Daily Times

It is that time of the year again. Oh no, not this year. Not the seven-part miniseries like the one I wrote last year going over the nitty gritty of ‘independence’. It is said and done. The reality is the way it is. It is for everyone to face and accept. As pretty or ugly as it may be, it is what it is. Noteworthy however is that even after 66 years, we are still chasing our shadows, so to speak. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s campaign headlines about the friendly relations with the rather hostile and wary neighbour India, perhaps were just headlines. Observers like me felt relieved that the two Punjabi premiers, Mr Sharif and Dr Manmohan Singh, at least had their language and heritage in common. Ordinarily that is more than enough to break the toughest ice. But it sure seems like the couplets of Baba Bulley Shah or Waris Shah advocating peace, love and harmony, will remain unspoken between the two of them. I am afraid the recent escalation of tension at the infamous Line of Control shows two out of control neighbours engaging in lethal spats, acting like two juvenile protagonists quarrelling with inane and childish arguments accusing one another of instigation.

No, I have no desire to repeat what has been previously stated in this space about these two warring and seemingly disgruntled neighbours. It is beyond any logical comprehension. But what is to be done? Both countries have their respective segments of people who are extremists to the core. Those particular segments want nothing but the complete annihilation of the other to satisfy their sense of gratification. That is the real problem. There are hawks on both sides who have always tried to derail any development between the otherwise reasonable neighbours. The religious zealots and their equally bigoted sympathisers and followers on both ends promote and propagate the product of ‘hate’ and play with the psyche of their citizens. No wonder even a lot of educated, otherwise well informed people cannot see beyond their self-created and extremely illogical prism on both sides.

This scribe started his literary journey at a very popular South Asian website, which once promoted harmony between the two hostile neighbours through exchange of ideas and ‘unflinching idealism’. After serving the community for several years and bringing many gifted writers to the fore (of course, this scribe excluded from the tribe of the ‘gifted’!), it became defunct. The reason for its demise, very simply speaking, was the invasion of ‘indecent hawks’ who denigrated that forum, exchanging foul language with one another and remaining steadfast and unflinching with their nefarious agenda till the final day. The associations, the friendships, the bonds we built with one another over the course of many years are just fond memories.

If you apply this to real life and the strained relationship of the neighbours, you will find the same common denominator of these hawks in play here. Every time there is progress towards solidifying the level of confidence between the two countries, these hawks ensure that the impact of such measures is negative. No wonder it has been almost 15 years and there has been no significant breakthrough in the so-called ‘composite dialogue’ between the two countries. ‘Confidence building measures’ have been there, notwithstanding that the confidence erodes in a jiffy when it comes to this hyper fragile relationship.

Amidst all this juvenile blame game, it is still within the capacity of the two governments to seize this opportunity and have a face-to-face with one another. Enough of the so-called ‘back door diplomacy’ and the procrastination galore. Both premiers have to shun the voices of these unhealthy hawks and listen to their inner voices. The region that has been marred by wars, violence, confusion, chaos, animosity, doubts and disrespect deserves a new beginning at all cost. No issue is so big that it cannot be resolved by a dialogue. Both premiers must take charge on their respective sides as responsible leaders, because history is judging both of them through their words and their actions.

The action that is needed is an immediate halt to the skirmishes at the Line of Control. This cessation does not require a full-fledged summit or conference. It can be accomplished via direct talks. Both leaders ought to and must meet one another at the UN General Assembly session and then have a subsequent moot on their home turfs, New Delhi or Islamabad. The dialogue must be open, frank and real. The desire must be backed with real actions, the milestones attainable and the will to be unquestionable. As leaders, both of them have to redirect their respective countries’ resolve to overcome any and every barrier towards everlasting peace. The hawks on both ends must be dealt with with utmost care, as these irritants will never vanish completely. In the meantime, to both of these countries, a heartfelt greeting: Happy Independence Day. Our children deserve a better future, a future based on mutual admiration and respect.

The writer is a Pakistani-American mortgage banker. He blogs at http://dasghar.blogspot.com and can be reached at dasghar@aol.com He tweets at http://twitter.com/dasghar