India has ruled out any direct talks and separate meetings between Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart during his visit to Pakistan in connection with the seventh SAARC ministerial conference to be held on August 4 in Islamabad. It could be said that India is not in a position to disclose its plans before the media amid growing pressure of opposition parties and hyper-nationalists in India on not to get engaged in talks with Pakistan. Such meetings remain unplanned till the very end, and their occurrence cannot be ruled out. Last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held unscheduled meetings with his counterpart Nawaz Sharif, making gracious overtures to Pakistan. Hence the possibility of unscheduled meetings between the Indian home minister and his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the SAARC summit cannot be ruled out. Or rather, should not be ruled out. Furthermore, it is customary for a visiting SAARC minister to meet his host bilaterally on the sidelines of the meeting, thus leaving room for Singh to meet Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. It cannot be stressed enough that these meetings should be held, because there is no other way forward except to get engaged in a process of dialogue. Both states have to bridge this trust deficit, and create significant opportunities of interaction for the status quo to change. It is high time that Pakistan and India were not distracted by peace spoilers, and all contentious issues were resolved through substantive talks. Peace is the only option, and the only way forward. And only a more positive approach to the relationship can yield good results for both the countries as well as for regional peace. There should be an end to provocative statements and irrational reactions. Both the governments need to understand that they would greatly benefit if they work together to fight their common enemy: issues of social development such as poverty, education, employment and health care that beset both the countries. Governments of both countries should look beyond the bitterness inherited from the past, live in the present and plan for a better future. They should jointly combat terrorism in the region and promote trade and bilateral relations. Their mutual friendly relations can offer unlimited trade and development opportunities for the welfare of the masses in both states. Pakistan and India must bury the hatchet and usher in a new era of peace and development in the larger interests of their people. They must follow the example of countries like the US and Japan: how they put their enmity aside to carve out a new narrative of cooperation in areas of mutual interests. The closest example is the China-India trade relationship — two states both vying for regional hegemony yet benefiting from one another’s huge markets. Once Pakistan and India find common interests and create certain stakes, tension might ease, paving way for a better relationship. The SAARC summit is a great opportunity for Pakistan and India to become engaged in a positive manner, and initiate a process of talks to sort out issues. Talk they should, and talk they must.*