INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS — Pragmatism is the Answer

The delinking policy in this regard means putting controversial issues on the negotiation table, and opening up all other relationships such as trade, education, free intellectual activity, business, industry, tourism, and so on. Life is full of problems at the individual, social and international levels. The best and wisest course is to not allow problems to become hurdles in the path of development. It is good to try to solve the problems, but in practice, it is not a good option. The better option is to observe the principle of differentiation that is, leaving aside the controversial issues and opening all doors to avail of other opportunities, without any restriction. This concept is justified by reason. A successful example of this formula can be found in the post-Second World War era of Japan. After the Second World War, there was a problem like that of Kashmir between the US and Japan. This centred on the Japanese island of Okinawa, which had been occupied by the US after the war. Japan adopted the same delinking policy with regard to this island and diverted its energies toward post-war development. The result was miraculous: within thirty years Japan emerged as an economic superpower of the world. Set aside controversial issues to the negotiation table, and open up all other relationships such as trade, education, free intellectual activity, business, industry, tourism, and so on. In 1947 Pakistan came into existence on account of the two-nation theory. But in reality, these two nations ended up as two conflicting neighbours. This nature of Partition made two close neighbours into two distant neighbours, as described by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar in his Distant Neighbours (1972). Now the question is not how to try to completely end the problems between the two, but how to stay as good neighbours, in spite of the problems. The only practical formula in this situation is the delinking policy that was successfully adopted by Japan. This issue is not an isolated one. It is very much related to the development of both countries. It is a fact that due to this situation, both India and Pakistan have been engaged in several wars. This