Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya, O Jamya Nai – Who has not seen Lahore, Has not taken birth’ – Pluses and Minuses of Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan
Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya, O Jamya Nai – Who has not seen Lahore, Has not taken birth’ – Pluses and Minuses of Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan
There is an old saying – Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya, O Jamya Nai – Who has not seen Lahore, Has not taken birth’ – perhaps Modi wanted to know the outcome by paying surprise visit to Lahore in Pakistan while en route to India becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan since 2004..
Though it invited controversy from the Opposition, in view of strained relations the Pakistan, the unscheduled visit should not have been planned without discussing with his Cabinet members.
At the same time, the hopes for peace were high this spring when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration in Delhi.
But at the same time, it cannot be said that both the countries are serious in normalizing the relations. Pakistan army too must have given consent about Modi’s visit even for a short period on the auspicious day of birthday of Nawaz Sharif and incidentally the marriage celebrations in his family. But this has definitely surprised not only the Indians but the Pakistan leaders and the whole world as well.
Definitely there had been pressure from Pakistan forces for improving the relations between the two countries because the Jehadi forces have put their hands in West and Central Asia and the internal circumstances in Pakistan are not conducive.
The next target of Islamic State (IS) is to weaken the Pakistan and will hit on the economy of the country and the forces like Talibani can support them and Pakistan is not in a position to bear such a heavy expenses to deal with Talibani-Jehadi (TJ) forces.
In fact, after the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, the relations between India and Pakistan have been complex due to a number of historical and political events – Kashmir conflict and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations. The relations between the two countries remained frigid into the early 2010s following repeated acts of cross-border terrorism.
The visit of Modi to Pakistan may write a new history but it could only be possible if the Pakistani forces change its mind otherwise the non-state actor within the army could go to any extent. There are glaring examples of outcome of the visit of Prime Minister in the past – Kargil attack after the visit of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mumbai 26/11 attack when Manohan Singh tried to put on a normal footing the relations the relations between India and Pakistan. But Modi’s visit has definitely done wonders.
There would had definitely been changes in the ideology of internal forces in Pakistan and given ‘green signal’ resulting in meetings at Thailand of Nasir Khan Janjua and Ajit Dhopal followed by the presence of Sushma Swaraj at Islamabad Heart of Asia seminar.
It is said that the Pakistan army is changing its strategy of anti-states which is termed as anti-India in which Pakistan had been trying to change the entire geography of the area.
It will be too early to say that Pakistan will be totally changed but it is an admitted fact that for the sake of peace the continent, Pakistan has started accepting the cooperation of Afghanistan, Iran and India (AII) and reaching direct from Kabul to Lahore is an indication towards this direction. There could be chances of some solution to Kashmir issue also. But it will be a big challenge for Modi as the party to which he is representing – Rashtriya Swanaysevak Sangh (RSS) – cooperate him or give him a free hand to finalize the deal.
On the other hand, China too had made changes in its policy being worried about its silk route which could only be possible if Jehadis are weak. Moreover, the TAPI gas pipe line project could be successful, for which the American companies are showing interest since 1990, as it is connected with the silk route. The silk route will be successful only if the Jehadis are weak and TAPI line will reach upto India.
In case the attitude of Pakistan army changes in favour of India, Nawaz Sharif will also change. Nawaz Sharif is a businessman of steel, has good relations with the big corporate houses in India, and he knows that in case the relations between India and Pakistan are normal, the business is categorically to improve.
The basic difference between the two countries is that Pakistan is founded upon two nations ideology, holding that Hindus and Muslims are separate nations whereas the state of India is based on secular ideals which is antithetical to the other view despite the fact that Indian National Congress agreed to the partition of the sub-continent in 1947.
Another factor is that Pakistan had always been since its inception, an authoritarian political system mostly military dictators – Ayub, Yahya and Haq though sometimes even civilians have hededthe system with no democratic values and institutions. India on the other hand has been a functionally democracy.
Frankly speaking, the India-Pakistan relations remain fraught with danger and mistrust as there had been regular exchanges of fire between their troops across the ‘line of control’ since the birth of Pakistan in 1947.
The economic condition of Pakistan is not so sound whereas the Army budget needs increase every year which is at present only 30 percent of the total budget of the country. Army is worried for the future as the economy of the country is dwindling because of terrorist attacks. Barring China, none other country is interested for investment in Pakistan when huge quantity of hydrocarbon and coal is with Pakistan and Indian corporate is interested in its investment.
So both the governments should take enormously beneficial measures to improve their relations by creating some comfortable atmosphere with ‘give and take policy’ in mind giving grit to their teeth while sitting across the table by producing a plan for major issue of Kashmir with physical division predicated on the Line of Control
The leaders of both the countries rather than talking for the sake of talks or struggling over the new tactics, they should come up with a vision of concrete steps for giving practical shape into promises of the 21st century. Only then we may see a hug between the two countries and deserved to be awarded Noble Peace prizes.
Though it invited controversy from the Opposition, in view of strained relations the Pakistan, the unscheduled visit should not have been planned without discussing with his Cabinet members.
At the same time, the hopes for peace were high this spring when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration in Delhi.
But at the same time, it cannot be said that both the countries are serious in normalizing the relations. Pakistan army too must have given consent about Modi’s visit even for a short period on the auspicious day of birthday of Nawaz Sharif and incidentally the marriage celebrations in his family. But this has definitely surprised not only the Indians but the Pakistan leaders and the whole world as well.
Definitely there had been pressure from Pakistan forces for improving the relations between the two countries because the Jehadi forces have put their hands in West and Central Asia and the internal circumstances in Pakistan are not conducive.
The next target of Islamic State (IS) is to weaken the Pakistan and will hit on the economy of the country and the forces like Talibani can support them and Pakistan is not in a position to bear such a heavy expenses to deal with Talibani-Jehadi (TJ) forces.
In fact, after the dissolution of the British Raj in 1947, the relations between India and Pakistan have been complex due to a number of historical and political events – Kashmir conflict and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations. The relations between the two countries remained frigid into the early 2010s following repeated acts of cross-border terrorism.
The visit of Modi to Pakistan may write a new history but it could only be possible if the Pakistani forces change its mind otherwise the non-state actor within the army could go to any extent. There are glaring examples of outcome of the visit of Prime Minister in the past – Kargil attack after the visit of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mumbai 26/11 attack when Manohan Singh tried to put on a normal footing the relations the relations between India and Pakistan. But Modi’s visit has definitely done wonders.
There would had definitely been changes in the ideology of internal forces in Pakistan and given ‘green signal’ resulting in meetings at Thailand of Nasir Khan Janjua and Ajit Dhopal followed by the presence of Sushma Swaraj at Islamabad Heart of Asia seminar.
It is said that the Pakistan army is changing its strategy of anti-states which is termed as anti-India in which Pakistan had been trying to change the entire geography of the area.
It will be too early to say that Pakistan will be totally changed but it is an admitted fact that for the sake of peace the continent, Pakistan has started accepting the cooperation of Afghanistan, Iran and India (AII) and reaching direct from Kabul to Lahore is an indication towards this direction. There could be chances of some solution to Kashmir issue also. But it will be a big challenge for Modi as the party to which he is representing – Rashtriya Swanaysevak Sangh (RSS) – cooperate him or give him a free hand to finalize the deal.
On the other hand, China too had made changes in its policy being worried about its silk route which could only be possible if Jehadis are weak. Moreover, the TAPI gas pipe line project could be successful, for which the American companies are showing interest since 1990, as it is connected with the silk route. The silk route will be successful only if the Jehadis are weak and TAPI line will reach upto India.
In case the attitude of Pakistan army changes in favour of India, Nawaz Sharif will also change. Nawaz Sharif is a businessman of steel, has good relations with the big corporate houses in India, and he knows that in case the relations between India and Pakistan are normal, the business is categorically to improve.
The basic difference between the two countries is that Pakistan is founded upon two nations ideology, holding that Hindus and Muslims are separate nations whereas the state of India is based on secular ideals which is antithetical to the other view despite the fact that Indian National Congress agreed to the partition of the sub-continent in 1947.
Another factor is that Pakistan had always been since its inception, an authoritarian political system mostly military dictators – Ayub, Yahya and Haq though sometimes even civilians have hededthe system with no democratic values and institutions. India on the other hand has been a functionally democracy.
Frankly speaking, the India-Pakistan relations remain fraught with danger and mistrust as there had been regular exchanges of fire between their troops across the ‘line of control’ since the birth of Pakistan in 1947.
The economic condition of Pakistan is not so sound whereas the Army budget needs increase every year which is at present only 30 percent of the total budget of the country. Army is worried for the future as the economy of the country is dwindling because of terrorist attacks. Barring China, none other country is interested for investment in Pakistan when huge quantity of hydrocarbon and coal is with Pakistan and Indian corporate is interested in its investment.
So both the governments should take enormously beneficial measures to improve their relations by creating some comfortable atmosphere with ‘give and take policy’ in mind giving grit to their teeth while sitting across the table by producing a plan for major issue of Kashmir with physical division predicated on the Line of Control
The leaders of both the countries rather than talking for the sake of talks or struggling over the new tactics, they should come up with a vision of concrete steps for giving practical shape into promises of the 21st century. Only then we may see a hug between the two countries and deserved to be awarded Noble Peace prizes.