NAWAZ Sharif is privy to minute details of the Pakistan-India relationship, for, during his numerous stints in PM House, Mian Sahib had tried to improve the mostly strained bilateral ties.
Speaking to this paper in London recently, the PML-N supremo felt that “a time will come” when both states will talk about the problematic issues that bedevil the relationship. He rightly stated that CBMs — including cricket diplomacy — are the first step towards better ties, and with reference to the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Mr Sharif said India should play its matches in Pakistan. As things stand, the Indians have refused to play in this country. It was during Mian Sahib’s premiership that then Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee rode into Pakistan on board a ‘friendship bus’ to sign the Lahore Declaration with Mr Sharif in 1999. In those heady days, it seemed that peace was within grasp, yet only a few months later, the Kargil episode slammed a brake on matters, as did Gen Musharraf’s overthrow of the Sharif government later that year.
The late strongman had tried his own brand of peace-making with India, and once more both states came close to a deal in Agra in 2001 — which fell through at the last minute. Nawaz Sharif also tried mending ties with Narendra Modi; the latter’s surprise visit to Lahore in December 2015 signalled a promise of better ties that remained unfulfilled.
Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N have mostly favoured better ties with India, though other powerful stakeholders have not always shared their enthusiasm. Even the current PML-N-led government has tried sending positive feelers to New Delhi, though the relationship is in a particularly low phase. In the recent past, there have been some indications of bilateral civility; for example, the Indian foreign minister attended last month’s SCO moot in Islamabad, pointing to a slight improvement. But no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the long-standing bilateral impasse.
India has failed to respond to Pakistan’s overtures. From a rigid attitude towards held Kashmir to a lack of initiative on CBMs, India does not seem interested in reopening the channels of dialogue. Nawaz Sharif’s hopes of better ties with India can only be realised when New Delhi responds to Pakistan positively. Sending its cricket team to Pakistan could be one ‘soft’ opening to get the ball rolling.
Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024
