Loud Thinking

India and Pakistan – Prisoners of the Past

Honourable Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sahab,

AoA.

The world knows very well that you are a man of peace, not just for the sake of peace, but you want to use peace, as a vehicle for eradicating ignorance, hunger, poverty and disease, which has become a fait accompli, for the millions and millions of poor, not only in Pakistan, but for the dwellers of the entire SAARC region.

In order to ensure that your message and vision is known to all and sundry, it is imperative that besides meeting the Indian PM in closed doors, for exchange of views in a typical diplomatic ambience, you should directly talk with India from the rostrum of the UNGA; and tell them absolutely clearly that:

-Let India and Pakistan decide once and for ever, to pledge not to be the prisoners of the past.

-Let both the countries decide to adopt the famous quote of L.M. Montgomery, which states that “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

-If both the countries have to be friends, then that friendship must be in true sense; and we must not act and behave with each other, in a hypocritical manner.

-Also please assure the Indians that even if we wanted, we can not conquer India. At the same time, even if India wanted, it can’t pull down Pakistan, without India being destroyed, as well. So why to waste time in imaginary hate policies? Let both the nations be friends in true sense, like all the European countries.

-Let India show magnanimity as the largest country in the region; and not expect from Pakistan to stretch beyond its capacity, to match the Indian gestures of goodwill.

-Let India support Pakistan in its fight against the terrorists, by closing about a dozen consulates established along Pak-Afghan border, inside Afghanistan. This will also prove Indian intentions and desire, towards authentic peace with Pakistan.

-Let both the nations have a genuine peace. Let India remove all its strike forces from our borders, without any fear.

-Let both India and Pakistan decide immediately to withdraw troops for the Siachin area. Let both the countries take some big confidence building measures. Let India remove all non-tariff barriers against Pakistani imports in India.

-Let both the nations join hands to wage a war against poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy.

-Let us turn this subcontinent into a bastion of peace and a heaven on earth. India and Pakistan just need a period of single decade of genuine peace, to turn around its fortunes and to emerge as the most potent economic and cultural power house of the world. The only condition is genuine and authentic peace, like the one which exists in between the EU countries.

-India and Pakistan should not be afraid of the problems, because they will remain for ever, but we have to give priority to peace over the problems. We have to increase spendings manifold in the areas of education, health and social sectors.

-Failure in promoting genuine peace between the two countries is not an option; rather both the countries can not sustain for long, under the policy of low intensity hostilities, or no war no peace situation.

Wishing you Mr. Prime Minister, best of luck in your endeavours to make this region a bastion of peace.

Kind regards.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad