Peace is the need of the hour but it is also the most difficult thing to achieve in the context of India and Pakistan. But given the relative high value of peace, the only viable option is to pursue it with the seriousness it deserves. Wars and conflicts have taken us to nowhere, and ultimately we have been compelled by our own reason and wisdom to talk and pursue peace.
But, as can be imagined, pursuing peace is not an easy enterprise to undertake. There are roadblocks that both India and Pakistan have to overcome in the larger interest of the sub-continent. Yes, ‘easier said than done’ is the gem of wisdom that no one should lose sight of. But if pursuing peace is the goal that we cherish to achieve, then we must march ahead, whatever the difficulties.
A good deal of hope and goodwill has been generated in the recent past. But Indo-Pak relationship is a sensitive issue and often the air is polluted with mistrust and suspicion. In fact the atmosphere had got vitiated a bit just before coming to India of Pak premier, Shawkat Aziz. His visit, however, has cleared the air of suspicion once again which is a welcome and healthy sign.
India has a coalition government today. The good thing, however, is that none of the coalition partners is hawkish or fiercely anti-Pakistan as was the case with some NDA partners. This is, however, not to suggest that today’s Congress-led government would not face problems in pursuing peace with Pakistan. There are at least two roadblocks that Congress itself has to overcome. First, somewhere it seems ingrained in the psyche of Congress, specially its old leadership psychologically suffers from the fact that in 1947 they had failed to prevent the Partition. This often makes them internally hawkish towards Pakistan. But a deep thought would reveal that coming together of the two countries, in fact, would partially fulfil their old dream of keeping India united, ideationally at least if not in reality. Second, the Congress fears that if it pursues peace with Pakistan, the militant Hindu right would blame it with Muslim appeasement. But this fear or logic does not hold water any longer. The Congress, on the other hand, can now claim that they are just pursuing the policy of previous BJP-led government.
Pakistan has its own problems. Even after 55 years of its creation, it has not been able to develop and establish strong institutions. Democratic tradition is really fragile there. Moreover, they also appear to be suffering from a psychological problem which is rooted in their history. There is always a lurking fear in their mind that a far bigger India would swallow them economically or undermine them politically and diplomatically in the comity of nations. But these are just fears and apprehensions. And above all such concerns can easily be talked about, and remedial measures may be suggested and adopted during the peace negotiations.
The biggest problem, no doubt, is the issue of Kashmir. In fact, both the sides are guilty in that over the years they have taken their respective positions to such a high pitch that they find it difficult to descend from them. A few years back PLO and Israel were faced with a similar dilemma. Perhaps lessons may be learnt from their experience.
Kashmir is a sensitive issue and lots of emotions are involved on both sides of the borders. The people of Kashmir have bled in the last 15 years; a section of Kashmiri population is living as refugees in the Jammu area. Moreover, the two countries have high political stakes which can not be overlooked. In such a situation talking peace would indeed be a delicate business. Both the sides, however, have no options but to descend from the Tiger they chose to ride on long ago.
There is one dimension of Indo-Pak relations which is normally ignored in all discourses. This dimension concerns the Indian Muslims. To be politically correct, Indian Muslims would resolutely stand in all conditions with the national interest. However, they also hope both from the government and the opposition to be sensitive towards their plight. No one can deny the fact that despite some good constitutional safeguards the Indian Muslims have suffered all kinds of deprivation in Independent India. And the Partition, whether one agrees or not, has a lot to do with it. Their agony further aggravated with the continuing tension between India and Pakistan. Viewed in this perspective, peace between the two nations would serve their purpose and yield rich dividends in the long term. Therefore they are all for peace between India and Pakistan.
[November, 2004]
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