“Holding dialogue at all levels is key to peace between India and Pakistan.”
As the arch-rivals have decided to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, they should now follow up with confidence-building moves to ensure stability and growth in the region
Peace between nuclear-powered restive neighbours India and Pakistan has been elusive, but it is integral to the stability and economic growth of the region. It is also inextricably linked to the fight against terrorism and extremism in the world. Perhaps, sensing this both countries have taken another step to give peace a chance.
In what is deemed a rare move, Pakistan and India agreed to the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB) in Kashmir. Ceasefire violations have killed hundreds of people on both sides of the LoC and forced many to migrate to save their lives.
The original 2003 agreement on a ceasefire along the LoC and WB was reached during the hotline conversation of the Directors General of Military Operations (DG MOs) on both sides on Tuesday night. The news came as a surprise to many in the region and brought huge relief to peoples on both sides of the LoC as thousands of displaced Kashmiris can now return to their homes.
It was also unprecedented for both sides to issue almost identical statements, which unlike earlier occasions did not accuse the other of wrongdoing.
It may be a sheer coincidence that the ceasefire move came soon after the former Indian spy chief A.S. Dulat, who was former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Kashmir pointsman, has suggested to New Delhi to invite Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa for a dialogue to restore peace. His remarks were made at the launch of the new book which he coauthored with his Pakistani counterpart at the time, former-ISI chief Lieutenant General Asad Durrani.
The book, titled The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace, triggered some meaningful debate on how to reduce tension between the nuclear-powered neighbours. And the author clearly hinted that it could be achieved only through the involvement of the top military leadership from Pakistan.
The ceasefire on the LoC is a clear example of the fact that only armed forces from both countries can ensure peace.
The unusual suggestion by Dulat to invite Bajwa to India seems to be a feasible option going by the belief that the civilian government in Islamabad is subservient to the military when it comes to critical foreign policy issues geared towards their arch-rival India.
In Dulat’s words: “General Bajwa is making the ‘right noise’ referring to his recent remarks that disputes including Kashmir between India and Pakistan can be solved only through peace talks”.
It is also the first time that the Pakistani military leadership is earnestly reaching out to India because it believes that the way to peace and prosperity is through military cooperation with India. A UK-based thinktank, Royal United Service Institute (RUSI), has also voiced a similar view in a report on renewed efforts to reduce tensions between the two neighbours.
Senior Pakistani officers, led by General Bajwa realise that the way to peace and prosperity is through military cooperation with India. It is time for New Delhi to reciprocate. Instead of giving flaring statements, the Indian leadership should make use of this opportunity to forge peace rather than resorting to Pakistan-bashing for mere political gain to win elections.
Sign of warming ties
In a historic first, General Bajwa invited Sanjay Vishwasrao, the Indian military attache, and his team to the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad last March. And in a further sign of warming ties, General Bajwa followed this two weeks later by saying that the Pakistan military wanted peace and dialogue with India.
In another significant development, the two countries will also take part in joint military drills in Russia in September, with Chinese participation.
General Bajwa, while speaking at RUSI last year, said: “The Pakistan army is now no more insecure and feels confident of its future and that he welcomes Indian participation in Pakistan’s flagship infrastructure project, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”
The CPEC project is key to its economic future and Pakistan had publicly welcomed India’s participation in the belief that its neighbour could “share the fruits of future development by shelving the anti-Pakistan activities and subversion”.
Holding dialogue at all levels, however, is key to peace between the arch-rivals. In addition to talks between top military brass, politicians and bureaucracy, more channels such as backdoor diplomacy, people-topeople contact, and even revival of cricketing ties are important in the journey towards peace.
Besides lifting trade restrictions, India and Pakistan should facilitate travel to each other’s countries so that divided families can visit relatives. More transport links such as the resumption of bus service and easing restrictions on visit or tourist visas will improve interaction between peoples from both countries and this, in turn, will help reduce tension and hatred.
The implementation of the ceasefire agreement can only be good augury as border tensions can quickly escalate as they did when India claimed to have made surgical strikes in Pakistan, bringing the countries to the brink of another war.
If the ceasefire deal can hold, then peace can’t be far away.