AS India continues violation of the Line of Control by resorting to ‘unprovoked’ firing along the Line of Control (LOC) and Working Boundary, Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi said there have been close to 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side in July and August, almost on daily basis. Abdul Basit made the statement when he was summoned to the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Sunday. Significantly, while both sides have clearly taken maximialist positions, India’s stance has shifted since Modi came to power. The minus-Hurriyet condition, dodging Kashmir in talks, border escalation, etc, confirm fears that BJP would pursue anti-Pakistan politics even as Nawaz initially pitched for greater interaction and commerce. Also, the provocative mention of the ’71 war in Dhaka, and now plans to celebrate the ’65 war, are deliberate, planned moves that please a particular audience. Yet the BJP needs to be careful, for its own sake, of overplaying this strategy. India is a very diverse polity. And regional policy built on extreme right of centre dogma will not sit well across the board.
Fortunately, the two prime ministers have chosen – despite the setbacks – to push the process of talks forward; that is why Ufa was so important. And since Nawaz has made his intentions clear since before he went to Delhi for Modi’s inauguration, the latter effectively holds the key to constructive engagement. So far Modi has shifted back and forth. He has postured towards serious negotiations then gone back to send signals that break the peace. The world’s largest democracy must incorporate a wider representation of popular opinion in its foreign policy than the views of the extreme conservative bloc. The NSA meeting will tell a lot. If both sides agree to include the other’s core demands, then progress might be possible in the present cycle. But if there’s only more finger pointing, it will be a while before the two sides seriously sit down to talk again.
pk.shafaqna.com
