Jan 29, 2003 05:42 PM
2781 Views
(Updated Jan 29, 2003 05:42 PM)
INDIA PAKISTAN relations have always been a one sided affair . While INDIA has always asked for peace the other side has always wanted war . Maybe this is what I was expected to write about , but for all those modern(maybe a decade ago my review would have continued the way it began)jingoists my review shall be a dissapointment . About a decade and a half ago it would have been appropriate to say that we have been very flexible while the other side has been quite the opposite , but in the present scenario both sides have adopted rigid stands due to domestic compulsions (political) . After the 1989 problem (kashmiri pandits genuinely believe INDIA was responsible for the problem ) INDO-PAK relations have continuously worsened except for the shprt duration preceding the KARGIL war . Although INDO-PAK relations are not about just kashmir (pakistan has repeatedly caused diplomatic trouble like the recent harrasment of indian embassy officials , or the most favoured nation dispute ) , but unless the kashmir problem is solved the relations cannot improve . The only wayn I can think of solving the problem is either declaring loc the international border or the trifurcation of kashmir . But the govts. of both the countries (not MEA as the decisions are actually taken by the govt. itself ) have adopted pretty rigid stand on the issue .
Although the MEA has done wonderful work on all fronts , the political compulsions have made it very weak vis a vis pakistan .
