APRIL 15 Indo-Pak Detente

APRIL 15 Indo-Pak Detente Under the auspices of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, an international meeting was held in New Delhi on February 5-6, 1996 to discuss the possibility of an IndoPak dialogue, which hopefully, would find ways and means to normalize relations between India and Pakistan. Although held at an unofficial level—it being more a function of ‘Third-track democracy’—it was attended by dignitaries from both countries. As a participant on this occasion, I debated whether we could discover a practicable formula acceptable to both countries. I concluded that a via media could be arrived at, basing my judgement on the strategy adopted by the Prophet of Islam as a result of which he achieved the greatest success in human history. This formula, in short, is al-Fasl bain al-Qaziyatain, or the de-linking of two issues. Pakistan, being an Islamic state, is bound to follow in the Prophet’s footsteps. India, on the other hand, is a secular state. Nevertheless, because of the reasonableness of the above proposal, I am convinced that if Pakistan were to adopt it, India would have no hesitation in following suit, particularly when it has already instituted the process of de-linking issues in its relations with China. I must add that the acceptance of such a formula would be no sign of weakness on the part of either country, such policies having become the inevitable imperatives of modern circumstances. That is why the USA, albeit a superpower, is likewise following the identical policy of separating politics and economics in its dealings with China. It is a well-known fact that America’s separation of its economic interests from its political stand on human rights has resulted in its increased leverage in that country. India and Pakistan should also learn from this and profit from it wherever possible. It should be borne in mind that this is a formula which accords both with Islam and with nature. What we should do, therefore,—if not in principle, then at least in practice—is put aside all political conflicts, in particular, the problem of Kashmir. Peaceful negotiations on this issue may continue but both countries shall have to make a resolve that under no circumstances will there be any transgression of the boundaries of peaceful dialogue.