Three most influential western capitals made Modi behave

ISLAMABAD: The recent change in the mood of Modi government towards Pakistan is the result of at least three most powerful western capitals, who had pushed the otherwise childishly rigid New Delhi to reciprocate to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s peace initiative.

Top leaders of these western capitals not only pressed India to shun its policy of resentment and bitterness but also shared with Pakistani leadership of what they had conveyed to India to help normalise tension between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

Informed sources said that India was asked that why it did not respond to Pakistan’s urge for the resumption of dialogue between the two countries. The world capitals believe that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif really want peace with all neighbours of Pakistan including India and Afghanistan.

Generally it is said that the recent interactions between Pakistan and India were the consequence of Washington’s pressure on New Delhi. However, the fact of the matter is that two most influential European capitals had also played their role to bring Modi back to earth.

As against India, Pakistan stood its ground and remained firm in its policy of having peaceful neighbourhood without compromising its own national interest. On the contrary, India that was not ready to talk to Pakistan till recently, had to change its position and return to the table for talks.

Despite Nawaz Sharif’s consistent urge for peace with all neighbours including New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his key ministers kept on fuelling tension. Their public statements were both hostile and immature.

However during the recent days a complete change in the tone and attitude of Indian leaders has been noticed. Not only Modi was seen wooing Nawaz Sharif, the aggression and harshness of Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was also seen having turned into gentleness and decency during her visit to Pakistan.

It is said that during the Indian foreign minister’s meetings with Nawaz Sharif and Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the two sides have agreed that the foreign secretaries would possibly meet early next year to devise strategy for comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India.

“Either the foreign secretaries would meet by end of January or early February in 2016,” an informed source said, adding that the two secretaries would decide how to proceed further.

The sources said that the term “composite dialogue” has been changed into “comprehensive dialogue” following a request from India. However, Pakistani side not only ensured to include all issues of its concern including Kashmir in the compressive dialogue but added the issues of religious tourism and people to people contact.

The Indian foreign minister was told that Pakistan wants uninterrupted dialogue with India as it believes that without channels of communication opened notwithstanding the occurrence of any untoward incident, the objective of peaceful resolution of all irritants could not be achieved.