil of Pakistan. Everyone peace loving Indian is concerned about the increasing tensions between the two countries, which must be blunted by hot pursuit policy and stopped through negotiations and engagement.
Whilethe challenge of laying a roadmap for resolution of all the contentious issues is daunting indeed, the PM Modi has made oft-repeated commitment to resolve all the political differences through an active engagement of the stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue process. At this juncture, it is important therefore that both the countries should resolve to adhere to the principle of maintaining and promoting the process of uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue. National Security is of paramount interest, particularly in the wake of recent undeclared war between the two countries. Both the countries have heavily suffered due to terror activities. The blame game from both the sides may lead to mudding the dialogue process, which may perpetuate the on-going crisis on the borders. This must be avoided. And, an opportunity must be seized to explore the ways to find solutions in a piecemeal manner. It is expected, atleast, that both the countries may chart out the path to cooperate with each other in dismantling the terror training camps as well as to ensure that thefinancers of such inhuman activities are brought to book.
India-Pakistan dialogue must move forward; it may not be possible to erase the line which has been drawn on the map but as two civilized nations its people can work to emulate to negative human consequences of the hostilities and the divided people. Both thecountries have to agree; that terrorism is the taboo and the pronounced extreme positions about each other in the past have to be abandoned. The bilateral engagement and dialogue must always centre around socio-economic welfare of the people on both sides, peaceful neibourly relations and must be, as far as possible, acceptable to all political elements.
The Army and the security forces have done a commendable job in containing militancy in the J&K state.Unfortunately, it is the political process of the last six decades that hasfailed us in maintaining peace and tranquility in the region. It is now expected of a vibrant democratic country, with a strong Central Government, to engage all the stakeholders in search of a solution for a peaceful existence and prosperity of the entire human race in the Indian sub-continent. The ensuing opportunity of PMs level talk must be seized to the advantage of our people in the region; and, to fulfill the aspirations of the world community by the largest democratic country led by Modi.
Without indulging in the blame-game,the Indian people including me, are votaries for good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan. There is, thus, another respectable opportunity on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting for commencement of the dialogue between India and Pakistan when the two Prime Ministers are on the same platform and Hotel in New York. Statesmanship of Modi has to be in place to move forward the process.
(The author is International Legal Eagle & Chairman Kashmir Policy & Strategy Group )
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