Something bizarre has happened this week, which brings the Indian sub-continent including Afghanistan into focus. Sixteen agreements were signed in Mascow by the two sides about a variety of bilateral trade and cooperation including transfer of military hardware. It looks like reviving old broad-based multi-faceted relations between India and the Russian Federation reappearing in new avatar. Prime Minister Modi’s halt at Kabul on way back home was an unannounced move. Nevertheless, it surprised political circles not only in the region but in other continents also.
In Kabul, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new building of Afghan Parliament constructed by Indian engineers at a cost of over 33 million US Dollars. Modi’s forty-minute speech to the law makers in Afghan Parliament will go down as a historical speech so impressive that there was no relent to cheers from the audience. The importance of Modi’s address lies in the fact that India’s footfall in Afghanistan has always been perceived by Pakistan as a threat to its security. Islamabad has been haranguing the US to stop India from making her presence felt in Afghanistan. In his speech, Modi dispelled all such fears and apprehensions as false and politically motivated. He said that India was in Afghanistan to build the country and not divide it. India was committed to the development, progress and peace in Afghanistan but as long as terrorist interference from across the border was there, peace in Afghanistan would remain elusive. He urged Afghans of all hues to unite and rebuild their country from shambles.
Ever since the US-led NATO forces are engaged in fighting the Taliban-Al Qaeda-TTP nexus in Afghanistan, Pakistan has been repeatedly expressing her displeasure of India making a foothold in Afghanistan because, according to Pakistan policy planners, that is a ploy to sandwich Pakistan between two antagonistic neighbours. India has had age old relations with Afghanistan. She has contributed largely in building developmental infrastructure in Afghanistan like roads, bridges, hotels, cinemas, restaurants, hospitals, air strips, and banks etc. Therefore, keeping all these realities in view, Pakistan has been void of the mark in accusing India of creating a front against her in Afghanistan. It is Pakistan that raised the Taliban in Afghanistan who have become a source of disaster for the people of Afghanistan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani thanked Modi and India for giving full support and cooperation to his country.
From Kabul Prime Minister Modi made a sudden and unannounced trip to Lahore to greet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his 66th birthday and to felicitate his grand-daughter’s marriage ceremony which fell on the same day. India-Pakistan watchers call it a rare show of goodwill gesture and take it as a big step in giving new and positive turn to Indo-Pak friendly relationship. This sudden meeting, though lasting only two and a half hours, was more for establishing personal contact between the two Prime Ministers. At the same time, it augurs well for the confidence building process.
Responding to questions from the media, Pakistani Foreign Secretary said that the process of normalizing relations between the two countries has begun after the two Prime Ministers met in Ufa and desired that there should be a thaw in Indo-Pak frozen talks. Then happened their short meeting in Paris as a result of which serious developments took place like the meeting between the two Security Advisors in Hong Kong, External Affairs Minister’s visit to Pakistan for participation in the Heart of Asia meet and now the impending meeting between the two Foreign Secretaries scheduled of January 15, 2016 in Islamabad. Sushma Swaraj had said that both countries had agreed for comprehensive talks that would cover all irritants and concerns of each side so as to move on to establishing lasting peace in the region. It will be noted that only some days back, the news came that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had issued instructions to his Council of Ministers that nobody should speak against India because on highest levels efforts were being made for changing the course of history and giving Indo-Pak friendly and cordial relations a new meaning and new parameters.
It is a matter of great relief that the two hitherto estranged sides are narrowing down their differences and becoming fully conscious of their responsibility of stabilizing peace in the region and promoted trade and commerce. The harsh reality is that we have had wars, proxy war, hostilities, animosity and sabotaging activities during these last seven decades. What have the two gained out of it? Pakistan lost its eastern province which has become a separate and independent country. India had to give great sacrifices in keeping Kashmir safe from the rapacity of Pakistani tribesmen and ‘jihadis’. If hostilities continue, situation is bound to go from bad to worse. There is no justification in shelling and firing on each other’s innocent villagers across the LoC and IB.
Among others, J&K political leadership welcomed the Lahore meet and hoped that the right beginning made by the two Prime Ministers will result in far-reaching impact on Kashmir issue. Even the separatists have welcomed the gesture of the Indian Prime Minister in finding time to be with PM Nawaz Sharif on the social function at Nawaz Sharif’s Raiwind house.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel