Back in 2002, Pakistan’s then President cum Chief of Army Staff, after delivering his speech at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, got up from his seat, proceeded to Indian Premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and engaged him in a memorable handshake.
That happened despite the fact that before leaving for the 11th Saarc conference, Vajpayee had asserted that there was no chance of any interaction with the Pakistani president on the sidelines. But when Musharraf forwarded his hand to Vajpayee, he was left with no other option than to respond positively.
The handshake also came at a very crucial time in 2002. The Indian Parliament had just been attacked and the armies of both countries were in position after Kargil. Many at the time thought it certain that the two nuclear powers were heading towards another war.
A somewhat similar gesture was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi. Sharif responded positively and attended the event along other world leaders.
Read on: Modi shares ‘emotional moments’ with Nawaz
Fortuitously, things between the two countries are not as bad as they were back at the dawn of the 21st century. While it’s true that there have been deaths in skirmishes at the Line of Control (LoC) and statements of Pakistani politicos on Kashmir have enraged India to a considerable extent, it is also the case that both countries now have the right opportunity to initiate friendship.
How, you may ask, do they have a better opportunity today?
The answer lies in the years since their election. Both governments are relatively new into their current terms, and if, during the dialogue process, they reach a consensus on the issues, both will have ample time to implement the agreed-upon terms.
By pure luck, the ruling parties are also the same as when the Lahore Declaration was signed back in February 1999.
Whether by a uniformed man or a civilian premier, one has to accept that Pakistan has never shied away from offering friendship to India. It has done so several times in the past and even this time; it has welcomed the resumption of dialogue more eagerly than India. India, on the other hand, suspended dialogue after the Pakistani envoy met with Hurriyat leaders.
Although Saarc host country Nepal’s Foreign Minister Mahindra Pandey has offered that Nepal can mediate between India and Pakistan, the Nepalese offer can work only if Islamabad and New Delhi agree upon resuming dialogue.
Take a look: South Asian leaders reach last-minute energy deal at Saarc summit
A constant spoiler that also sustains the bickering that characterises the climate of ongoing IndoPak ties is New Delhi's repeated accusations against Islamabad for backing terrorist activities on Indian soil. What India appears to forget is that Pakistan has been a and continues to be a victim of terrorism and has reportedly lost over 50,000 lives up until now in the ongoing war on terror.
The Pakistani army is currently fighting a war, not just against a few terrorist groups but against the entire terrorist infrastructure itself; to ensure Pakistan’s survival. It is in this climate that security agencies of both countries have alleged one another's involvement in backing terrorist groups but the Pakistani government has never suspended dialogue on those grounds.
At this point in time, it is imperative that the heads of both countries develop a sense of the situation and advance towards improving relations. The Saarc conference has ended, but the process for establishing and enduring peace is waiting to be initiated. The two leaders must put aside their emotions and head towards the dialogue table because war equates destruction and mutual understanding is the only way forward.
Before leaving for Kathmandu, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said that Pakistan was ready for dialogue, but India would have to take the first step.
Also read: Pakistan to talk to Kashmiri leaders before dialogue with India: Nawaz
And given how India suspended talks on the grounds of the envoy’s meetup with Hurriyat leaders, one can argue that Nawaz perhaps is right in his stance.
As per the current schedule, Pakistan will host the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad. So here's hoping that Pakistan and India would have advanced towards resolving their differences by then. Other than Kashmir, there is a host of bilateral issues requiring immediate attention.
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