And here we go once again. More controversy, more anger and more drama — there is never a dull moment in India-Pakistan relationship. Just when one thinks that bilateral relations between these two nuclear powers are changing for the good, there is a spoiler that derails the whole normalization process.
In recent days, hawkish elements in the Modi government have threatened to carryout raids in Pakistan to pursue militants and “neutralize terrorists through terrorists only.” The recent bout of heated statements has been followed by Modi’s condemnation of Pakistan for creating nuisance and promoting terrorism in his country. Pakistan has strongly detested these allegations and also taken notice of India’s “open admission” for its role in the breakup of East Pakistan that led to creation of Bangladesh.
As aggressive anthems get louder, hopes for a more peaceful and collaborative future fade away. Considering the commonalities in culture and socioeconomic issues faced by the two neighbors, it is puzzling as to why there has been so little progress in their relationship. Why is there a reluctance to strengthen bilateral ties to foster cooperation in trade, technology and other sectors that could improve the lives of over 1.2 billion people?
The answer lies in lack of mutual trust, which forms the backbone for development of bilateral relations between any two countries. The corridors of power in political and military circles of both countries remain dominated by ultranationalist forces that master the art of spreading fear. Pakistan’s close ties with China, vying for a greater role in Asia, keep India anxious. On the other hand, Pakistan is wary of India’s edge in conventional military warfare, greater economic clout and growing influence in Afghanistan. Both countries accuse each other of sponsoring proxy terrorist outfits to sabotage peace and stability in their geographical boundaries. Recent revelations in a BBC report point to Indian funding of a major political party in Pakistan to promote instability and terrorism. While the claims have been denied by both the party and India, the alleged meddling in internal affairs of each other further complicates the peace process.
Escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals is a constant source of worry for the global community as well. As the US searches for stability in Afghanistan, growing friction between India and Pakistan is a distraction that it does not want to get caught up in. At the same time, US cannot allow any misadventure from both sides as its stakes in regional interests are too high. Heightened tensions may fan further militancy, extremism and weaken democracy, especially in Pakistan. However, as US tries hard to maintain a fine balance in relations with both India and Pakistan, its efforts to push for a negotiation process do not extend beyond a few verbal statements.
There is a need to build trust between India and Pakistan for effective cooperation on all outstanding issues. It is easier said than done, though, and requires concerted efforts from both sides to forget the past. The South Asian neighbors will not be able to emerge as regional powers if they remain bogged down in such disputes. There can be no military solution to their problems, they must find a way to develop more trust and confidence in each other for convergence of geo-economic interests. In case both sides fail to win each other’s confidence, they will continue to take one step forward and two backward in their troubled relationship.
