Awaz the Voice/New Delhi

 

The recent regime change in Islamabad can become a harbinger for not just restoring civility in relations between India and Pakistan but also giving a push for the normalization of ties between the two neighbours. Unlike his predecessor Imran Khan, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is neither a demagogue nor a megalomaniac who lives in an alternate reality. Quite to the contrary, Shahbaz Sharif is an experienced politician who understands the imperatives of improving relations with India. Fortuitously, he will also have the support of the Pakistan Army in any initiative or outreach he makes toward India. India, while being cautious in engaging Pakistan, may not be averse to reciprocating any reconciliatory move by Pakistan.

Though the congratulatory message of Narendra Modi to Shahbaz Sharif and his response was a normal communication between the two heads of government, even then the gesture is a change from the toxicity that defined the relations between their countries during Imran Khan’s regime. Going forward, it is to be expected that diplomatic decorum and decency, which had been thrown to the winds by the vituperative Imran Khan, will once again become the norm. That would help in reducing the tensions and bitterness in relations. More importantly, it will open a possibility of engagement between the two.

 

There is no denying that a mere change in style will not be enough to address some of the most vexing issues – territorial disputes, Kashmir issue, and of course, terrorism – that dog India-Pakistan relations. But the time has come for both the countries and in some ways Pakistan more than India, to distinguish between outstanding issues and existential issues that are threatening the very existence of that state. Many countries around the world have issues with their neighbours. Sometimes these are territorial, other times ideological and political, and in some other cases economic or related to environment or water or other administrative issues. Though most countries manage these issues through dialogue – they don’t wage war or proxy war to force the issue. Perhaps the time has come for Pakistan to also learn from the experiences of other counties and while it can keep its stand on some of the outstanding issues, it should not let these poison the well of bilateral ties or make the larger relationship with India hostage to these issues.

 

The bottom line is that there is a lot more to be gained by both India and Pakistan if they normalize relations than if they remain daggers drawn. The economic benefits cannot be understated. Trade will help both in fighting inflations, preventing shortages of essential goods, providing markets and connectivity to both sides, and unleashing synergies that have so far been blocked. Cutting off trade or adopting beggar-thy-neighbour policies is akin to cutting your nose to spite someone else’s face. Trade and travel linkages enhance the physical and economic security of not just the state but also the society. What is more, it will contribute to political security. Instead of warily watching each other, both countries can focus on improving the lives of their citizens. In the specific case of Pakistan, it can move from being a national security state to becoming a welfare state. The influence of the military would be a catalyst to such a turn of events as the perceived threat from India would dissipate a few notches. If India and Pakistan can work together towards a brighter future, then it will naturally pave the way for greater integration of the entire South Asian region. For Pakistan, the attendant benefit will be that CPEC notwithstanding Pakistan’s dream of being a viable bridge between West Asia and South Asia, and between Central Asia and South Asia would also see forward momentum. Some Pakistani politicians – Nawaz Sharif in particular – understood this. 

 

Unfortunately, at that time the Pakistan Army wasn’t quite ready to accept this vision. But over the last few years, there are clear signs that the Pakistan Army is now even keener than the politicians to make the outreach form some kind of rapprochement with India. The concept of geo-economics enunciated by the Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa underscores this change of outlook. The Pakistan Army seems to have realized that the unending state of hostility is dragging Pakistan down and creating existential problems. With both the civil and military authorities in Pakistan on the same page as far as an outreach to India is concerned, there is now an opportunity before both India and Pakistan to try and reset their bilateral relationship. If they grasp this opportunity, it can change not just the face of South Asia but also the dynamics of international politics; but if they waste the window of opportunity, then it will be tragic because such an opportunity will not present itself for many, many years.