India and Pakistan got their independence in 1947, and since then, both countries have fought four straight wars and numerous proxy wars. Although even after these wars, there had been multiple talks and agreements, but each time it has backfired India.
Currently, India-Pakistan relations is an ongoing hot topic around the world as the government of Pakistan had allowed the import of sugar and cotton, but on 1st April, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan made a U-turn and ruled out the decision of importing goods stating it will only permit to import when “deferred article 370 will be restored.”
In recent days a shift in Pakistan’s actions can be seen clearly. Ceasefire violation has been stopped after high-level military talks, and the unofficial supreme power holder Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa (COAS of the Pakistan army) also made a statement saying, “it’s time to bury the past.”
This change in Pakistan came after U.A.E mediated for India-Pakistan peace as it has good relations with both the nuclear-armed countries.
To revive and to remove the bitter relationship with Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi wrote a letter on 22nd of March to Imran Khan extending his best wishes on Pakistan’s National Day and stressed “cordial relations with the people of Pakistan under the environment of trust, devoid of terror & hostility.” And in response, Imran Khan also wrote a letter agreeing to peace between both countries, but as expected, he also highlighted the Kashmir issue.
Why Pakistan can’t be trusted…
Pakistan has a rich history of backstabbing India and its obsession with Kashmir. Whenever India tries to normalize the relations, it has only backfired. This can be supported with various events from the past:-
- Soon after the independence, in October 1947, Pakistan military and Pashtun militia attacked Jammu & Kashmir under local Kashmiris’ garb, fearing it might merge into India.
- Pakistan launched “Operation Gibraltar” to infiltrate forces into J&K; in response, India waged a full fledge war in 1965. (War of 1965 is also known as Battle of Tanks)
- After the war of 1971 and East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh, India signed the Shimla agreement. After being defeated in 2 straight wars, Pakistan started the proxy war and created a Khalistani Movement within India.
- To resume dialogue and peace, both Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan met in Lahore and signed the Lahore declaration in February 1999 but again, its obsession with Kashmir, Pakistan military infiltrated Kargil in 1999 by the end of April under the garb of Mujahideen.
- Again in 2001, history reiterated itself. After the Agra summit in July 2001, Pakistan-based terrorists and backed by Pakistan intelligence attacked the Indian Parliament in December 2001.
- The infamous 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008. The terrorists were from Pakistan.
- After becoming the PM of India, Prime Minister Modi invited Nawaz Sharif(then PM of Pakistan) to his oath ceremony and made an unplanned visit to Lahore in December 2015 & wished Nawaz Sharif on his birthday but in response, got Pathankot, Uri, and Pulwama.
Even when Pakistan genuinely wanted to normalize its relations with India, it has always seen a setback as everyone in Pakistan is never on the same page. A country should have friendly and prosperous relations with its neighbour as it benefits everyone. But a neighbour like Pakistan, which has a rich history of backstabbing, makes India more vigilant before resuming any trade or relation. Moreover, the current regime in India is well versed of Pakistan’s move in the past, and normalcy in relation will take time with proper use of hard and soft diplomacy.
