Another ray of hope

Former ambassador
Today Indian Foreign Secretaries S Jai Shankar will be arriving in Pakistan as part of Saarc Yatra. Though a breakthrough initiated by India, the outcome is not likely to be seminal in the overall relationships between the two distant neighbours.
The reasons are not too far to fetch. The relations are complex and multiple. There is lingering hostility and mistrust. Many assume that India has taken the first step in order to impress the world especially America that it wants to promote peace and stability in the region and for this it is even prepared to talk to Pakistan. There may be little truth that the Indian initiative was influenced by such factors. However, in my view, India being a regional power due to its population and ascending economy wants to project itself as a state capable of partnership in the final shape up of the evolving world order. India knows the fact that as usual the dialogue will be inclusive at best some activities will be scheduled. Some additional CBMs will be proposed.
Our side wants to start comprehensive, meaningful dialogue which can lead to some results at least in less controversial or say manageable conflict like Siachen or Sir Creek and lowering of tension or creating buffer zones along the line of control and Indo-Pakistan border. India has shown the willingness to include all outstanding issues including the Kashmir in the formal talks with Pakistan. But if we go by the ground reality which manifests mounting tension including firing across borders and out chief of army’s visit to border villages, it is clear that the dialogue will not be enduring.
In diplomacy, dialogue even if remains infertile, it should be maintained. Diplomacy cannot be run by discontinuing contacts. Talks and parleys lead to solution, not wars. Pakistan and India have to come out of the past which is bitter and bloody to build future for the region and their people. The new talk should focus on old issues with new

meanings and purposes which should be dominated by themes such as mutuality of interests, win-win situation for both and above all ensuring that the existing and future conflicts will be resolved through peaceful means.
Pakistan and India have to transform their views and positions. Both cannot achieve what they have been projecting so far as their principled stances. Both must do the reality check. For us our stances are principled and many of us believe that we should not forsake our stance on Kashmir which was validated by the UN resolutions. But we must not forget that for each Indian the stance adopted by successive Indian governments is legal and should not be changed. Kashmir remained an integral part of secular India.
Pakistan should not be impatient in engaging India without clear understanding that instead of creating hype dialogue should lead to real peace and lessening of human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The new chief minister of IHK admitted that Pakistan did not interfere in the elections which meant that there had been not infiltration across the border from Pakistan. In other worlds, Pakistan was not indulging in promoting militancy in India. Can we say the same thing about Indian activities in Baluchistan and in Karachi? Time has come when both the states must prove their respective sincerity otherwise dialogues and CBMs will remain not only sterile but negative, fueling more tension in their relationship. Keeping in view the paradigm shifts in the region, it is important that both sides should start taking the transformational changes at the global level and readjust their aspirations accordingly. They should stop believing in zero sum game and try to manage their sensitive relations. Modi factor, in my opinion, presents a big challenge for Pakistan but is still manageable as the stakes are very high if India Pakistan low intensity conflict flares up and both states continue their proxy wars in Afghanistan.
Instead of seeing parity with India, Pakistan better improve its economy and relations within other neighbouring countries by managing its borders. Pakistan will gain more once its credibility as non-interfering state is established.