They blow hot and cold in the same breath…
Hostility between Pakistan and India is as old as partition of India. From the day one the two independent countries never gave an honest try to peace. During the last more than six decades they fought many overt and covert wars at a huge cost. Deep-rooted animosity, that too when it engages some one’s heart and mind never dies so easily. Hostility emanates from ego and egoistic mindset, essentially with a motive for enmity; either valid or unfounded, that hardly matters. Instead of locating a motive India and Pakistan were blessed with a reason that too at the onset of their independent status. Kashmir conflict! Offered by British is haunting millions in the subcontinent as a definite flashpoint ready to ignite at any point of time.
Both India and Pakistan were carved out of a land ruled by British for more than two centuries and to hold this country British in addition to proverbial ‘iron hand’ used treacherous strategy of divide and rule. This deceptive policy tore the social and secular fabric of undivided India and inculcated a sense of insecurity leading to revolt and hate within the psyche of its people, ultimately manifesting into pre-partition riots and post-partition conflict spread over decades. To cut a long nightmarish story of enmity, riots, partition and hostility short, India and Pakistan are presently world’s most vulnerable neighbors sharing the most intricate relationship influenced by internal politics and international pressures.
Very recently chemistry of Indian and Pakistani relations was going well and both were getting so close that Indian government hosted most infamous (from Indian point of view) interior minister of Pakistan Mr. Rehman Malik and Indian generosity extended to the extent that even Mr.Malik’s many of the controversial remarks were accepted humbly. The pace and sheer size of CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) between New Delhi and Islamabad was quick and huge. Undoubtedly this whole atmosphere of confidence and humbleness did not come out of a magic wand in one day but should be attributed to hard work of many years with track second diplomacy and behind the scene manipulative parleys. Now the question arises, why India and Pakistan are unable to hold it, when their relationship is pinnacled at its best? A common man on the streets of Islamabad, New Delhi and most importantly Srinagar can make out the most acceptable reasons for this senseless approach of both Indian and Pakistani authorities.
Firstly the upcoming general elections both in Pakistan and India; secondly whipping false national pride vis-à-vis Kashmir just to hide and hush up their failures at domestic level; and last but not least to deny people of Kashmir their right to live a dignified and honorable life of empowerment and emancipation by not deciding pragmatically on this issue. The reasons behind a turbulent situation.
During the last six decades the whole world has changed almost on all fronts. The political map and boundaries have changed beyond recognition. Fall of Soviet Union; unbalanced world superpower scenario; changes in Germany; and most recently the Arab spring are the most prominent geo-political changes that shook the world. Both Indian and Pakistani establishments, not their people (as people in both the countries are sensible enough) should learn a lesson from the pages of history. If things won’t be decided according to existing globe socio-political trends and more necessarily as per the wishes of the millions living in the subcontinent it will ruin the prospects of this region as the most vibrant economic hub of ever growing world market. If ego and false national pride will be allowed to overcome reasoning and logic the outcome will be disaster and gradual decimation of both the countries from the strategic positions they are holding on international political front. They should shun this policy of blow hot blow cold, practiced for petty political gains, false pride and ego. Alas! Both the countries have failed their people and people of Kashmir in particular.
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