Sikh pilgrims coming from India and elsewhere to celebrate the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak are always welcomed in Pakistan. It is an opportunity to promote love and friendship and find a common ground to end hostilities between the two arch-rivals. It is high time that Pakistan and India should jointly work for improving ties. Pakistani and Indian governments and establishments need to grow up. The people of both countries want to meet each other for social, religious and economic reasons. They have so much in common. The conflict between Pakistan and India is counted amongst one of the oldest rivalries. The world is observing insanity of leadership from both countries, who have failed to ascertain the advantages of peace and trade. The process to change the status quo between Pakistan and India, desired by many, can be helped by developing people-to-people contacts and improving diplomatic relations.
So far the existing trust deficit has not been bridged, and positive initiatives and efforts are needed to rewrite the narrative between Pakistan and India. Viewed from the lens of the tit-for-tat reaction characterised by churlish belligerence of the two states, it appears that Pakistan and India push the boundaries of acceptable diplomatic attacks to vilify each other. In this chaotic situation, there is the need to have political will for bringing an end to decades’ long mistrust and resentment. The leadership of both countries must rise above all differences for the establishment of permanent peace. Instead of sticking to the traditional mindset of undermining each other, both sides need to show flexibility. They must compromise in the larger national, regional and global interest.
The dividends that peace offers are unlimited and achievable through the establishment of long lasting peace in the region. The leadership of both countries must resolve all bilateral issues in a civilised manner. They must listen to each other’s opinion, address grievances and seek solutions. The trade and economic prospects between both states are enormous and cannot be ignored. Instead of making a mountain out of a molehill, both governments need to resolve all issues by getting engaged in peace talks.
