‘Space for negotiations with India shrinking’

Islamabad: Prof Mujeeb Afzal, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, has said that the space for negotiations with India is shrinking with the spread of Hindutva thereby increasing animosity vis-à-vis Pakistan and the Muslim world.

Dr Mujeeb was addressing one-day conference on ‘Pakistan-India dialogue: imperatives and prospects’ organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, here Wednesday. Prof Mujeeb said that because of extremist ideology adopted by BJP government, it is so easy for New Delhi to equate terrorism with the freedom struggle in Kashmir. He said that the hawkish elements in Modi’s administration want to restore India’s pride and hegemony which means giving no concessions. Rather, India wants to isolate, encircle and weaken Pakistan, besides tempering its linkages with traditional allies, neighbours and potential friends, he concluded.

Dr Farhan Siddiqi from the same school said that relations between India and Pakistan can be characterised as one of “frenemies,” alternating between periods of peace and conflict. He observed that of late, conflict has become an overarching feature of their bilateral relationship. He said that both countries need to look towards absolute gains with economic overtures and regional connectivity mechanisms such as CPEC.

Lieutenant General (r) Asif Yasin Malik, former Defence Secretary, lamented that no meaningful bilateral discussions was taking place. Earlier, Abdul Basit, President, IPRI, in his welcome address said that Jammu and Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between Pakistan and India, but a political and humanitarian issue.

In the question hour, a lawyer from Jammu and Kashmir stressed that the Pakistan government needs to move cases of Indian brutalities to the International Criminal Tribunal since time for talks had passed.