India-Pakistan Peace. A Dream With Benefits-Or Wishful Thinking In Reality

The other day I got an opportunity to attend a seminar at the School of Politics and International Relations,Quaid E Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. QAU is Pakistan's officially declared top most institution, a distinction it rightly deserves. The topic was a controversial matter which only QAU could allow to be discussed for the sake of freedom of expression amongst an emotionally charged youthful audience. The Seminar was enthusiastically titled as "Aaghaz-e-Dosti", (An Initiative For Indo-Pak Friendship). Guest scholars invited to speak on the subject were Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, an academician who is as controversial in literacy circles of Pakistan for his political beliefs as the topic itself. Other speakers included Mr Raza Rumi and Mr Hassan Raza, bloggers and media activists. All three speakers were unanimous in declaring few points they propagated with respective convictions. Firstly, The benefits with a peace accord with India are far reaching,  and highly beneficial for Pakistan regards her economic growth, prosperity and well being. Secondly, Pakistan's attitude in this regard is less flexible, rather unreasonably stern while the general tendencies in Pakistan are highly volatile being extremist when it comes to tolerance levels. Each speaker quoted a personal incident to justify the point. Thirdly, The way to the future is peace, with which almost all audience agreed. There was a very short, but emotional question answer session which followed. The esteemed guests either due to the paucity of time or because of their respective convictions failed to highlight or missed following important issues. First, what will happen of Pakistan's indigenous industry, agriculture and food security in case MFN status is granted to India, which is a prerequisite for any serious initiative for peace by the Indian government while this move for free trade was advocated strongly by Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy?. Second issue relates to Mr Raza Rumi while he spoke on the"Two Nation Theory", signifying it with a mere a political gimmick by Quaid E Azam Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah to gain independence from the British Raj, only. He conveniently missed discussing the current status of the "Two Nation Theory" which in fact formed the basis of partition of India in 1947, when the blood spilled still howls in the corridors of history to date. The speakers also failed to present the clear demarcations for attaining a parity so necessary for bilateral agreements, rather propagated an impression that we the Pakistanis need to bend down while asking for peace from the big brother, India.

Under the unidirectional approach of all three scholars, the emotions were justified to have erupted while a Kashmiri student gave his piece of mind, rather arrogantly to Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy. The student had lost half of his property, to the Indian occupation forces at the Indian side of Kashmir along with, his complete family killed by the Indian Army, as he claimed. Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy was gracious in responding, while he pacified the situation, he was forced to acknowledge that the fault lines regards the issue were much deeper than the surface going both sides of the border, but a way forward needs to be found in order to avoid the human suffering like that at Europe in first and second world war's aftermath, till the Europeans decided to live alongside each other for the sake of progress and survival forming the European Union . The emotionally charged audience were indirectly disciplined for the sake of decorum by Dr Qandeel Abbass of QAU who was overseeing the proceedings.

The argument was closed by Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal of QAU as the host, who is himself an imminent International Relations expert of the highest credentials, in the most appropriate conclusion. He was of the view that the need for Peace with India is an utmost aspiration for Pakistan and possess highly reward able prospects for both the countries, however, the dialogue needs to be on the basis of parity and mutual respect where the ideological foundations of Pakistan needs never be compromised.

In an after seminar reception, I took up the initiative while being afforded an opportunity to have a one to one discussion with Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy. I posed him essentially two questions. Firstly I asked him about the fate of the "Two Nation Theory" which was conveniently termed a political gimmickry of Mr Jinah by Mr Raza Rumi?. Dr Hoodbhoy was tactful in answering, while asking to find a way forward under the economic considerations at Pakistan. My second question pertained to the existence of fault lines at India domestically in general? to which he affirmed but concluded that the Pakistani domestic fault lines at present are rather deeper and more volatile than the Indian side. Upon this Question, Dr Hoodbhoy rather quoted the former Pakistani Army Chief, General Ishfaq Pervaiz Kyani, when he declared the Paksitani Internal Security threat as the Defence Forces primary concern followed by India, now. That is a first time shift of strategy as seen by Dr Hoodbhoy in the security doctrine of Pakistan. Mr Raza Rumi, had earlier dismissed the Pakistani Security Establishment's claims as Mullah curacy's ill propaganda, that the Indian Intelligence agencies operating from their forward basis at Afghanistan are playing havoc within Pakistan through the Pakistani Talibans, who are in fact mercenaries for higher to the highest bidder in an era of proxy warfare and indirect conflicts generating the business for such mercenary groups.

The net result, as it seemed to this humble scribe was to promote the India-Pakistan peace process. However, either the short amount of time or the specific selection of speakers invited at the seminar, they failed to address the sour truths by over simplifying the underlying cause of the fiasco called India-Pakistan relations and conflict, as one expects from such a gathering of highly acclaimed professionals.