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| Edited By: |Source: DNA |Updated: Aug 22, 2018, 07:00 AM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory note to his counterpart in Pakistan reaffirmed India’s commitment to peace in the subcontinent. But nowhere in that message did the PM mention that he was urging Imran Khan to reopen dialogue with New Delhi.
The newly-appointed Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi failed to read the not-so-subtle distinction between the two positions, and instead breathed his own meaning into PM Modi’s message. Little wonder that even a simple note created such a storm in India.
BJP’s critics called the note a sign of the government softening its stance on Pak-sponsored terrorism. These ludicrous allegations do not contain an iota of truth. Subsequently, the Pakistani government reacted to its foreign minister’s gaffe in its own style. Making matters murkier, its foreign ministry spokesman denied Qureshi making such a statement.
PM Modi’s letter spoke of India’s intentions about restoring peace in the sub-continent. New Delhi is open to a meaningful and constructive engagement with Islamabad. Right from the day of PM Modi’s swearing-in four years back, he took it upon himself to reach out to the then PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif in a genuine attempt to build bridges of trust and friendship between the two countries. Initially, Sharif had reciprocated warmly, taking the friendship to the next level, when it was believed that there was a strong possibility of lasting peace between the governments.
As a rare, personal gesture of goodwill, PM Modi had even visited Sharif on his birthday. But Pakistan-sponsored terrorism derailed a constructive process. The terror attacks on India’s defence establishments in 2016 was a deliberate ploy to reverse the gains from mutual trust. The NDA government has always maintained that terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand and it stuck to that principle when PM conveyed his good wishes to the newly sworn in Pakistani PM.
Days before Pakistan’s elections, Imran Khan had expressed desire to bolster trade ties with India. His favourable disposition led many to opine that the Pakistani Army is changing tack. There were others who felt that Imran’s friendly overtures had much to do with Pakistan’s dire economic situation.
Will Imran live up to his commitment to peace? India has been deceived far too many times to trust a neighbour whose civilian government has little say in matters of bilateral relations. It is believed that the two PMs want to bring peace, security and prosperity in the subcontinent and focus on development. But such intentions for Pakistan invariably revolve around the Kashmir question. PM Modi knows it well, having seen the pitfalls of trusting a wily government.
It also suits India to adopt a closely-guarded approach while dealing with Pakistan. PM Modi was kind and gracious in his congratulatory note, but India will not lower its guard anytime soon. The ground situation in Kashmir is a true indicator of the health of bilateral ties. If incidence of cross-border terrorism declines, Pakistan will have demonstrated eagerness to explore peaceful alternatives to a long-standing problem. India can then reciprocate accordingly.
