The recent Ufa Summit in Russia where the long-awaited meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India took place is one of the hot topics in the print and electronic media as analysts are trying to grasp its outcome in the shape of the joint declaration issued at the end by the two foreign secretaries. Usually, such statements are issued after every meeting between heads of state to brief the media about the content of the meeting and are usually in very formal language, mainly characterised by diplomatic norms. In-depth analysis is being done by analysts and critics to find out the success or failure of the two leaders in presenting the viewpoints of the two nations. However, it will not be appropriate to fix any success as a one off moment because it needs to be analysed in the overall context.
Ever since the Modi government took over, nothing great was expected as far as relations between the two countries were concerned. Although the present government of Nawaz Sharif is known for its friendly posture towards its immediate neighbour, with the passage of time the government has come under pressure from opposition parties, hardliners and the security establishment to shun its soft stance given the hostile statements given by the Indian government and reports about RAW’s alleged involvement in this country. The recent report by the BBC, which alleged Indian involvement in Karachi through the sponsoring of one of our political parties has created another new dimensions to the complexity of the situation. Informed sources are of the view that proof of such Indian involvement has been given to neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa in recent trips by the army chief. On the other hand, the Indian government is keeping a close eye on the worsening situation in Kashmir where the freedom struggle has taken on a new momentum again, creating new hurdles for the Modi-led hardline government.
Recent statements by Indian ministers of sponsoring non-state actors in Pakistan did not help the cause of relations between the two countries, which actually started to worsen after the indiscriminate firing at the Line of Control (LoC) when Operation Zarb-e-Azb was in progress as military sources termed it an attempt to divert its attention to weaken the focus on combating terrorism. When Modi visited Bangladesh recently, his aggressive posture and anti-Pakistan speech where Indian involvement in the fall of Dhaka was indirectly admitted and also affirmed by the pro-Indian Bangladeshi government, further pressure was mounted on the Pakistani government to pay the Indian government in the same coin, later vindicated by some strong worded official statements issued by our foreign office. The Ufa meeting took place in the backdrop of Pakistan’s preparations to take the matter of Indian involvement in supporting terrorism to the UN. Dr Maliha Lodhi, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, was called in to decide the modus operandi in this regard. This situation could definitely embarrass India in front of the world and at the same time could serve as a big blow to its efforts of becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council. That is why, according to many analysts, the Indian PM took the initiative to invite Pakistan for this meeting.
Since Indian authorities have been on the back foot ever since the BBC report that vindicated the Pakistani stance through a credible international news agency, the Pakistani PM has been on edge to use his position to denounce the Indian position and at least include the Kashmir issue as a main bone of contention between the two nuclear powers. Many security experts are now of the view that the PM has wasted an ideal opportunity and has also disappointed the security establishment according to informed sources. Many critics in the media are also questioning the ‘stubborn’ gesture of the Indian PM before the meeting as he hardly took two steps forward to receive Mr Nawaz Sharif, who had to walk all the way to greet him. Some experts are of the view that this is reflective of the Indian stubborn attitude. Many experts have opined that the peace talks are a need of India as well and our desire should not be construed as our weakness to engage in a dialogue. On the other hand, the Kashmiri leadership has also expressed its disappointment over the joint declaration as it includes the Mumbai attack investigation but not the core issue between the two countries, which is Kashmir.
Although the PM has rejected the Indian objection over the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as even confirmed by the Indian media, the criticism by opposition parties and also by many independent analysts does carry some weight here. Although the information minister and advisor for foreign affairs are defending the government’s stance in this regard, much more needs to be done to present Pakistan’s viewpoint more empathically in the coming months, especially in the UN General Assembly session where the PM will get another opportunity to address the world to present the country’s case in the war against terror.
The writer is a freelance columnist