If you want peace, don’t prepare for war

There is never a dull moment in the politics of the subcontinent. The bitter animosity between India and Pakistan has failed to subside despite several peace initiatives and confidence building measures. The recent incidents of firing across the Line of Control (LoC) have once again sparked tensions between the two neighbors and derailed efforts to restart dialogue. The two countries have accused each other’s troops of unprovoked firing from across the border, resulting in casualties and injuries on both sides. To protest against the incident, Pakistan has decided to completely shutdown government offices near the area for an indefinite period. These skirmishes are in violation of a November 2003 ceasefire along the LoC and pushed diplomatic efforts to the edge.
Even though the volatile relationship has had its share of highs and lows over the past decade, Pakistan has expressed its willingness to continue the process of peace talks with India and achieve an amicable solution to all outstanding issues. On the other hand, India has shied away from a composite dialogue on thorny matters, such as Kashmir, and asked Pakistan to punish the perpetrators of Mumbai incident and attack on Indian Parliament. However, India may not be able to easily turn its back on peace talks this time after shocking revelations that Indian agencies orchestrated the attack on the Parliament. In the aftermath of this attack, anti-Pakistan sentiment reached a feverish pitch in India and pushed the two archrivals on the brink of a nuclear war.
While it may not be simple to forget the past, both India and Pakistan should start a new chapter in their relationship for the sake of about world’s one-third population that inhabits the subcontinent. The embarrassing revelations, which have of course been denied by India, expose a system of vested interests that impedes bilateral ties between the two countries. It is no secret that certain groups twist religion and historical facts to their advantage by stirring hatred among the masses. As a result, the relationship between India and Pakistan has always taken one step forward and two backwards. Both countries continue to allocate a large chunk of their annual budgets to military spending despite struggling to feed and educate millions in their respective countries.
It is about time that India and Pakistan show political maturity to stabilize their long-term relationship in their own best interest. The recent incidents of violence across the border should not let the ties hit the rocks again, but instead highlight a stronger need for building trust to foster a closer bond between the two countries. Normalization of relations would require sincere efforts using all diplomatic channels and progress in the area of trade and cultural exchange. India should also realize that any dialogue that excludes Kashmir would be futile as the issue is directly linked with terrorism and militancy in the region. Pakistan and India have a great chance to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session and develop a rapport with each other to promote peace in the subcontinent. Although the meeting may only be symbolic, it may send a signal to the hawks on both sides that the authorities are committed to improving bilateral relations on a high priority basis.