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Way forward in India-Pakistan relations

Lankan Ranger

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Aug 9, 2009
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Way forward in India-Pakistan relations

Fifteen years ago, in a book called “Pakistan Papers,” largely comprising a long despatch I wrote in my last days as Consul-General of India in Karachi, which I was surprisingly permitted by the government to publish as representing my “personal views”, I had first suggested a process of “uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue” as the only way forward for our two countries. My suggestion had no takers then. It has no takers now. Yet, I see no alternative to structuring such a dialogue if we really are to effect a systemic transformation of the relationship.

I know that most in the Establishment of both countries would seriously disagree. They would argue that differences are so fundamental and intentions so hostile that to be tricked into talking without knowing where such talk would lead would amount to compromising vital security concerns, that it would jeopardise national interests and render diplomatic initiative hostage to a meandering dialogue from which there would be no escape. Better to keep the guard up, look reality squarely in the face, and leave romanticism to soft-hearted poets – and out-of-work Consuls General.

There is also the other argument, growing stronger in India by the day, and possibly among the younger generation in Pakistan, that we have lived in simmering hostility for the last six decades and can do so indefinitely, best to let matters simmer while we get on with other things instead of engaging in fruitless exchange.

I belong to that minority that thinks there are three compelling reasons why India should pro-actively engage with Pakistan. First, for the domestic reason that a tension-free relationship with Pakistan would help us consolidate our nationhood, the bonding adhesive of which is secularism. Second, for the regional reason that regional terrorism can be effectively tackled only in cooperation with Pakistan and not in confrontation with it. Third, for the international reason that India will not be able to play its due role in international affairs so long as it is dragged down by its quarrels with Pakistan.

Equally, I believe it is in Pakistan's interest to seek accommodation with India for three counterpart reasons. First, the Indian bogey has harmed rather than helped consolidate the nationhood of Pakistan. Second, Pakistan is unable to become a full-fledged democracy and a sustained fast-growing economy owing to the disproportionate role assigned to alleged Indian hostility in the national affairs of the country. And, third, on the international stage, Pakistan is one of the biggest countries in the world and instead of being the front-line in someone else's war perhaps deserves to come into its own as the frontline state in the pursuit of its own interests.

As for just turning our backs on each other, Siamese twins have no option but to move together even when they are attempting to pull away from each other.

So, what is the way forward from today's impasse? I do not think the impact on the Indian mind of 26/11 is fully comprehended in Pakistan, even as I do not think Indians are sufficiently aware of the extent to which Pakistanis are concerned about terrorism generated from their soil, whoever the target might be, India, the West or Pakistan itself. I suspect that the least positive movement in the direction of determinedly going after the perpetrators of 26/11 will generate a disproportionately positive reaction in India, enabling the stalled peace process to resume its forward movement.

Should the Pakistan government assist the Indian government in this manner to return to the negotiating table, then the first task would be to consolidate the gains of the 13-year old Composite Dialogue. Irrespective of whether progress on the back-channel is acknowledged or not, the official position of the two governments has grown so much closer to each other's than ever before that even by returning to the front table and taking up each component of the Composite Dialogue, including, above all, issues related to Jammu & Kashmir, we could dramatically alter the atmosphere in which to pursue the outstanding matters.

In such a changed atmosphere, it would be essential to immediately move to the next phase of what I hope and pray will be an “uninterrupted and uninterruptible” dialogue. Let me place before you, in outline, what I envisage as the essential elements to be structured into an “uninterrupted and uninterruptible” dialogue:

One, the venue must be such that neither India nor Pakistan can forestall the dialogue from taking place. Following the example of the supervision of the armistice in Korea at Panmunjom for more than half a century, such a venue might best be the Wagah-Attari border, where the table is laid across the border, so that the Pakistan delegation does not have to leave Pakistan to attend the dialogue and the Indians do not have to leave India to attend.

Two, as in the case of the talks at the Hotel Majestic in Paris which brought the U.S.-Vietnam war to an end, there must be a fixed periodicity at which the two sides shall necessarily meet. In the Hotel Majestic case, the two sides met every Thursday, whether or not they had anything to say to each other. Indeed, even through the worst of what were called the “Christmas bombings” — when more bombs were rained on Vietnam than by both sides in the Second World War — the Thursday meetings were not disrupted. In a similar manner, we need to inure the India-Pakistan dialogue from disruption of any kind in this manner.

Third, the dialogue must not be fractionated, as the Composite Dialogue has been, between different sets of interlocutors. As in the case of Hotel Majestic, where the U.S. side was led by Kissinger and the Vietnamese by Le Duc Tho (both won the Nobel prize), Ministerial-level statesmen should lead the two sides with their advisers perhaps changing, depending on the subject under discussion, but the two principal interlocutors remaining the same so that cross-segmental agreements can be reached enabling each side to gain on the swings what it feels it might have lost on the roundabouts. Thus, the holistic and integral nature of the dialogue will be preserved.

Fourth, instead of an agenda agreed in advance, which only leads to endless bickering over procedure, each side should be free to bring any two subjects of its choice on the table by giving due notice at the previous meeting and, perhaps, one mutually agreed subject could thereafter be addressed by both sides.

Fifth, half an hour should be set aside for each side to bring its topical concerns to the attention of the side. This will persuade the general public in both countries that the dialogue is not an exercise in appeasement.

Sixth, there should be no timeline for the conclusion of the Dialogue. This will enable both sides to come to considered, and therefore, durable conclusions without either feeling they have been rushed to a conclusion against their better judgment.

Seventh, and finally, as diplomacy requires confidentiality, there will, of course, have to be some opaqueness in the talks; at the same time, we cannot afford to swing the other way and bring in total transparency; so, what I would suggest is a translucent process where spokespersons of the two sides regularly brief the media but without getting into public spats with each other. Dignity and good will must be preserved to bridge the trust deficit.

I commend this seven-point programme for your consideration. I cannot guarantee that such a dialogue will lead to success, but I do guarantee that not talking will lead us nowhere.

The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Way forward in India-Pakistan relations
 
I am looking forward to a situation when I can freely roam around the lanes of karachi or lahore. I simply want to come there without a hint of fear.

I think its a win win situation for pak to tie up with india because truly speaking only one nation thats hostile to pak is India and if pak caters the good relations it can prosper exponentially. That would also leave war fanatics with no options to create insecurity hysteria among the ppl which will led the pakistani ppl to decide their leadership shearly on the grounds of development.
 
I am looking forward to a situation when I can freely roam around the lanes of karachi or lahore. I simply want to come there without a hint of fear.

I think its a win win situation for pak to tie up with india because truly speaking only one nation thats hostile to pak is India and if pak caters the good relations it can prosper exponentially. That would also leave war fanatics with no options to create insecurity hysteria among the ppl which will led the pakistani ppl to decide their leadership shearly on the grounds of development.

I don't agree with you. It can be said other way round as well. What do you think are Pakistanis not scared of roaming free in India? A guy comes for simple visit is detained for hours at air port, it may be security purpose but the thing is fear is there on both sides..

Regards...
 
I don't agree with you. It can be said other way round as well. What do you think are Pakistanis not scared of roaming free in India? A guy comes for simple visit is detained for hours at air port, it may be security purpose but the thing is fear is there on both sides..

Regards...

You take it in different sense mate. I was talking in different context.
Other way round is true as well but being an Indian i can talk about my intentions and fears. A pakistani is scared to roam around in India and they must be.....thats the environment across both side of border. I just dream to see if not friendly but atleast neutral relations between two nations.
 
'Obama admn supportive of Indo-Pak peace process'

Sunday, March 11, 2012,

Washington: India and Pakistan have taken "constructive" steps to improve bilateral ties and the US, though not directly involved in brokering the process, is "incredibly" supportive of any efforts by them to expand their relations, a top White House official has said.

"We are incredibly supportive of any efforts the Indians and Pakistanis take to engage in dialogue to expand their relations," the official said.

The comments came in response to a question about the recent efforts of India and Pakistan to improve their relationship, especially in the business and economic field.


"We think that both sides have taken constructive steps in that direction," the official, a confidant of US President Barack Obama, told a small group of journalists on condition of anonymity.

In the first 100 days of coming to power, President Obama had expressed his desire to use diplomatic tools to improve relationship between India and Pakistan.

Nearly three years later, Obama administration officials expressed satisfaction over the steps being initiated by Indian and Pakistani leaders.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said in Singapore yesterday that he would be travelling to Pakistan this summer.

Last month, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma visited Pakistan.

The two countries have taken specific measures to improve trade and business relationship, which has also improved the political atmosphere between them, US officials feel.

"They (Indian and Pakistani leaders) have the full support of the United States. And we are not going to be able to be the ones to come in and broker, broker some type of agreement, given the longstanding issues at hand," the White House official said.

"But what we will do is express to both sides our strong support for those types of... dialogue, and the steps that they are taking on the commercial and investment side. And we very much support seeing that go forward," the official told a small group of journalist.

"We frankly believe it is in the interest of both countries, both India and Pakistan have an interest in improved ties. And so does the United States," which has a very significant interest in seeing better relations between them, the official said, endorsing the two countries' move to improve their relationship.

Talking about the "difficult year" in US's ties with Pakistan, the official said despite the tough phase, Washington has been able to "sustain" its relationship with Islamabad. He said the US "needs" Islamabad on the table as it discusses the future of the region.
 

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