By: Alisha Jannat
India and Pakistan have a complex and often tense relationship rooted in historical, political and territorial disputes. India in fact has never accepted existence of Pakistan since the partition and have always hurled accusation against it while Pakistan always wanted to set up it’s relations with that country on the basis of mutual respect and capacity. The hostilities between both the countries always made headlines of newspapers and talk shows over TV channels.
Even Indian media always unleashed a toxic attack against Pakistan which usually exercised restraint. Violations of ceasefire line, shelling on innocent civilians by Indian forces, cutting ties on sports like cricket and hockey between the two countries have always remained in place between India and Pakistan – the two arch rivals in South Asia.
As we know that the partition of British India into India and Pakistan led to massive migrations and communal violence, setting a contentious foundation that continues till today.
Despite best efforts at all levels, relations between both the countries remained strained. Both the countries accuse each other of restoring the relations to normalcy.
These relations remained more tense during the stint of Prime Minister Atal Behari Wajpai who turned the so called secular India to an extremist Hindu India, crushing the rights of Muslims, Christians and other minorities. New nationalist Indian government is not ready to coexist with other minority communities.
The Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan is the real bone of contention between the two countries. Both countries claim the entire region of Kashmir is theirs. I dia claims Kashmir is it’s integral part while Pakistan says the Himalayan state is it’s jugular vein without which the country is not complete. It led both the countries to three wars. India crushing under its feet all the international norms ended the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Skirmishes at the line of control between the forces of both the countries continues off and on. India accuse Pakistan of cross border terrorism while Pakistan claims India is responsible for terrorist attacks in Balochistan and other parts of the country.
Expert believes that these accusations will never halt until the Kashmir issue was resolved in accordance with UN resolutions.
There have been many rounds of talks at secretary level, foreign ministers level and prime minister level to resolve all outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir but all the negotiations ended without producing any results.
Both nations are nuclear powers, with significant implications for regional and global security. If both countries go for an atomic war it would be a nightmare for the entire world.
It is essential that the international community should play it’s effective role in helping both the countries resolve their problems to avert any chance of an atomic war between them.
Periods of dialogue and peace initiatives, such as the Shimla Agreement (1972) and Lahore Declaration (1999), have alternated with periods of heightened tension. Several other efforts were made to bring both the countries close and bring down their hostilities. If there was a regular trade between the two countries it can benefit both of them. People of both the countries want to revive cricket matches between India and Pakistan which always draw a huge crowd.
Trade relations have fluctuated, with potential for economic cooperation often hindered by political issues.
Cultural, familial, and historical ties exist, but visa and travel restrictions limit direct interaction. There is a need to exchange trade and cultural delegations to improve the relations of both the countries.
— Writer is a Department of International Relations
University of Poonch Rawalakot
