Daily Times

Last Sunday, I wrote about an upbeat mood pervading Pakistan with regard to peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan. I had suggested that Lahore qualified uniquely to symbolise the spirit of peace and solidarity between the two countries because demands for a free India and Pakistan were raised in this great historical city — on December 19, 1929 by the Indian National Congress and on March 23, 1940, by the All-India Muslim League. The realisation of such conflicting national projects was painful and bloody. Now is the time to take a long, philosophical look at those troubled times, accept the verdict of history and move forward. So, what are the challenges and opportunities on the way?

The first and foremost challenge is that of demonising and dehumanising of the ‘Other’. The ‘Other’ is the Hindu for Pakistan and Muslim for India. Such a mindset is a prerequisite for justifying discrimination, persecution, violence and war against the ‘Other’. I know in Pakistan a powerful constituency comprising right-wing politicians, parties and journalists, military hawks and terrorist organisations exists whose only mission is to thwart all efforts to extend a friendly hand towards India; in India there is no dearth of similar characters, but on the whole the constituency in Pakistan is far more influential.

The second challenge is systemic. The bureaucracies on both sides, especially the ones entrenched in the foreign office, follow set routines and patterns. For 64 years they have been trained to be suspicious, restrictive and prohibitive when treating visa applications from the other side. As a result, very little real contact exists between Indians and Pakistan. After the Mumbai terrorist attacks and especially after it was found that Pakistani-origin US citizen Daood-David Coleman Headley had abused his multiple entry visa to India, the Indian bureaucracy has had a whale of a time in establishing a visa regime that thrives in treating all Pakistanis with equal suspicion. Only an Indian national can tell us if it is as bad at the Pakistani end.

The third challenge is posed by external spoilers. In the so-called anti-imperialist rhetoric that the leftist intellectuals are famous for mouthing, it is typical to assume a US conspiracy by default that never lets these two countries normalise their relations because if that were to happen its own influence would wane. That might have been true during the Cold War, but for quite some time now the Americans have been engaged in helping these two neighbours sort out their differences. So, it is time to look for other possible villains of the piece. China possibly can be considered for such a role but it will all depend on the equation that will evolve between India and China. There are some indications that both these Asian giants may prioritise economic growth and mutual trade may be an important component of it. Therefore, it is important that Pakistan learns to take care of its own interests.

More specifically, the challenge posed by extremism and terrorism by hardcore religious fanatics is the biggest challenge we face. There is no denying that for jihadist organisations, banned formally but not dismantled, keeping India and Pakistan at loggerheads is their bread and butter. In India as well, Saffron terrorists have been identified a number of times, most notably in the attack on the Samjhauta Express in 2007. Then of course the Shiv Sena is always there to remind us that a fascist mindset is entrenched in Maharashtra and particularly Mumbai.

For Pakistan, a real challenge can be open and free trade with India. I have heard genuine concerns being aired by manufacturers and factory-owners that India can flood our markets with cheap goods. I told them that China has already done that in a big way, so perhaps Indian products can help to diversify such a challenge and it may not be a bad thing if we can use it for the benefit of our consumers.

Then there are the challenges of the deeper structural and environmental type that both India and Pakistan face, but which can only be dealt with effectively if they work together. The increasing gap between poor and rich, environmental degradation, sinking water levels, unbridled population growth — all pose immediate and long-term challenges that cannot be ignored and need attention right now.

However, 2011 is also a year of opportunities for both nations. Pakistan can miss a golden opportunity if we do not jump onto the bandwagon of economic growth that originated in East Asia, then moved towards Southeast Asia and then continued westwards to India. Bangladesh very wisely decided to hitch its future to it and is reaping impressive benefits. Pakistan becomes the automatic candidate to be on this fast-moving bandwagon of economic growth and development. A vast market exists that extends from Afghanistan into Central Asia for Indian and Pakistani goods.

If India and Pakistan can establish a trade regime that ensures mutual benefit, the dividends can be enormous. Bangladesh and India have recently agreed to establish joint industrial ventures, most notably in the jute industry. Similar enterprises can be established between India and Pakistan, which ensure a fair share to Pakistan.

The fact that South Asia has been a British colony has not been so bad, if I dare say so. We have large numbers of professionals, educationists and technocrats who, because of their ability to function in the English language, can find jobs and opportunities in Afghanistan and Central Asia as they connect with the global economy. Even our unskilled workforce can be of interest in such markets.

And above all, after a very long time if not for the first time, the power elites on both sides are talking peace and taking necessary measures to evolve friendly visa and trade regimes. When nations seize the historical moment they reap great benefits. Fear, hatred, terrorism, war — all have been tried and the results are there to see and feel. Western Europe decided to outlaw war amongst themselves, but only after two terrible World Wars that cost more than 90 million lives. We need not commit the same error. Let us instead follow our own sages, sufis, gurus and secular humanists who down the ages have bequeathed the wisdom about a common but wounded humanity. That is the great beauty of this region.

The writer is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Stockholm University. He is also Honorary Senior Fellow of the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. He can be reached at billumian@gmail.com