Turn the page
India and Pakistan have been living with hostilities towards each other since the day the two nations were carved out of a single entity. The countries have since then fought many wars and have been acting as die hard enemies, causing a loss to the people living in both the countries.
It has been more than seven decades now, hostility and animosity towards each other have brought no results. Peace between the neighbours is elusive so is the calm and serene neighbourhood which should have otherwise been a regular feature by now.
Sensing that the two countries have been living in an atmosphere of mistrust many world powers including the US, China and Russia have been putting in their efforts to bring in some changes in the mindset of the leadership in the two countries.
Just yesterday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed with British NSA Mark Sedwill the current situation between India and Pakistan and the efforts to reduce tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.
The two leaders sought the issues between India and Pakistan as key global priorities, including support for reducing tension between India and Pakistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in south Kashmir on February 14.
India launched a counter-terror operation in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1.
China a key player in south Asia also urged the leadership in India and Pakistan to quickly turn the page after the Pulwama terror attack, meet each other halfway and transform the present crisis into an opportunity for a long term and fundamental improvement in their bilateral relations.
The advice by China and even other world leaders should be taken seriously by both the parties who should quickly turn the page and seek fundamental, long term improvement in their relations.
The Pulwama attack led to confrontation between India and Pakistan but the collusion also paved way to an agreement as well as both the countries took steps for de-escalating the rising tensions. The de-escalation can now give way to dialogue and disagreement can be settled only through dialogue.
Recent events in South Asia focussed international attention on the India-Pakistan relations, though some key players like China played a role but still the issues have not settled as no formal engagement for peace has taken place between the two nations.
The issues that confront the two nations can be settled and a better future can be created through cooperation and mutual understanding. But for all this the leadership has to be resilient and committed to peace.
KV Network
