- Gone are the days when India as a country was equated with Pakistan in the geopolitical scenario at different platforms. The hyphenation of India and Pakistan has ceased for quite some time now with the former taking off spectacularly on the economic front making tremendous strides to be positioned as the fifth largest economy in the world presently. Not only that but India is also poised and aspires to be placed among the most developed countries in the world by 2047. The efforts are afoot by the Union Government, leaving no stone unturned in driving the country towards realizing that goal in earnest. Little wonder, the people of the country too have become aspirational and started believing that we are second to none.
PC: Thought Co
- The credit should accrue to the present dispensation at the Centre for inculcating such beliefs in the people by systematically laying thrust on economic drivers to ensure wholesome growth. However, the way Pakistan has turned out to be in recent times will evoke nothing but disappointment courtesy of self-defeating policies that have only harmed the nation in more than one way. The obsession with India by fomenting cross-border terrorist troubles has been counterproductive when the domestic situation is bordering on complete collapse. Indian stance on the matter has been clear. Nothing to do with bilateral talks or peaceful overtures unless Pakistan stops meddling with us vis-à-vis terrorist activities.
- Thus, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit at the backdrop of the SCO meeting cannot be viewed as a move in the direction of reconciliation. Mind you, Pakistan has diminished since 2019 but is yet to do course correction as expected by the Indian leadership. Remember, when ex-Pak foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India last year for an SCO meeting, there was no bilateral meeting with Jaishankar. Neither will Jaishankar formally meet his current counterpart during the SCO summit in Pakistan. These visits show India and Pakistan investing in being good members of SCO, not in rapprochement, which is impossible, as India has made it clear, without verifiable Pak action against cross-border terror. Are there any signs Pakistan is changing?
PC: The Economic Times
- Like in India, the Partition generation is passing on. A Gallup poll shows nearly half of Pakistanis feel that the younger generation is wiser than their elders when it comes to politics. This generation acutely feels how much the Indian economy has pulled ahead. Lately, this feeling has been exacerbated by how painfully the internet has been slowed in Pakistan, hurting freedom of expression as much as inflicting financial blows. And nobody lobbies for trade normalization with India more than Pak business. Pakistan’s Kashmir card is also played out. It downgraded ties with India after India nullified Articles 370 and 35-A. Pakistani leadership should heed the feelings of the people and concentrate on uplifting the country’s growth prospects.
