Over the past few months, Pakistan has repeatedly tried to extend an olive branch to India in order to resume bilateral relations with India. Now, in an effort to bring India to the table, Pakistan has roped in the United Arab Emirates to broker peace between Pakistan and India, however, India has steadfastly maintained its stance that terror and talks cannot go together.
The Hindu reports that a back-channel dialogue between Indian and Pakistani officials has been resumed with a helping hand from the UAE. It is being reported that the two countries had begun to work on a four-step “roadmap for peace” duly facilitated by the UAE. It is also believed that last month’s ceasefire announcement by border commanders at the Line of Control (LoC) was “brokered” by the UAE.
The Bloomberg report said, “The next step in the process, the official said, involves both sides reinstating envoys in New Delhi and Islamabad, who were pulled in 2019 after Pakistan protested India’s move to revoke seven decades of autonomy for the disputed Muslim-majority State of Jammu and Kashmir. Then comes the hard part: Talks on resuming trade and a lasting resolution on Kashmir, the subject of three wars since India and Pakistan became independent from Britain in 1947.”
While there has been a thaw between the two countries, it is unlikely that there will be any further developments if Pakistan continues to actively back and promote terrorism in the region.
On the occasion of Pakistan’s National Day, PM Modi dispatched a letter to his Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan, where he stressed that an atmosphere of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is “imperative” for better relations between the two neighbours.
The letter stated, “As a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan. For this, an atmosphere of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative.”
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Charge d’affaires Aftab Hasan Khan said, “Pakistan wants to have friendly relations with all countries including India.”
In fact, last week, Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa said the time has come for the two countries to “bury the past and move forward”.
However, the issue of Kashmir must be resolved before any meaningful moves on peace can take place between the two countries. As Pakistan shows no signs of backing down from promoting anti-India terrorists, it is unlikely that the current thaw will last for long.