harpoon
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But why is Pakistan so suddenly keen on peace with India?
“We’re willing to do business with India with a new mindset to move forward, rather than stating our known positions.”Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Minister, Pakistan
Of a number of reasons for this, one is obviously the strained relation between Pakistan and the US. Surveys in Pakistan show that the US has now replaced India as “enemy number one”. The continued drone attacks within Pakistani territory, resulting in death of Pakistani soldiers and civilians, have made the US anathema with the populace. This has forced parliament to stop (and now, review) US and NATO supplies for Afghanistan through Pakistani territory. But the Pakistani army is also engaged in an ongoing battle with extremist groups with close connections with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, like the Taliban-e-Tehreek Pakistan (TTP). A visit to the picturesque Swat Valley indicates the extent of the threat the army faces from these groups. The area was freed from TTP control after years of fighting. Today Swat is a success story for the army but any attempt by it to leave the place is followed by fervent pleas from scared locals, asking it not to go. The army is wary of spreading itself thin, and that could be one reason why it has not launched an attack on the TTP stronghold along the ****** border. But it knows the western front well—the border is not likely to settle down in a hurry; it could get much worse after 2014, when the US and NATO troops finally start withdrawing from Afghanistan. Prepared for a long haul there, it wants its eastern border with India to remain “cold” or peaceful.
Added to these strategic and military concerns of the state is the poor condition of the Pakistani economy—it has grown only by 2 per cent in recent years. With a large, youthful population—an estimated 55 per cent Pakistanis are below 25, large numbers of whom are unemployed, and some with little or no education—the government faces a huge challenge. It gets tougher with the knowledge that Pakistani society is gradually being radicalised, with extremist elements preaching a brand of Islam that keeps the nation from transforming into a modern democracy. “One can be targeted even for making a remark which is benign,” says Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan.
This combination of circumstances has forced Pakistan to look for peace with India. Pakistani leaders acknowledge that since most outstanding issues between the two sides are difficult to resolve in a hurry, trade offers an ideal neutral terrain for cooperation and reducing tension. This can help reduce the “trust deficit” and allow the two sides to de-emotionalise the intractable issues.
“The issue of Hafiz Saeed has moved beyond India and Pakistan. The US is involved...India should share evidence with us.”Rehman Malik, Interior Minister, Pakistan
“But many still see India as a large country with a small heart,” says PML(Q) leader Mushahid Hussain. He feels that as the larger country India should take the initiative and be generous in accommodating some of Pakistan’s grievances. Though he mentions Kashmir as something that needs to be tackled, he feels an agreement on mutual withdrawal of troops from Siachen is achievable.
However, former Pakistani high commissioner to India Ashraf J. Qazi sees that as a wrong starting point to engage with India. “We need to turn a new leaf in our relations. Let us look at areas on which we agree to cooperate with each other before taking up the more difficult ones.”
But what about issues like terrorism or extremist elements like Hafiz Saeed, who India claims was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks?
“The issue of Hafiz Saeed has moved beyond India and Pakistan. The US is involved now,” Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik told the Indian media. He pointed out that the US has better investigating skills than either India or Pakistan. But when asked by Pakistan, the US has admitted it does not have any hard evidence against Saeed on terror charges. “If America doesn’t have any evidence and as India claims to have evidence, it should be shared with us,” Malik added, putting the onus squarely on India.
Policy planners in New Delhi might be happy with the loud and clear message of peace coming out of Pakistan. Even if it lasts for a few years, both India and Pakistan can do with a respite from some insurmountably divisive issues that have plagued relations. This time, the gains might be for keeps.
Full Article:http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280706
Pakistani internet warriors here may disagree and consider India as their eternal enemy but it seems there is an effort from Pak Govt for peace with India.
“We’re willing to do business with India with a new mindset to move forward, rather than stating our known positions.”Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Minister, Pakistan
Of a number of reasons for this, one is obviously the strained relation between Pakistan and the US. Surveys in Pakistan show that the US has now replaced India as “enemy number one”. The continued drone attacks within Pakistani territory, resulting in death of Pakistani soldiers and civilians, have made the US anathema with the populace. This has forced parliament to stop (and now, review) US and NATO supplies for Afghanistan through Pakistani territory. But the Pakistani army is also engaged in an ongoing battle with extremist groups with close connections with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, like the Taliban-e-Tehreek Pakistan (TTP). A visit to the picturesque Swat Valley indicates the extent of the threat the army faces from these groups. The area was freed from TTP control after years of fighting. Today Swat is a success story for the army but any attempt by it to leave the place is followed by fervent pleas from scared locals, asking it not to go. The army is wary of spreading itself thin, and that could be one reason why it has not launched an attack on the TTP stronghold along the ****** border. But it knows the western front well—the border is not likely to settle down in a hurry; it could get much worse after 2014, when the US and NATO troops finally start withdrawing from Afghanistan. Prepared for a long haul there, it wants its eastern border with India to remain “cold” or peaceful.
Added to these strategic and military concerns of the state is the poor condition of the Pakistani economy—it has grown only by 2 per cent in recent years. With a large, youthful population—an estimated 55 per cent Pakistanis are below 25, large numbers of whom are unemployed, and some with little or no education—the government faces a huge challenge. It gets tougher with the knowledge that Pakistani society is gradually being radicalised, with extremist elements preaching a brand of Islam that keeps the nation from transforming into a modern democracy. “One can be targeted even for making a remark which is benign,” says Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan.
This combination of circumstances has forced Pakistan to look for peace with India. Pakistani leaders acknowledge that since most outstanding issues between the two sides are difficult to resolve in a hurry, trade offers an ideal neutral terrain for cooperation and reducing tension. This can help reduce the “trust deficit” and allow the two sides to de-emotionalise the intractable issues.
“The issue of Hafiz Saeed has moved beyond India and Pakistan. The US is involved...India should share evidence with us.”Rehman Malik, Interior Minister, Pakistan
“But many still see India as a large country with a small heart,” says PML(Q) leader Mushahid Hussain. He feels that as the larger country India should take the initiative and be generous in accommodating some of Pakistan’s grievances. Though he mentions Kashmir as something that needs to be tackled, he feels an agreement on mutual withdrawal of troops from Siachen is achievable.
However, former Pakistani high commissioner to India Ashraf J. Qazi sees that as a wrong starting point to engage with India. “We need to turn a new leaf in our relations. Let us look at areas on which we agree to cooperate with each other before taking up the more difficult ones.”
But what about issues like terrorism or extremist elements like Hafiz Saeed, who India claims was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks?
“The issue of Hafiz Saeed has moved beyond India and Pakistan. The US is involved now,” Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik told the Indian media. He pointed out that the US has better investigating skills than either India or Pakistan. But when asked by Pakistan, the US has admitted it does not have any hard evidence against Saeed on terror charges. “If America doesn’t have any evidence and as India claims to have evidence, it should be shared with us,” Malik added, putting the onus squarely on India.
Policy planners in New Delhi might be happy with the loud and clear message of peace coming out of Pakistan. Even if it lasts for a few years, both India and Pakistan can do with a respite from some insurmountably divisive issues that have plagued relations. This time, the gains might be for keeps.
Full Article:http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?280706
Pakistani internet warriors here may disagree and consider India as their eternal enemy but it seems there is an effort from Pak Govt for peace with India.
