Future of India and Pakistan

What Lies in the Future for India and Pakistan?

It is not too optimistic to believe that this looming threat from the global world might be the glue that finally binds India and Pakistan together – but it is not too pessimistic to believe both sides will probably let the opportunity slip. For the wounds of suspicion are deep. As easy as it is to say that political differences should be set aside, in India and Pakistan, mistrust runs deep and goes back far, even to Partition.

There are many on both sides who are in no mood to forgive. The two have fought three wars since gaining independence and lost millions of their citizens in the upheaval of Partition, when the two states were formed and refugees fled their homes for the safety of their co-religionists. Yet the religious division of the countries is not complete – Pakistan has millions of Hindus and India millions of Muslims – and the familial metaphors are correct, because the two share a long history: indeed, under the British Raj, they were one entity.

But it was the audacious attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that have truly poisoned relations. India has since refused to resume peace talks until the Pakistanis crack down on militants blamed for carrying out the attacks. The suspicion has long lingered in New Delhi, and elsewhere, that Islamabad is either too soft on terrorists operating from its territory, or actively tolerating them.

And as with brothers, even perceived slights become wounds. no Pakistani players were chosen by Indian teams to play in an Indian cricket league, although players from other countries were chosen and Pakistani players have in the past featured prominently in the league. What is, in essence, a sporting dispute took on the nature of a diplomatic incident, with India’s External Affairs ministry wading into the row and the Pakistani government canceling a delegation to India. That is how fraught relations are.

India and Pakistan would do better to recognize their future lies...