Daily Times

As tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after the suicide attack in Pulwama, Kashmir, that killed more than 40 CRPF personnels, and as that incidence led up to a mini air combat, one of the most compelling conclusions to emerge was that peace between India and Pakistan would always be fragile without a just solution to the Kashmir issue. A single incident could throw the two nuclear armed nations into a warlike situation.

There is another approach to normalization of India-Pakistan relations as well. It is suggested that if we can find answers to relatively minor disagreements and strengthen the trade relationship with India, the friendlier atmosphere may pave the way to settling more complicated problems like Kashmir.

For a long time, I believed in the ‘step-up approach.’ I thought that Pakistanis and Indians had so much in common both in cultural values and social interactions, even though most of them do not share the same religion, that once they got to know each other better, they would put behind their ideological differences and stand up against violence in favour of a common, prosperous and peaceful future. I thought that those who insisted on a solution of the Kashmir problem first – I named it as a step-down approach – wanted to keep the two countries hostage to war or a warlike situation, giving the extreme elements in both the countries an easy victory, an open field to propagate hate and promote bigotry.

Over time, I have changed my mind. As good as the idea may seem on paper, I have come to believe that the model to attain durable peace through baby steps is not practical. Any terrorist can pulverise the accomplishments of years of diplomacy in a blink of an eye just as a large wave sweeps the sand castles on the shore within seconds. And as diplomacy gets threatened, people’s suffering multiplies, the biggest casualty of it being the bilateral cultural exchange: actors, singers, producers, directors.

Pakistanis took pride in working alongside Indian artists. They disregarded the hostility and rudeness shown by the latter

For the last few years, Pakistanis have noticed that the arrogance shown by the Indian media, including its film industry, has reached a disturbing level. It is as if by picking Pakistani actors or allowing the world-renowned Pakistani musicians to sing in their movies Indian producers somehow bestow a personal favour upon them. Consequently, the Bollywood casts Pakistanis artists off as soon as the political tension between India and Pakistan rises. The chauvinistic attitude started with the far-right in India and was on the fringes for a while but has now penetrated the mainstream.

To my disappointment, their reasoning in making such rash decisions is astoundingly absurd. Without going into details, let me just say that it is the kind of logic Osama bin Laden used when he justified the killing of innocent Americans in terrorist activities. Can we buy that argument? How can a Pakistani singer be responsible for what is happening in Balakot? If they are, should we then hold Indian actors accountable for the atrocities of Indian army in Srinagar? Should we ask the Kapoor family about the road blocks in the streets of Jammu, the attitude of officers towards Muslim youth?

Out of love and respect for their contributions to art and culture, Pakistanis have almost always ignored the unfriendly and hostile gestures coming from the other side of the border. They have never boycotted Bollywood on a national level. Actors, singers and comedians have always accepted invitations from India, with the approval of the people. Pakistanis, in fact, took pride in working alongside Indian artists and disregarded the hostility and rudeness of the latter.

The government may have banned movies to be played in cinemas, but the ordinary folks have continued to watch them at home, to dance to their tunes and making them an integral part of their festivities, be they weddings, birthday parties, graduation ceremonies or annual reunions.

After listening to debates on Indian television in February this year, I have concluded that it is time for Pakistanis to respond to Indians in the same language, the language of a complete and permanent boycott of their movie industry and everything related to it. So there must be no Indian songs played in Pakistan anywhere, no Indian movies, no exchange of Pakistani artists, and no recognition of Indian actors. It means that if people ask you if you have watched the latest Amitabh Bachchan movie, you should respond by saying: who is Amitabh Bachchan? and nothing more. If they inquire about Amir Khan you should ask: the boxer?

The writer is a freelancer