So far, this breakfast in Afghanistan and tea in Lahore seems like a positive step, but India has to be wary. Every time a move for bilateral talks has begun, terrorists have had the last word. This time around, things should be different. There should be no backing down.
When Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, he made generous overtures to Pakistan and India’s Pak policy was quite shrewd at the time. Current Prime Minister Narendra Modi took it one step further with a spur of the moment meet in Lahore, on his way back to India from Kabul.
Over the past few months, PM Modi has been jet-setting across the world, speaking at various functions and rubbing shoulders with business contingents, keen to boost India’s economic status. Then, in Paris for the climate change summit, he took advantage of the neutral venue to boost diplomacy while meeting Pakistan president Nawaz Sharif. That short meet there spurred a fresh start to the India-Pakistan bilateral relations.
Over the past year, relations with Pakistan have been somewhat strained. In fact, India’s relationship with Afghanistan hasn’t been smooth sailing either. Both countries have been accused of allowing terrorists to breathe and breed in their midst, with India suffering casualties in this regard. But now, with this one trip, on his way back from Russia, Narendra Modi has managed to change things.
India’s relationship with Kabul got stronger at first after US exit, with Afghan soldiers getting trained in India. Afghanistan’s relationship with Pakistan on the other hand was fraught with difficulty during the Karzai era, with the then prime minister accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorist activities in the country. Incidentally, while in Kabul, before leaving for Lahore, Modi criticized Islamabad for allowing terrorism to flow across the border into Afghanistan. He also addressed the issue of Balochistan and shot down any Pak suggestion of India fuelling unrest in the region. With his statement, that Afghanistan can grow when terrorist activities are culled, and that India would stand with the country, he showed solidarity and extended a warm hand of support. This speech was made at the new parliament building in Kabul, which India helped build by way of funds.
When his plane landed in Lahore, Modi showed that his visits were not part of a proxy war, but that of an emerging movement for peace in the region. Afghanistan, Pakistan and India were once Akhand Bharat, a powerful region for trade. Now, he cemented that idea by assuring Nawaz Sharif of India’s continuing commitment to the peace cause. Recently, the national security advisor for India met his Pakistani counterpart, followed by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan.
India may have not just started a journey to peace in one part of the region but also laid the foundation for a block that could possibly match China in terms of global business opportunities. With India poised to be a major business leader in Asia, only second to China, taking Pakistan and Afghanistan on that road to economic greatness can certainly help the cause.
India’s stand for peace and against terrorism seems strong. The American media has lapped this up and praised the prime minister, which will certainly help our cause when it comes to better business relations with America.
