Right-wing political parties like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have always capitalised on tense India-Pakistan relations to further their agenda. Tense circumstances serve as a much-needed breathing space for such forces in both countries. The recent incident of a protest from India’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party against the clothing outlet Zara for selling clothes made in Pakistan is one such example. MNS workers reportedly barged into Zara’s Mumbai outlet, protesting against Pakistan for sentencing the Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav to death for his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan. MNS was recently active in vitriolic agitation against Pakistani artists working in India, following the Uri incident. Pakistani actors were forced to leave India in a rapidly deteriorating climate. As a result, some film releases involving Pakistani actors were also affected. In both Pakistan and India, such right-wing extremist parties have continued to prosper due to continuous tensions between the two nations. In view of the significant following for such parties and the pervasive mob mentality, governments in both countries have used a policy of appeasement throughout history with such parties. Let us bear in mind what the presence of hawkish, communal, right-wing forces costs us on both sides of the Indo-Pak barbed wire. There is immense bilateral trade potential between the two countries, which has not been fulfilled due to the continuous tensions and the presence of such elements. Despite China being a major rival to India in the region due to border disputes between the two countries, bilateral trade has crossed $100 billion mark as the two countries have kept political and economic issues separate from each other. On the other hand, the figure hardly reaches $1 billion when it comes to India’s bilateral trade with Pakistan. While this may not cause political forces of the communal right-wing in India — or their Pakistani counterparts — to lose much sleep, it should be a matter of concern for other parties which are committed to a more democratic and peaceful future for South Asia. What can they do to stem the rising tide of right-wing tribalistic hatred? *