Good neighbours

While reviewing the list of significant days celebrated globally, I came across a fascinating observance in the United States: National Good Neighbor Day, celebrated annually on September 26. This day highlights the importance of good neighbours and strong communities across the US.

In the 19th century, the US and Mexico were engaged in brutal wars, but today Mexico stands as one of the US’s major trading partners. Similarly, the US and Canada, despite sharing the longest border in the world, are close allies. Europe, once ravaged by centuries of conflict, has transformed through cooperation under the European Union, now a beacon of peace and unity. The UK’s decision to leave the EU, however, has been widely seen as a misstep, leading to economic challenges for Britain.

In Africa, countries that once suffered from poverty and turmoil are now making significant strides toward development. A key factor in this success has been their ability to resolve disputes with neighbours and foster good relations. China, the world’s second-largest economy, has border disputes with most of its neighbours except Pakistan. Yet, despite these tensions, China maintains strong trade relations with its neighbours.

Globally, many nations are known for their prosperity, peace, and development. While internal stability, rule of law, and providing for the people are often credited for these successes, an often-overlooked factor is the cordial and friendly relations these nations have with their neighbours.

Geographically, Pakistan shares borders with four countries. Of these, China is the only one with whom Pakistan maintains consistently cordial relations. Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan, and the two share religious, cultural, economic, and social ties. Yet, due to various unforeseen circumstances, relations between the two have not developed to an ideal level, such as that seen between the US and Canada.

Our relationship with Afghanistan has been fraught with challenges since the very beginning. Terrorist incidents in Pakistan are often linked to Afghan soil. Meanwhile, the long-standing border dispute with India over Kashmir remains unresolved, even after more than seven decades.

Non-state actors continue to use the territories of our neighbors to carry out acts of terrorism within our borders, further straining already fragile relationships. Misunderstandings with our neighbours have grown to the point where resolving these issues seems increasingly difficult.

I have always stressed that history offers lessons, but tragically, we seldom learn from it. Five years ago, I wrote a column in these pages on the occasion of Good Neighbor Day, in which I discussed the complexities of Pakistan’s relations with its neighbours. Unfortunately, I see no significant diplomatic improvement since then. The return of the Taliban in Afghanistan has further altered the geopolitical landscape of our region.

In my view, Pakistan must develop a concrete plan to present itself as a harmonious, diverse, peace-loving, and neighbourly nation. If we can resolve our disputes through dialogue and foster cordial relations with all our neighboring countries, no force in the world can stop our beloved country from becoming an economic powerhouse in Asia.

As we reflect on Good Neighbor Day, the timeless wisdom of the great American leader Abraham Lincoln serves as a guiding light: “The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend”. This message remains as relevant today as ever, inspiring the global community to prioritize peace over enmity.

The writer is a member of the

National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council.

He tweets/posts @RVankwani