The Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), formerly known as Hindustan, was once one of the largest ancient human civilizations. It is for this reason that in 1947 Mahatma Gandhi tried to prevent the division of the subcontinent. He told the Indian people that their unity would transform them into a great power once the British colonizers were evicted.
It was imperialist Britain that thwarted Gandhi’s desire and went about dividing the Indian Subcontinent into two countries on the basis of religion. It also made sure that Pakistan was divided geographically in order to leave behind problems that would continually threaten the stability of the region.
The nation was dismembered and the British departed leaving problems in their wake turmoil, the most important being the issue of Kashmir. Three wars ensued between the neighboring countries of which one result was that Eastern Pakistan seceded and became what is now known as Bangladesh. All fighting sides lost lives, money and time, negatively affecting growth in the two countries. The problem of Kashmir was not solved.
Thus the struggle between India and Pakistan grew with ever more dangerous consequences, the most important of which is the nuclear arms race. Economic sanctions had no perceptible effect as strategic interests propelled the West to fully cooperate with both countries, forgetting the so-called sanctions.
With the appearance of nuclear weapons, relations between New Delhi and Islamabad changed. Much of the sharp tones in diplomatic relations and the political rhetoric between the leaders of the two countries abated.
However, neither the last Indian government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee nor Pakistan had the necessary political flexibility to bring the two countries’ points of view closer. After the last elections in India and the triumph of the Congress party followed by Manmohan Singh’s taking up the post of prime minister, there are indications of a new chance to settle Indo-Pakistan relations and especially the issue of Kashmir.
There are also positive signs that the two countries’ nuclear capabilities will be curtailed since Pervez Musharraf has welcomed Indian moves that accord with the global desire for peace.
In that regard, one positive step that was taken last May was to create a hotline between the foreign ministries of the two countries in order for each to warn the other of any possible nuclear threats, accidents or unintentional human errors. A statement issued by both countries confirms that work continues in accordance with an agreement signed in 1998 to stop nuclear testing and that efforts are being made to formulate an agreement regarding the need for one side to tell the other of any decision to undertake missile tests.
They are also looking into the implementation of the Lahore agreement of 1999, which states that it is necessary for India and Pakistan to take active steps to reduce the nuclear standoff between them.
The Far East is on the verge of strategic changes of great importance in anticipation of the take-off by China as a superpower, the increasing influence of the Asian economic group led by Japan and the appearance of new nuclear powers all of which will change the balance of power in the region. This calls for cooperation and collaboration between India and Pakistan to confront the coming political storms and the more acute pressure that is sure to come from wealthy Western countries on either side of the Atlantic.
What is certain is that a genuine agreement to resolve the Kashmiri issue in a manner acceptable to all sides — India, Pakistan and Kashmir — and which ends the bloody struggle will be enough to raise the peoples of the greater Hindustan to the status of modern countries. This is because of the people’s high level of scientific and technological abilities, the countries’ abundant wealth and the great geographic spread that would allow it to influence international political decisions.
