India, Pakistan must build on Kartarpur bonhomie
Rather than getting into a blame game over Kashmir and other vexed issues, both countries must move towards problem solving
We South Asians finally have one more K to debate! To ponder over, to determine whether it was a goodwill gesture or an opportunity to gain political mileage from, an opportunity to serve a ‘googly’ or be misinterpreted and slung out of context thus undermining all the goodwill and optimism that surged when the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur corridor took place week before last.
India sent two Sikh ministers to attend the ceremony after Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj declined the invite sent her way by Islamabad.
However, one’s desire for the ice to finally thaw was not to be fulfilled. In fact, we — as in all those on both sides of the border who are hoping for our states to sheath their swords — were firmly put in place. The grim reminder being that reallife politics is more than goodwill gestures or well-meant initiatives. It’s also about playing the tune, especially when India’s general elections are a few months away [scheduled for May 2019] and the wisdom lies in not deviating from one’s ‘anti-this’ and ‘anti-that’ rhetoric to an extent that it shall be undermined by one’s neighbour.
After all, winning the 2019 election is the ultimate prize for the Narendra Modi government and Pakistan could once again serve the same old convenient whipping horse it has in the past. So, let the war drums roll whipped to frenzy by inflammatory statements and fervent allegations of terrorism sponsorship.
And what about Pakistan? This is not to say that there was no strategic political planning behind it. We are all here to gain some mileage somewhere so why not? And if it’s for a good cause then we are all for it. And what better cause than to normalise ties with India? After all, despite the bloody wars fought between us, we have much to gain in mending our relations. Politics aside, the bilateral trade itself is a dynamic powerhouse that will benefit both.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government timed this well. He laid the foundation stone for the corridor as his government marked 100 days in power. It was a smart foreign policy move that actually went in Pakistan’s favour. Here was Pakistan showing magnanimity and respect for visiting Sikh pilgrims from India, thus offering in one sweep easier access to the founding commune of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism who also commands much respect among Muslims for shared similarities with teachings of Islam.
But the palatable goodwill and genuine smiles we witnessed at the ceremony were eclipsed by a pointed rebuke by Swaraj. She categorically rejected participation in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) if Pakistan were to host the summit until it assuaged Indian concerns about its alleged terrorist support. And so, the circus continued.
Normalising ties
The Pakistan premier’s foreign policy is clearly backed by the military establishment and if he wants to move forward on normalising ties with India that is extremely positive. He wants to resolve Kashmir through phased dialogue and believes that a solution is possible. But is it that simple?
Instead of accepting the olive branch, the BJP has taken it as a slight. It is not a politically savvy approach if long-term interests are weighed in. Pakistan is not going anywhere and its best that both countries finally seek means to end the festering issues plaguing us since partition. Pakistan should also understand the implications of a solution to Kashmir.
If an independent Kashmir is sought by Kashmiris it would also have to give up Azad Kashmir as would India its part of Kashmir. That jewel in the crown which has been woven in the whole Indian nationalism especially the Hindutva Mother India narrative is not one anyone would be willing to compromise.
Intractable? It may seem so at this point but let us move forward on smaller issues. Let us move somewhere, we might end up moving together on disputes that loom large.
After all we have Kartarpur, bright and shining to cheer us onwards towards the New Year.