Resuming Pak-India Talks: A Ray Of Hope For Pacifists
By Rahil Yasin
27 June, 2011
Countercurrents.org
Resuming foreign secretary level talks between Pakistan and India is not less than a sigh of relief for the pacifists as they know that only the continuous dialogue process can lead the two arch rivals towards resolution of the outstanding issues.
Unquestionably, Kashmir is the core issue which needs to be resolved with yet-to-be-witnessed seriousness. Kashmir dispute also requires much attention because most of the other issues seem directly or indirectly interlinked with it. For instance, increasingly intensifying water row between Pakistan and India, Mumbai attacks, creation of Kashmir-centered Jihadi groups in Pakistan, Siachen and Kargil disputes have, one way or another, been instigated on account of Kashmir snarl. Thus resolving Kahsmir dispute should be the first and foremost priority of the two nuclear armed nations to ease tensions in South Asia with an understanding that settling other issues of less priority could provide a direction towards openness.
Looking at the past record of Indo-Pak ties, it is easy to conclude that tensions can be removed through talks but it is difficult to do so in the midst of uncertainties and doubts. But at some point both the nations have to get to the starting point and crux of it is: resume the all-inclusive discussions, keeping in view, the seriousness of the issues. Without sitting on the negotiating table, removing doubts and building trust is out of question. It is hard to predict what is going to happen in the short time frame, but the logic of the ‘resuming dialogue’ message speaks for itself. It is also true, whether it is Pakistan or any other country in the 21st century, if it wants to have a serious progressive position in the world and its instruments of governance are strong, it has to reject all forms of terrorism. Pakistan’s ‘officially-announced and followed’ commitment in the last few years to get rid of terrorism on its soil could not send a clear message to India because non-state actors attacked Mumbai, dismantling these tall claims of the country of purging all the jihadi groups after 9/11.
This kind of incident provides an opportunity to extremists in India to put severe pressure on the government to lock the peace process. However, India must try to understand it that the same non-state actors are turning their guns against Pakistani security forces, killing a large number of civilians as well. In these circumstances, the ties between two neighbours should be based on solid foundations that no mishap, like Mumbai attack, can damage the peace process this time, in any case. After two days of talks, foreign secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao failed to reach any agreement but their commitment to meet again in New Delhi, to prepare for a pre-arranged foreign ministers' meeting in July, comes up as a ray of hope for the peace lovers of both the countries besides the people of the Jammu & Kashmir. Last but not the least, representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be formally included in the negotiations to get any concrete, sustainable and long-lasting solution of the dispute.
Rahil Yasin is a senior writer and researcher based in Lahore. He can be reached at [email protected]
Comments are not moderated. Please be responsible and civil in your postings and stay within the topic discussed in the article too. If you find inappropriate comments, just Flag (Report) them and they will move into moderation que.
