I think Pakistan might be willing to look past Indian terrorism and perhaps even pardon State Actors of India such as Kulboshan Yadav etc., if India were sincere in CBM's, peace and prosperity.
There is a roadblock, that is specific to this government, but has gradually begun to impress many others, including those opposed to this government. That roadblock is the continued supply of arms and explosives to those willing to cross the LOC and attack our people and our facilities.
Nobody will discuss matters at gunpoint.
It was an earlier BJP government that pushed the envelope to discuss matters extensively with their reciprocal decision-makers in Pakistan. This government, too, much though I loathe it, made a number of approaches to the authorities in Pakistan.
Two things.
You will notice that Indians always have a difficulty when conceptualising the decision makers in Pakistan. Should we address the soldiers, who seem to be taking all the decisions, and who have apparently declared the border and all matters related to the border to be their province?
Should we address the democratic apparatus, including the party or parties in position at the centre?
Should we address all together?
The second is that whether India made confidence building measures or not, the same dreary tale ensued.
Vajpayee, whatever my personal scepticism about him should be, got onto a bus and rode to Lahore to show his goodwill. Talks ensued; trains and buses were put in motion. That was rewarded by Kargil.
Later, Musharraf came to India. Talks went well. There was, however, a huge built-up reservoir of distrust due to one of Musharraf's own escapades, Kargil. Its effect on the Indian psyche should not be underestimated.
Manmohan Singh returned. He was rewarded due to a remark made in an unguarded moment, agreeing that all issues could be discussed. We were greeted with a clown-like enactment for the cameras of the press, when a senior diplomat pranced about, waving a folder. That was neither opened there nor was it the subject of a subsequent discussion. Let us agree with
@PDF that it was stuffed full of fascinating evidence. As far as we are concerned, after that near-Frisby session with that file, empty or full, we were told that Baloch dissidents had been seen comfortable and at large in Delhi, and that was a proof of collusion. That there could be no other explanation for Baloch outrages other than the active protection and nurturing of a hostile power. That was it.
So when mav3rick makes statements like the one above, it is not likely to have the slightest effect on Indian hearts and minds. Zero.
What is the prognosis?
We in India, in spite of having suffered a tyrannical regime, that has mishandled almost every single thing that it set its hands do, with one single, solitary exception, nevertheless recovered from both the body-blow inflicted by COVID and the derailment occasioned by demonetisation, and the Indian economy has recovered to the pre-2014 levels. We are likely to go further ahead; a record number of foreign investment offers and initiatives have taken place, there is no shortage of money, and the shrill yelps heard on other threads by individuals smarting from the abandonment of their country's position by major entities show the problem for what it is.
Suppose we swallow hard and brush off these bloody episodes? What will happen?
Should we not do so, then, point to the terrorism, not only inflicted by these sneak attacks, but state support displayed in broad daylight by the perpetrators walking around freely addressing crowds, without let or hindrance, defend ourselves as best as we have, and allow matters to progress.
What then?
