Online Desk: Unfortunately, there has been little indication that India is ready to mend fences with Pakistan. Instead, along with earlier lukewarm felicitations exchanged by both sides, India has been increasingly using the overplayed ‘terrorism’ card to stall any chances of dialogue with Pakistan. Last month, while attending an event to mark the Kargil conflict, Indian PM Narendra Modi used inflammatory language targeted at this country, accusing Pakistan of fomenting unrest in the region through proxy groups.
If India continues to use such language, peace in the region will remain a remote possibility. But Mr Sharif has done the right thing by continuing to invite India to talk out all outstanding issues. India should take up this offer for an improved geopolitical atmosphere in the subcontinent.
While the resumption of direct peace talks anytime soon is unlikely, both states can start with confidence-building measures. For example, the respective high commissioners have been absent from both capitals since 2019, which is unprecedented during peacetime. Restoring both missions to their full diplomatic strength can be a starting point for rebuilding better ties. Moreover, backchannel dialogue can be initiated, even if the current focus of this engagement is ‘talks about talks’.
Pakistan is due to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government meeting in October. India is also part of this multilateral body and should send a high-level delegation to the event. The point is that engagement is the only way that mistrust between Islamabad and Delhi can be overcome. India keeps playing the same tune, harping on about ‘terrorism’, but Pakistan also has significant evidence linking India to malign activities on its soil.
Therefore, both states can remain locked in this perpetual cycle of blame and retribution, or turn a new leaf and look to the future. While Mr Modi’s ideological comrades in the Sangh will scowl at the very thought of peace with Pakistan, the Indian leadership should rise above parochialism and accept Islamabad’s dialogue offer.
