Daily Times

Both India and Pakistan have punished the people in one way or another after the bizarre move by New Delhi to scrap the provisions in the India constitution for the autonomy of India-held Kashmir. India has blacked out communication in the valley and imposed strict restrictions on people’s movements for over a week. Prime Minister Modi addressed the Indians to explain the so-called better side of the scrapping Article three-seventy. He said his initiative would lead to a flurry of development works in the region. He failed to explain why such development is not seen in areas already in Indian territorial jurisdiction or in those states which have been without special autonomous provisions. The news trickling out of the heavily-guarded streets of Srinagar and other areas suggest that the people are angry and once curfew is lifted, troops are to brace themselves for a shock reaction from the Kashmiris. Indians, who have so far assured their backing to the Modi government’s unilateral and draconian steps, will soon be gauging the severity of the reaction.

On the other hand, Pakistan cut off Samjhauta Express and Thar Express trains to India in protest. Side by side, the information ministry has announced snapping cultural links with India as well. Actions by either side of the border will only punish the people. Pakistan, which wants to resolve all bilateral disputes peacefully, should know that culture and people-to-people contacts encourage peaceful resolutions to disputes. Cutting off cultural links may not hurt any government but it will embolden hawks in both India and Pakistan, which could take matters from bad to worse. Similarly, trains were a cheap and efficient source of connecting divided families. The halt of the train services will also not harm any government’s kitty but people on both sides of the fence will suffer. This move by the Pakistan Railway Ministry is not going to benefit Pakistan. Of the trains suspended, Samjhauta Express used to start from Lahore and Thar Express from Karachi. The government has many options available to force the Modi government to undo the recent changes and come to the table to talk about outstanding issues. Of them, hurting people through suspension of transportation or cutting off cultural ties are not the best approaches. Hopefully, the trains will be back on track sooner rather than later. *