Sanaullah Ranjay, the Pakistani prisoner brutally attacked in a Jammu and Kashmir jail, died in a hospital in Chandigarh after remaining comatose for almost a week. This brings into play the very unfortunate phenomenon of tit-for-tat politics between the two neigbours, Pakistan and India. The hyper-nationalistic narrative permeating certain political and establishment forces in both countries seems to thrive on any opportunity that serves as an impediment in the way of establishment of if not friendship at least an atmosphere of civilised cordiality, which would be a boost for a long-term workable relationship. After the ruthless killing of Sarabjit Singh in a jail in Lahore, and the outpouring of rage and grief in India, the security of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails should have been the first step of the Indian authorities to ensure no untoward incident took place in the wake of tit-for-tat demands of certain media and political quarters in India. The need to initiate a dialogue to devise a durable plan that would help to guarantee the protection of each other’s prisoners in hostile jails in the two countries has never been greater. Exchange of prisoners locked up on trumped-up or in some cases no charges must be initiated on priority basis. Moreover, highlighting the moderate voices of in the societal, political and media spectrum, downplaying the underlying sentiments of mistrust, suspicion and hatred is of utmost importance at a time when troublemakers — non-state actors — will not let go of any chance to disfigure the already murky situation. The Indian government’s ‘advice’ to Pakistanis planning to visit the shrine in Ajmer Sharif seems to be a disguised instruction to the people of Pakistan: stay away from India at the moment, or we will not be responsible for your safety. The implications of such kneejerk responses will serve as further deterrents in the process of thawing of icy-cold vibes between Pakistan and India, where the majority of the people wish for an end to hostility between the two neighbours. The Indian government — in the same way that the Pakistanigovernment provides a safe pilgrimage to Sikhs — should display a willingness to ensure security to Pakistanis on their spiritual visits to India, where a number of the tombs of Muslim Sufis and saints are situated. Instead of adding more jingoistic overtones to alienate Pakistan and India further, the present unfortunate series of events needs restrained, measured and empathetic gestures of reconciliation. That would be the most fitting tribute to the cruel end of two men — Saanullah Ranjay and Sarabjit Singh — who did not deserve to die the way they did, notwithstanding the charges on which they were convicted. *