INDO PAKISTAN RELATION
Rahul Arun on Indo-Pak Relations
Indo-Pak relations have got exacerbated because of several non-territorial factors. For example, the Pakistani foreign policy remains hamstrung by the constraints of its domestic politics ... A majority of people on both sides of the border remain captive to the historically circulated stereotypes of animosities, misinformation and distrust. Given the ethno-religious overlap in the two societies, the domestic disaffection easily feed on to the mutual hostility perceptions of the two states.
To cap (it), the 'hidden-hand theory' also plays an important role in worsening the situation. In short, Indo-Pakistan conflict offers a typical instance of an artificially created people-to-people conflict in addition to state-to-state conflict.
So there is a crying need for non-state actors to throw-in their lot to transform their own relationships and go beyond state-centric paradigms. The public peace process would involve in addition to the official diplomats’ a motley-group of academics, human rights groups, media groups cultural groups and even theologians to create what Saunders called as the "pre-negotiation stage".
Some remarkable initiatives have been taken by the interested outside parties and peoples groups. Most notable of these has been the NEEMRANA initiative which has brought together an eminent group of Indian and Pakistani citizens on an ongoing dialogue.
Another such initiative is known as "Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) which has held a number of meetings involving hundreds of people from the two countries.
The latest gesture by a similar group led by Nikhil Chakravarty and others at the Wagah border on August15, to make another 'tryst with destiny' though unsuccessful but was a milestone in the direction of people to people efforts to improve our relations.
The proceedings of the 3rd convention of (PIPFPD), held at Calcutta on December 26, also augur well for improvement of Indo-Pak relations through Track-II diplomacy.
People to people contact is a long-term process which entails identification of people and institutions with a will to transform the societal relationship from within.
Also critical, in this process are workshops and training in the domain of political psychology of conflict resolution in divided societies which would go a long way in blunting the edge of prejudice which masquerades as patriotism. Surely no ready and overnight solutions are expected but each step is important.
R.C. Acharya
On Indo-Pakistan Economic Integration Loving one's neighbour can sometimes be an excruciatingly difficult task, especially when both are struggling to climb up the social ladder. Even before the Partition, seeds of discord between India and Pakistan had been sown and the last 50 years saw both the nation sat each other's throats at regular intervals till Indira Gandhi, the indomitable Iron lady of India, engineered a brilliant coup, with Bangladesh emerging as a new nation. However, the main bone of contention viz. Kashmir continues to be trotted out by Pakistan whenever India has extended a friendly hand!
Operation Fortress Europe has been a major exercise on an unprecedented scale in long term diplomacy. For 15 nations with totally different languages and cultures to come together purely for economic survival speaks volumes of the political leadership of the state involved.
Undoubtedly hawks, both in India and Pakistan, ably abetted by international arms dealers, who are in turn supported by the media would be busy fanning flames of hatred and keep the two nations continuously suspicious on each other's intentions. Jingoism would take considerable time to die, and it would require statesmanship of the highest order and a pragmatic approach for achieving a closer alliance with Pakistan.
In the process, expenditure on defence could be slashed by both, saving precious foreign exchange on armaments and weapons whose beneficiaries are mainly the Western nations including, of course, Europe.
While a popularly elected Government in power in Kashmir, and its Chief Executive - Farooq Abdullah strongly advocating acceptance of the Line of Control as the final boundary with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a major stumbling block could perhaps now be removed enabling the two nations with a common language and cultural heritage to make rapid strides towards economic and industrial development. Fortunately, with the landslide victory of Nawaz Sharif, who has one more than one occasion expressed his desire to develop strong ties with India, the time is perhaps ripe for a major diplomatic initiative being taken, this time may be by Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda himself!
Government Statement On Trade with Pakistan
Country Year Export Import Total
Pakistan 1993-94 200.66 136.48 337.14
1994-95 179.71 165.61 345.32
1995-96 256.80 150.80 407.60
