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| Modi springs a surprise for Nawaz Sharicf through a phone call | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 14 : Within six months Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, seems to be keen in reviving ties with Pakistan that had become strained since middle of August last when New Delhi called off proposed foreign secretary level talks.In fact since middle of August last there has been hardly any attempt at resuming bilateral dialogue.
Yes if there has been any exchange between the two sides it has been the exchange of gun and mortar fire on the LOC and on the IB in Jammu and Kashmir.The Indian troops were directed to retaliate with force and fury each ceasefire violations from the Pakistani troops and Rangers.
While in early August New Delhi and Islamabad were getting ready for the proposed foreign secretary level talks India called off the scheduled foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan, objecting to its envoy meeting Kashmir separatists on the eve of the dialogue. The tough response had rendered bleak prospects of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan anytime soon.
Pakistan's engagement with Kashmir separatists has always caused heartburns in New Delhi, but never led to the breakdown of dialogue. With the unprecedented response to latest provocation from Pakistan, the Modi government has set the bar high for Islamabad. "Pakistan and powers within that country do not want Indo-Pak ties to be normal."This message was conveyed to Pakistan..
However,it was the turn for Modi to break the ice.He did so when he, on Friday, spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and other heads of the SAARC nations participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup and conveyed best wishes for the showpiece event.
Modi said he would be sending country's new Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on a 'SAARC Yatra' to "further strengthen our ties"."Spoke to (Afghan) President Ashraf Ghani, (Bangladesh) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and (Sri Lankan) President (Maithripala) Sirisena. Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup," Modi tweeted.
Noting that five SAARC nations are playing and are excited about the World Cup, Modi said, "(I) am sure WC will celebrate sportsman spirit and will be a treat for sports lovers." "Cricket connects people in our region and promotes goodwill. Hope players from SAARC region play with passion and bring laurels to the region," he said. Australia and New Zealand will host the 11th ICC Cricket World Cup starting tomorrow and India and Pakistan will face each other in their opening game on Sunday.The Prime Minister also tweeted, "Would be sending our new Foreign Secretary on a SAARC Yatra soon to further strengthen our ties."
Jaishankar's visit to Pakistan will be significant given that India had cancelled Foreign Secretary-level talks in August last year after the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with the Kashmiri separatists on the eve of the Indo-Pak talks.
That Modi has the art of springing surprises has been evident from the day he was sworn in as Prime Minister of India.
He had invited Nawaz Sharif and other SAARC countries heads to his oath taking ceremony which head allowed Modi to make a fresh beginning in his efforts for promoting cordial ties with immediate neighbours and SAARC countries. The body language of Nawaz Sharif and Modi,during the former's stay in New Delhi,had given an inkling of Indo-Pak ties moving on the right direction. However, Pakistan High Commissioner, Abdul Basit's date with Kashmiri separatists besides repeated ceasefire violations bedeviled the bilateral ties.These two incidents seem to have led to frozen relations between the two sides.
And it was left to Modi to open the doors for a new engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad.In fact he has thrown the ball in the court of Nawaz Sharif.It is upto Nawaz Sharif to respond positively.
His positive response could mean directing Pakistani troops to stop ceasefire violations and goading all those agencies,state and non-state actors,engaged in using the soil of Pakistan for exporting terror to India.
Once it is done Nawaz Sharief would be the first person to realize Modi's magnanimity.
Ultimately cessation of conflict between India and Pakistan was key to peace in the South Asian region.And Mufti Mohd. Sayeed,who is tipped to head the BJP-PDP coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir would be quite happy as his one demand of resumption of talks with Pakistan was being fulfilled by Modi himself. But Nawaz Sharief is yet to abandon hate India stance.This is evident from the way he has conveyed to the US that making India permanent member of the UN Security Council was unacceptable to Pakistan. |
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