Peace overtures

Peace overtures

Direct talks between New Delhi and Pakistani army could yield results.

Guns boom frequently from across the LoC. And in the latest targeting of Indian interests seven Indian nationals working on a development project have been abducted, allegedly by Taliban which is supported by Pakistan. While all these might seem to be signs of Pakistan’s customary hostility towards India, there are some contradictory signals as well that offer a sliver of hope.

In signs that Pakistani military might be willing to reach out to India, a British think tank commentary has said that Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Bajwa wants peace and dialogue with New Delhi. The commentary cites a historic first last month when Bajwa had invited the Indian military attaché and his team to the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad. Meanwhile, a high-powered Indian delegation of former diplomats, military veterans and academics travelled to Pakistan between April 28 and 30 in an effort to revive Track II diplomacy.

There’s no denying that Pakistani military is the real author of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Previous confidence building measures between New Delhi and Islamabad did not achieve much as they failed to take on board Pakistani military. However, Pakistan’s strategic interests are best served through a policy of peace with India. While Pakistani military may harbour long held psychological insecurities vis-à-vis India – especially since the 1971 war which it saw as a ‘humiliation’ by India – this is getting old. Pakistan is a nuclear power with a strong military, and there is no reason to fear an invasion by India. Moreover, it has a powerful sponsor in China.

By following a policy of asymmetric warfare against India, however, it is hurting itself more than it hurts India. It is growing increasingly isolated internationally; domestic terror incidents abound; investment and growth in its own economy are discouraged. It’s worth remembering that Pakistani military has a lot of corporate interests as well, whose growth prospects are hit. Having tried everything else, New Delhi could do worse than open direct channels of communication with Rawalpindi. This could help the Pakistani generals feel secure and no longer impelled to destabilise the subcontinent. But Pakistan has to display good faith too. Helping rescue the abducted Indians in Afghanistan would be a good start. From Pakistan’s point of view placing all its eggs in Beijing’s basket carries extraordinary risks – it could soon end up a vassal state.