Move beyond words
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made a case for economic benefit for the two countries, India and Pakistan if they agree on peace as a peaceful region will give India direct access resource-rich Central Asia through Pakistan.
Peace has been on the agenda of the two countries since the past few weeks after a ceasefire agreement was accepted for the LoC with both the armies showing willingness to let the border dwellers live in peace.
India last month said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.
Pakistan too has been exhibiting friendship and peace with many statements on restoration of peace and coming from the most powerful institution in the country that is the army.
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.
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 have been 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 focused 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.
The agreement that was reached on February 25 needs to be taken forward and keeping the issue in deep freeze will serve nobody’s interest.
KV Network
