Human emotions are the most illogical, yet strongest motivation for both peace and war. These emotions may be based on ground realities but easily remain susceptible to manipulation. Fortunes are made through such manipulation all around the globe. But these fortunes are predominantly made at the cost of human misery and tragedy. Such is the nature of an age old conflict between both India and Pakistan. Till date this conflict has given birth to numerous human tragedies and sufferings born out of politics of hate and fear.
Both Indians and Pakistanis mostly remain misinformed about each other plagued by stereotypes and prejudices. Hatred and fear, not reason, derive the distorted perceptions ( https://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2015/09/impediments-to-india-pakistan-peace.html ) of both sides.
Enough has been written and said on the background of the India-Pakistan rivalry based where religion remains to be the basic cause of contention. Organized clergy and the politicians seeking their patronage on both sides are the main instigators and beneficiaries of this conflict. In the process, both countries have brought the entire region onthe verge of a nuclear holocaust which may engulf the entire world with its fall out.
The biggest sufferers of this tragedy of errors on part of the religious and political leaders of both sides are the innocent population on both sides. While the politics of hate and fear by both sides is ferociously played, it works on continuously radicalizing the people, in particular the youth of both sides.
The problem governing this historical rivalry essentially revolves around the Kashmir issue. However, the major escalation of this rivalry and resultant bloodshed is due to the willingness of both Indian and Pakistani state officials, especially in security and intelligence spheres to enhance respective careers exploiting this tragedy of errors. This further intensifies the already complicated quagmire called India-Pakistan bilateral relations.
The demographic pattern of the Asian subcontinent essentially consists of emotionally charged and highly reactive population. Under these circumstances, the situation will always remain ripe for opportunistic state officials, politicians, religious clergy and any outside force which stands to benefit from this rivalry. The looser will always be the same emotional population on both sides which are easily led and being treated as sheep by their respective leaders under the scenario.
Kashmir being the principal bone of contention towards a durable Indo-Pakistan peace requires a solution for the sake of both India and Pakistan and the future of its populations. Pakistani model of Kashmir on its side is an ideal solution for India. Pakistan boasts an independent Jammu and Kashmir with fully democratic self rule and at the same time free movement and reserved jobs in Pakistan with reserved seats for Kashmiri youth in all state educational institutions. If India lets go of its autocratic rule in Kashmir with an iron grip over its democratic institutions and allows free movement and trade between both sides of Kashmir, only then a resolution, acceptable to all stake holders may take effect, Such an eventuality would not only ease the horrendous human sufferings of the populations effected by this rivalry on both sides but also will pave the way for a durable peace between both the nuclear armed neighbours.
If European nations after centuries of wars among themselves can form a project like the European Union, the least India and Pakistan can do is to tame down all the hatred and disgust towards each other and work to resolve their differences through the similarities born out of a shared heritage.
" Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. "Martin Luther King, Jr.
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