The tale of India-Pakistan is a never-ending one of two siblings separated at birth. They never regained self-sufficiency from the division. Nevertheless, it isn’t a story has happy ending anywhere in the near future at least. It is sad to see the nations that were once a part of a larger subcontinent are now pitted against each other. We don’t know how badly these failed NSA-level talks are portraying us in the international sphere. But, it is really bad for the domestic situation within respective nations. Both the countries do connect on various levels when it comes to cricket matches and Bollywood movies like Bajrangi Bhaijaan portray a very positive picture. It makes us rather proud and desire peace. Alas, the people in power do not think on similar lines as the citizens on both sides do.
This peace-talk failure has grabbed international attention and this week’s Buzzing Blogosphere has touched upon this issue as well, with valuable inputs from Indian Bloggers.
How do we even begin to explain Indo-Pak relations? Chinmay Dandekar has defined it quite well, “If one has to give an example of a Live Existing See-Saw between diplomacy and foreign policy anywhere in the world, it has to be the ties between India and Pakistan.”
The talks initiated by Indo-Pak have now come to a standstill. This was because India opened up doors for discussing terrorism after which Pakistan has completely closed doors for any meeting on common ground. Chinmay further says, “India played it a little safe this time initially, but later with the Drama reaching its Climax and The Minister of External Affairs stating that talks will only be held on Terrorism, vacillations on throughout the day, with the Separatist leader detained at Delhi Airport and finally culminating into the Calling off of Talks by Pakistan, an Unfortunate Comma or Perhaps a full stop for quite some time to come.”
While Sartaj Aziz, National Security and Foreign Affairs adviser, is to visit India here’s what we must look forward to,“Sartaj Aziz brings to New Delhi a newfound Pakistani confidence, stemming from its leverage in Afghanistan. This extends to the Taliban, other armed radical groups like the Haqqani Network and is also acknowledged by Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani.” says Ajai Shukla
Sartaj Aziz has responded to the Indian government by stating that Pakistan will speak about Kashmir if India decides to bring terrorism on the table. Thereby bringing the ‘K’ word into the picture. He has also reminded that Pakistan is a nuclear power and therefore, Modi’s India need not mistaken itself to be the regional super-power.
As soon as the ‘K’ word was brought up, Hurriyat was sought after. India felt the pressure when Aziz decided to meet them (Hurriyat) before meeting our foreign ministry. Why do both the countries look at Hurriyat differently? Santosh says, ”The problem with Pakistan’s political leadership is – it cannot say no even to Hurriyat leadership – we all remember the serious note taken by Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif didn’t meet them during his India visit last year or when Ufa statement didn’t mention Kashmir this year. Hurriyat has no significance for India. Jammu and Kashmir has elected government and people’s participation, over the years, in the electoral process, has increased quite impressively, in spite of the continued run of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, trying to incite separatist voices.”
Since they raised the Kashmir issue we must hear the Kashmiri side of this as well, where Dr. Shabir Choudhry has said, “Both sides accuse each other for starting the gun fire, but as far as we people of Jammu and Kashmir are concerned bombs of both India and Pakistan kill us, intimidate us and destroy our houses and crops. We request both countries to stop this unnecessary fighting over Kashmir; and let people of Jammu and Kashmir live normal life until they get their unfettered right of self-determination.”
In the end, it is the citizens of respective countries that suffer. Cifar Shayar says, “The common people of both the countries are becoming puppets of each other’s political conditions. The recent Indian government which have no clearly defined status on Pakistan have worsened the situation to a point that threat of war is looming in the country. This doesn’t mean Pakistan is keen in resolving all issues, their internal problems and out of control terrorists are hanging like an Albatross around their neck.”
Therefore he recommends, “The governments of both the nations must talk on all issues including cross-border terrorism and Kashmir. The conversations without these issues would not bring any good to them.”
Kishore has deciphered this failure in a very concise manner, “In the final analysis, this whole drama until the last moment of the “botched up” NSA level talks, is more of a failure by Pakistani establishment right from the word go, when they could not follow on what was agreed, rather than a foreign policy failure by India. Those who themselves claim they are the victims of terror should not support elements that promote use of terror to destabilise peace in the region, if they are indeed serious about what they agreed to do.”
For us, we’ll wonder if this visit will resolve the elimination of talks. We can’t say much, but if the talks would have continued, it seems that they would have benefited our neighbor more. Here’s what Sanjay thinks on how the Indian media is missing the whole point, “Talks between India and Pakistan would have been a big reward to Pakistan. India loses nothing if the talks are called off. The US, Afghanistan, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Central Asia are all tilting against Pakistan and therefore, India has no reason to reward Pakistan with talks at this point.”
This meeting was most awaited as it touches widely on topics that concern us. Whims and Esprit has stated this clearly, “The NSA-level talks were being looked forward to by the millions of Indians who are rightfully seeking answers and explanations towards the relentless attacks by Pakistani militants and army on the country’s civilians, besides security forces. But now Pakistan turns its back on the Ufa commitment between the two countries’ respective Prime Ministers to make terrorism the agenda of the impending discussion.”
“The fate of NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan remains uncertain.” says Krispy India
Tell us your thoughts on NSA-level talks between two nations down here in comments.
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I don’t see the NSA-level talk i.e. called of as a failure from an Indian point of view. Because it was on expected line. Without “K-Rant” Pakistan can never afford to have any talk with India. But India made it clear “either talk on Terrorism or No talk at all”
The three most important take away from the NSA-talk called off
First of all we must know that it’s official by now that Pakistan is a failed state. It is said that Every Country has an Army but in case of Pakistan “it is the Pakistan Army” that has a country and the democratically chosen government in Pakistan is just a toothless one.
Kashmir is an USP for Pakistan Army. So they could never afford that issue to die. Sustaining the Kashmir problem is very important for the Pakistani Army. Once the problem is solved, Pakistani Army will lose its relevance in Pakistan. But even UN has discarded Kashmir as “Disputed land” from its list. So Kashmir is no more a disputed land.
The takeaways are
“Kashmir” rhetoric has been successfully replaced by “terrorism” now. Any future talk between “India and Pakistan” will be pre-conditioned to Terrorism which will be endorsed by global communities as well and not “Kashmir”.
Pakistan is already cornered in international arena.
With Terrorism as the “subject” of talk…Pakistan will be in Blackfoot as there are already strong evidences of its sinister activities on terrorism.
Pakistan has been over exposed now. it seems even the Pakistan Army will make its government a “Frequently crying baby” in front of the world in coming days
I see it as to some extent “success” of Pakistan policy on part of India Government at the centre. It’s right on track…so far!!