There has been a series of articles in various publications and similar views echoed by politicians of this state that the only solution to improving Indo-Pak relations is re-commence dialogue .There was immense hope prior to the NSA level talks, which subsequently collapsed. Since then Pakistan has used every forum, including the U.N and their Prime Minister’s visit to the U.S to not only blame India for the failure, but to threaten India with the nuclear card and highlighted the involvement of RAW with the ongoing insurgency on its western borders. The possessions of nuclear weapons and launchers gives Pakistan the assurance of its existence as a nation state, irrespective of its policies.
Both the countries are nuclear powers and even increasing rivalry can have serious consequences for the common people of entire religion. Not only is Kashmir a nuclear flash point between India and Pakistan but is also the source of arms race between the two countries. The big terror attack in Pathankot threatens to derail a reviewed India Pakistan peace process. For now the government and the ruling B.J.P are saying that the talks will go on. India said it is waiting Pakistan’s response on the information provided related to the Pathankot incident. Following to which it will decide on the resumption of bilateral peace talks scheduled for later this month. But it is possible that they may not be able to work against public opinion for long. If there were no terror strikes emanating from Pakistan, why would India need to talk to Pakistan anyway?? India must confront Pakistan with evidence of the use of its soil perhaps even the support of its state institutions for terror attacks on India. Pakistan won’t talk terrorism until India talks Kashmir and that is why we had a ”composite dialogue” process , whose name the Modi government has changed to “Comprehensive dialogue”.
When India is not talking to Pakistan it comes across as the country that does not want to talk peace. Pakistan keep saying it wants to talk to India without pre-conditions, India keeps saying what about terrorism to which Pakistan says lets talk terrorism too. Pakistan is willing and has been requesting every country for third party negotiations whereas India sticks to the spint of Shimla agreement, which states that it is a bilateral issue. Thus whenever Pakistan raises the Kashmir bogey India counters the same. India blames Pakistan for fermenting and supporting terrorism and this blame game is what continuing till today. India has openly displayed Pakistani nationals , captured while attempting terrorist activities on its soil. Pakistan contrary to it just has the documentary as the proof rather than any physical evidence. The manner in which India approaches talks with Pakistan is unlikely to make any headway. India only talks to the elected government of Pakistan, whereas in reality the elected government is subservient to the army. India expects the elected government to deal with Pakistan’s internal dynamics, which it cannot do. Hence the talks collapse. Indian public has begun showing religious intolerance and in some cases apathy for even engaging in any sporting activities with Pakistan. India has never openly played the nuclear card nor threatened Pakistan with war. It has always openly declared its clear policy being ‘no first use’. Pakistan on the other hand, and especially recently has begun employing the nuclear card at every possible opportunity. Each time a step is taken some or the other incidents or mishappening occupies the environment. We seriously now need to bridge the gap between the two countries in order to find the fresh atmosphere of peace. It now all depends upon the leaders as in to which direction they want to direct, towards a new or towards the same.
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