Hello Jungibaaz.
You are exceptionally well learned and informed.
I have come across many Pakistani people in different parts of the world including China, Europe and America. The ones I met in China seemed to mostly come from the lower rugs of the society, simple people who are just looking for better opportunities in life. I also came across many Indians who are from similar backgrounds and adopted a similar lifestyle. China of course - is not the foreign land any of us aspire to live in. The younger ones in Europe and America, up to their late 20s were not so different from any other South East Asian immigrant nationality. We seem to have a lot more in common than we care to acknowledge. I didn't feel any different interacting with young Pakistanis, especially 2nd or 3rd gen immigrants.
The elder ones who are well established, patriotic Pakistanis also seemed to have no issues getting along. We have much more in common than we realize. The last elderly person I remember from US, was an Indian/Pakistani restaurant owner near Niagara falls. He was a die hard patriotic lover of Pakistan who wanted to come back but he was very disappointed due to the political and economic turmoil in the country. He was mentioning some news of Imran Khan allowing people to beat up corrupt govt employees or something like that. The point I am trying to make is that - distrust and enmity have no basis to be in the civilian populations of either nations. We need not identify with the official narratives of our respective agencies at play.
Just knowing you gives me hope that one day our nations might be on friendlier terms. On a personal basis, as you might have inferred, I have no reason to have any ill will towards any Pakistani. In fact, leaving the bitter history aside I see no reason why we cannot be on friendly terms and I see no significant benefit or loss on either side from having or not having the other side of Kashmir. If it were up to me I'd even let Kashmiris choose to have their own nation or whatever they like but things are much more complicated than that and the LOC becoming border is really the best chance we have of resolving the dispute peacefully. Everyone knows Kashmir would only be a start - Delhi is the (far fetched) dream?
The arms buildup and preparation for war on either side is completely stupid. It serves India only to prepare it for a greater, eventual threat against containing China, but on the western side we have already tried and concluded that skirmishes are not going to bring much change in the status quo and a true war will cost both sides significantly more than any outcome. Inevitably, this behaviour has us going into a never ending arms race that is like a never-ending game of chess - except it costs a lot more and nobody is going to win. The only beneficiaries are politicians, crooked military men and the arms producers who supply the market.
I absolutely admit that you are much better informed about Pakistani politics than I am. To me, the big issue seems to be that the establishment has completely lost control of the economy and Pakistan can simply not afford to continue like this. Lack of development or opportunities will only corrupt the minds of youth and the mullahs will only make it worse with their pills of hatred.
So - I wonder if you have contemplated possible outcomes of our greater narrative? The fact that you are still here and trying to make your stand tells me you have not abandoned hope. You are very brave and I respect you for it. Its a pleasing change from all the vile insults and hatred that I usually experience here.
I only wish that the more educated Pakistanis, especially who have the privilege to monitor these forums would be less easily swayed into placing such high faith in the military establishment to let them undemocratically dictate the course of the entire nation without doubting their intentions or evaluating the past.
Thanks again for your kind comments, they are much appreciated and also undeserved I feel. My own experiences opened my eyes a little bit allowed me some introspection to arrive at the facts that help facilitate this discourse, but the intent was always there. In simple terms, everyone wants peace and betterment, I feel like I've been luckier than the average Pakistani because of my own personal exposure that has allowed me to see certain truths. Not too long ago, I held the same beliefs in the army, establishment, and our history (especially conflicts with India) that most other Pakistanis hold.
So this is why I don't judge them for not knowing better on certain matters. To give you a grounded example, I know the story of the Kargil war, a war we started and lost, and I know what it cost us militarily and diplomatically. I'm also aware of the distrust it sowed between India and Pakistan, and that since then avenues of a negotiated peace settlement have quickly closed, the last we had anything tangible was Musharraf and Vajpayee around the Agra summit. But the average citizens has been taught that there was nothing morally wrong with instigating the Kargil conflict (debatable given that Siachen preceded), they also believe that somehow we didn't lose it, and they are certainly not informed of the cost to Pakistan or the Kashmir cause.
On the latter, I would say that this is still something that needs to be dealt with as a priority issue, unfortunately now, the tables have turned. India and Indian leadership show no appetite whatsoever to talk with Pakistan, I think this policy also results from them not viewing us equals worthy of talking with, and them viewing Pakistani civilian leaders as pawns and not worthy peers, I also believe India's internal politics have shifted to accommodate a more frosty relationship. Meanwhile on our side, you have rightly pointed out the circumstances, even the army has recognised them now, we can't match India tit for tat, we also face no existential threat from India anymore (none that can't be managed by maintaining MAD), and so now in Pakistan there is an across the spectrum will to negotiate and talk with India, including a direct effort from the military too. It's sad that this state of affairs now exists and I don't see any solution in the in the medium-term.
On the rest of your post, I broadly agree on the facts, and having met plenty of Indians being where I am, I especially agree and echo your sentiments. Kudos.
