There are multiple occasions in the upcoming weeks where Pakistan and India foreign ministers or prime ministers can likely meet. But the question is, will such a meeting take place?
Over the past few months, the statements issued by the Pakistani side indicate that Islamabad is serious about pursuing peace in the region. In Feb this year, an unusual statement from Pakistan’s army chief made headlines, wherein he talked about mending ties with India.
Days after the remarks by the army chief, a joint statement by India and Pakistan called for reaffirmation of the ceasefire understanding of 2003 at the Line of Control.
This reaffirmation was followed by another statement by Gen Bajwa, who urged India to bury the past and move on in a bid to achieve a peaceful neighbourhood.
These developments came in the wake of media reports, mostly source-based, that Pakistan and India talking about peace. They said Pakistan was showing commitments on its part being fulfilled and it was acting against terror outfits in the country.
Amid these talks, reports emerged that Pakistan and India backdoor talks were being facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. This reflected Pakistan’s decades-old wish to make the region peaceful and end hostilities with its eastern neighbour. Mostly, Pakistan was the first to extend the olive branch to India.
A glance at the Indo-Pakistan history would be enough to understand that meaningful moves for dialogue came during the military rule in Pakistan. In 1965, military dictator Gen Ayub Khan sent his minister as a guest to India’s Republic Day celebrations. In 1986, military dictator General Ziaul Haq visited India at the invitation of Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi.
During the time of Gen Pervez Musharraf, a military dictator who ruled Pakistan for almost a decade, Islamabad and New Delhi came to the closest to solve the long-standing dispute of Kashmir.
Pakistani military leadership time and time again supported an environment of friendship, rejecting a common perception that the army generals are eager for hostilities. As history has it, Gen Bajwa is following in the same footsteps where he has about 18 months left as the COAS and has a legacy to leave behind.
If history’s to be taken as a lesson, then since 1948 to date, Pakistan and India have had a total of 114 bilaterals, 52 among these were held during 2003 to 2007 when Pakistan was being ruled by military dictators. This talk by Gen Bajwa of extended cooperation and linkages, can be seen in the same context of leaving behind a legacy.
The dialogue is happening at the military level as per daily DAWN which cited high-level military sources in its report and the same was confirmed by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a TV interview. Qureshi also referred to Siachen and Sir Creek conflicts as “low hanging fruits” and said that if the ongoing intelligence level talks put these low hanging fruits off the table, it will be welcomed.
Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership both have had a drastic change in their tone. From maintaining reversal of all actions to sticking to the point of reversal of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir status, all of this serves as an indicator that things are potentially moving forward; to what extent, only time can tell.
That is subject to movement on the sticking points which seem to have been talked about in the ongoing intelligence level talks. Third parties also want the hostilities to end and Pakistan has said that it would welcome a third party role, something that India has shied away from.
During the recent visit of PM Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, the joint statement called on Saudis to play a potential role, with reports of the UAE already playing an active role to achieve peace between Pakistan and India.
However, it remains to be seen whether the regional powers and common friends would be able to bring the temperature down or not.
