India-Pakistan Dialogue

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna met his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad for a sustainable and meaningful dialogue to bring peace and harmony in the two regions. Dialogue started earlier but postponed after the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 plotted in Pakistani soil. Now Pakistan has realised the fact that terrorism is the cancer of their nation. In a recent statement, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said, "Pakistan is against militancy and terrorism in any form and in any location and both the governments need to work more closely for eliminating this menace". Our former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was aware the fact that only dialogue can solve our differences, nothing else. He took several initiatives to built up good relationship with Pakistan. But at that time, Pakistan could not understand the importance of dialogue and they turned the dialogue into a battle ground, Kargil. Our Present Prime Minister is also going to the same path like his predecessor. 

Now the time has come for India and pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues including Kashmir soon for their own interest. These two countries are the victim of terrorism. India is the victim of state-sponsored terrorism as well as Pakistan- and Afghanistan-based terrorism. Whereas Pakistan is the victim of both state-sponsored and Afghan-based terrorism. In this scenario, the two countries need to resolve their differences soon. 

Maoist and Naxalism are the biggest threat in India. A large number of CRPF force has been deployed to control the Maoist, but CRPF has failed to control this situation. In future, there may be a chance sending arm forces to control the situation. China is the biggest external threat to India. If India does not settle down all the outstanding issues with Pakistan, it can be a great danger to India as well as Pakistan. China will take opportunity, and it is not ruled out in future they can enter into the Indian soil as they did in Siachin. It is expected that there may be Chinese connection to Maoist. Kashmir is boiled once again and the State government is failed to control own people. Army has been engaged to restore the situation better. Innocent people are dying everyday and the State government asking for the intervention of center and Prime Minister to solve the crisis. Separatists in Kashmir region began an insurgency against Indian rule in 1989, backed by Pakistan and tens of thousands of people have been killed so far. Since independence from British rule, 1947, mostly Muslim in Kashmir has been the cause of two of three wars between India and Pakistan. Relations between the two nations have been bedevilled by border and resource disputes including sharing of river waters.    

Pakistan has damaged badly with state-sponsored terrorism. Terrorism is like cancer, which has swallowed and hurt whole Pakistan. Islamabad, Lahore, Swat valley, Belochistan, and many other parts of Pakistan are often attacked by terrorist. As per an article published in the editorial of a leading newspaper in Pakistan "Dawn", the people of Pakistan feel they do not have good leadership to run the country well. Army rule and worst leadership have damaged whole Pakistan. Pakistan leadership should be more diplomatic, confident and self-controlled to build their nation rather than depending on China and America. Neighboring country China is not in favor of resolving India-Pak conflict. It is true, we do have better leadership than Pakistan. Despite several internal problems, Indian economy is growing more than 9 percent. And it is estimated that growth rate may be in double digit figure in the coming years. But, when the growth rate is concerned we are still behind China although India has good resources. In the growing economy, if India and Pakistan resolve their differences, these two countries can grow better than any other nation in the world including China. The two countries can cut their defense expenditure and can utilize the amount to develop infrastructure. 

India has flexible border with Nepal. This is not a good symbol in terms of security in India. Arms and weapons generally come from Nepal border and supply to Maoist. There is a possibility China is funding Maoist, but have not been proved yet. Otherwise from where Maoist are getting funds and weapons? Maoist activities are now worst than we have ever seen. Our neighboring countries want to damage India as much as possible to stop our growth. It is believed Pakistan is financing to Hurriyat leaders for stone-pelting and attacking arm forces to disturb the country. If it is true, the people of Kashmir should realise the fact that it is not a good sign for them and obviously not for India. I don't think opposition parties in Kashmir are in favor of solving the problems rather than they are part of the problems. They don't have intention to work with ruling party to resolve the crisis amicably. PDP's Mehbooba Mufti and Hurriyat are busy enough blaming ruling CM Omar Abdulla and his government. The political blame game will be continued. All major parties should work together to settle the issues and help government to develop the State, damaged by several terrorist attacks.

Pakistan is now concentrating to control terrors on their own land and stop proxy war to India. They even agreed to exchange intelligence input to combat terrorism. They agreed to communicate weekly basis to fight against terrorism together. Two Prime Ministers, met in Thimpu in April, primarily focused on ways to bridge trust deficit and to enhance confidence by building on various humanitarian issues, including people-to-people contact, exchanges of prisoners and bilateral trade. People of these two neighboring countries have very common and similar culture. People can live with prosperity if trade, relationship and communication improve. The people of Punjab and other parts of the country who have relatives in Pakistan, poor fishermen who are the worst victim, and those who are now in Pakistan and Indian jail can be released, go back to their families.