What the article is about:
- The article talks about changing nature of geopolitics in south Asia in India’s favour. And how India and Pakistan can use the utilise the occasion of anniversary of independence to take a fresh look at state of bilateral relations.
Relevance:
- GS2: India and its neighbourhood, Effects of policies and politics of countries on India’s Interests.
How and why Pakistan has become obsolete in international politics:
- Decades of promoting undemocratic rule.
- army’s experiments with religious extremism at home and jihad abroad.
- Pakistan has lost the kind of international support it has against India in the 1990s.
- Even west and US now have “India-first” policy in the South Asia.
- Due to prolonged neglect of economy Pakistan has lost its support in “Gulf countries” that it had cultivated in the name of religious solidarity.
- Pakistan’s PM’s presence at kremlin as Putin was ordering the invasion pf Ukraine.
- After withdrawal from Afghanistan US’s interest in Pakistan has rapidly declined.
What Pakistan needs to do to improve its ties with India:
- The ending of stalemate with India is necessary for it to make room for new beginnings.
- small steps to improve relations with India will expand te diplomatic, political and economic space for Pakistan like end to Pakistan’s preconditions on Kashmir to engage India.
What can India do:
- Delhi can keep the lines of communication open with Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Conclusion:
- There is no better moment than the 75th anniversary of independence and partition for the Indian PM to articulate a new vision for south Asia’s future.
