Daily Times

In 1947, India and Pakistan, as one country, together struggled for independence from the British rile. In 2016, the two countries should respect each other and value each other’s independence. Road to peace and cooperation starts from understanding self and others. One needs to judge oneself prior to judging others. There are always political and diplomatic tensions. Since bilateralism has failed, a third party intervention is necessary to address outstanding issues and disputes between Pakistan and India. Alternate approaches are necessary to build good neighbourly relations between Pakistan and India for the sake of peace and security in the region and welfare of the people on both sides of the border.

Cooperation and non-interference have to be the basic guiding principles for Pakistan and India to follow. Hegemonic attitude and approach would prove counterproductive and ultimately fatal. Continuous violations of the line of control, claims of surgical strikes, manipulation of SAARC, threatening behaviour and continuous blame game and labelling are not in any way helpful in making peace efforts successful. There is need for objectivity and to avoid gratuitous negativity that could be harmful and upsetting for both countries. The United Nations and the United States have a role to play to make peace in this region possible.

One of the problems faced by the Americans in pinning down a Pakistani paradigm of thought is due to the fact that there is a paucity of experts on Pakistan in the US administrations. Many of the so-called analysts were actually trained in India or Middle East; a few have ever visited Pakistan, and most cannot read and write Urdu. In the words of a US government official: “It is really difficult to find people who know anything about Pakistan in the government.” The late ambassador Hal Holbrook was too busy to attend every briefing. The lack of empathy with Pakistani state of mind and affairs has been superimposed by a very ‘American’ referential state of mind.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICT) has explained how the United States government has confused counterinsurgency activities and anti-terrorism initiatives with a war paradigm. This has been confused by the usage of terms such as the “war on terror” that not only obscure a legal basis for definition and subsequent contextualisation in terms of policy framework etc.

Majority of Pakistanis who continue to live a peaceful, mundane existence, consisting of mixture of progressiveness, conservatism and traditional religious values, which is not a concept easily understood by the western mind. The presence of bearded men or veiled women is not a sign of extremism in Pakistani society per se, which has to be understood by the US policy makers in its particular very ‘Pakistani’ socio-cultural context.

The US needs to act as a reliable partner in Pakistan’s development in its own interest; a neo-con style engagement after achieving a tactical victory and withdrawing as in the case of Afghanistan previously will only present another head of the Pakistani terrorism hydra in due course. The US needs to be perceived in Pakistan as a more reliable partner to instill some confidence in a waning air of US-Pakistan cooperation. There are signs of public empowerment in Pakistan, and American policy echelons cannot just ignore the people. Leadership has to look for options to move out of crises and get rid of terrorism and extremism.

Concrete steps are needed for peace. Both Pakistan and India must show the will to do it. India needs to stop pretending to be a superpower, enough is enough. We all have to contribute to regional and international peace. The world leaders have to lead the peace process to settle outstanding disputes to reduce tensions. Stop state terrorism. Recognise people’s right to self-determination. Respect human rights, ensure human dignity, put an end to politics of hate and deceit, stereotyping and labelling. The menace of terrorism has to be rooted out. Justice and peace are interrelated. The UN has a role to play; is the UN equipped to come equal to the task? Do leaders understand that prejudices and biases are roadblocks? Let us hope the UN would lead to fulfil aspirations of the people that look for justice and peace. Roadblocks have to be removed for a way forward.

The world needs a global culture that is embodiment of love. To reach for the sky together with humanity, shall we not seek bonds that bind hearts together? The question is what could effectively reduce political and diplomatic tensions where neighbours are enemy by circumstances and historical eventuality. The answer is consideration for others and empathy. In the international community you have to deal with the rest of the world that is much bigger than you. Every country/nation has its own interests, but they still have to work together with a sense of accommodation and harmony. Managing diversity is vital for leaders.

India needs to give up its habitual tricks and tracks and build good neighbourly relations with Pakistan for sake of peace and security and welfare of the people. It must work for regional peace, solve its own problems and stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs. That is the best prescription for reducing political and diplomatic tensions.

The writer is a former director of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author