Will there be peace between India and Pakistan?

The answer is YES and it would happen soon hopefully in my lifetime.  I am an eighty year old born in Rawalpindi and consider Pakistan as my “Madre Wattan” (Motherland) in spite of the fact that I am a staunch Hindu, joined RSS in 1945 in Rawalpindi and suffered as a refugee from Pakistan.  Most of my life, I had been anti-Pakistan; then I realized I should forget my bitterness and animosity as Pakistan cannot be “undone” and I must do something about bringing both countries together so that we can all focus on improving the condition of millions who are among the poorest in the world.  I also want free travel and restriction free business between both the countries.

When Vajpayee became Prime Minister of India, I got a good opportunity to work towards my objective.  Even though he belonged to RSS, his Chief Adviser Brajesh Mishra kept him and RSS apart from each other to the extent that most of the interaction broke down between Vajpayee and RSS.  As I had known Mr. Vajpayee since 1951 when he was deputed from RSS to Jana Sangha, predecessor of BJP and I was also very close to the RSS top leadership, I became the main communication link between the two.  One day, when I met Mr. Vajpayee, he asked me, “What would be the RSS reaction if I initiated a peace dialogue with Pakistan?”  I encouraged him to do so and assured him that I would discuss the matter with RSS and in all probability, RSS would not oppose it as such action would reduce the tension at the border and might also result in improving the condition of Hindus living in Pakistan.  RSS had no objection. Soon after that Mr. Vajpayee visited Kashmir and announced his peace initiative which was followed by his famous bus trip to Lahore.  As a poet, he was able to touch the hearts of Pakistanis.  A well known Pakistani told me, “Mr. Vajpayee’s speech brought tears to the eyes of the listeners.”  What happened then?  Without PM Sharif’s knowledge, General Musharraf started the Kargil War and the peace process came to a halt.  When Mr. Musharraf became the President, there was a SAARC Conference in Pakistan.  Doubts were expressed whether Mr. Vajpayee would go himself or would send the Foreign Minister.  He asked me what he should do.  I advised him to definitely attend the SAARC meeting.  He stated, “I am leaning towards it, however, I may not have ‘one-to-one’ meeting with Musharraf as I do not trust him.”  I stated, “Atalji (in RSS without any regard to age and position, each one addresses others with “ji”) in politics, there is no such thing as friend or enemy, or trust or no trust; there is only one thing i.e., to achieve your objective. The one-to-one meeting may bring peace between the two countries.  At least it would enhance your status in both the countries.”  He agreed but stated, “I will not announce the meeting in advance.”  The meeting took place and Mr. Musharraf was invited to visit India which he did.  During this visit, Musharraf and Vajpayee reached an agreement on Kashmir, however, before signing it, Mr. Vajpayee changed his mind primarily due to his distrust of Musharraf. The general belief was that the agreement was not signed due to Mr. Advaniji’s opposition.  It is true that Mr. Advaniji was opposed to the Agreement, it was Mr. Vajpayee himself who decided not to execute the Agreement.

In early 2014, I happened to meet Mr. Salman Bashir, the Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi at the house of Subrahmaniyam Swamy, a well known Indian politician.  Dr. Swamy introduced me to Mr. Bashir as a staunch RSS Member and a good friend of Mr. Narendra Modi.  I told Mr. Bashir that I was born in Rawalpindi.  He asked me whether I would like to visit Pakistan and I expressed my happiness if I was invited and able to meet government officials there.  Upon my return to the USA, I got a call from the Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington and I met him.  He extended the Pakistan government’s invitation to me.  I went to Pakistan on a five-day trip.  First, I visited Lahore and had some meetings there including one with the President of PTI Punjab.  Then I was driven to Islamabad and had good and frank discussions with Mr. Sharif’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Foreign Secretary and Mr. Sartaj Aziz, National Security & Foreign Affairs Adviser.  I also visited my birthplace in Mohan Pura Mohalla, Rawalpindi, Taxila University and Katas Raj Temple, a famous Hindu Temple.  I was given three copies of each of the two books, “Hindu Heritage of Pakistan” and “Sikh Heritage of Pakistan”; great books with beautiful photographs of their shrines. Upon my return to India, I briefed Narendra Modi and Bhagwatji, RSS Head, and I also met Mr. Ashok Singhal, then the President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.  I gave a copy of both books to each of them.  Both Mr. Bhagwat and Mr. Singhal were very happy and expressed hope for peace between India and Pakistan.

I refused to talk to the correspondents who contacted me about my visit to Pakistan. On August 8. 2014, Ms. Suhasini Haider published a story, “Surprise is a tactics and not a strategy” in the Hindu newspaper based on the information provided to her by the Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi.  In her story she briefly described my meetings in Pakistan. There were a couple of other newspapers that published stories about my visit.  Finally, I also published two articles about my visit, “My Pak Visit: When a hawk turned into a peacenik”, January 2, 2016 issue of the Sunday Guardian, Delhi and “Indo-Pak relationship, Immature behavior” in the Hindu, August 28, 2015.

Upon his election as Prime Minister, at my request Mr. Modi invited the heads of states of all the SAARC countries and all of them, including Mr. Sharif, attended the Swearing in Ceremony.  This happened for the first time.  Things were going well until the terrorist attacks started again in J&K.  In the SAARC meeting in Nepal, Mr. Modi ignored Mr. Sharif which I did not like. Later Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif were supposed to attend a meeting in Moscow. I requested Mr. Modi to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr. Sharif which he did.  My Pakistani friends, who were also present at the meeting, advised me that the meeting went very well.  Both PMs decided to meet again at a Climate Summit in Paris.  However, due to a terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar, Mr. Sharif cancelled his trip to Paris.  On his trip back to India, without any prior public notice, Mr. Modi stopped in Lahore, attended the marriage of one of Mr. Sharif’s relatives and had good discussions with Mr. Sharif.  They would have reached a permanent solution however, soon after his return to India, there was a terrorist attack on Pathankot Air Force Base.  There was denouncement by the Indian government.  In his statement, Mr. Hosobale, then the RSS Assistant General Secretary, also expressed displeasure about the attack, however, he stated, “Brothers do fight sometimes but they don’t break the relationship”. He also expressed the hope of peace between the two countries.  The Pathankot attack was followed by attacks at two more Indian military bases which no one in India could swallow.  Things broke down there.

Then Mr. Imran Khan got elected.  After his victory, I wrote an article, “New Delhi should invite Imran Khan to India” which was published on July 28, 2018 in the Sunday Guardian, Delhi.  This was the only article, appearing in any major newspaper in India, which was favorable to Mr. Khan’s election.  Mr. Modi called and congratulated Mr. Khan and expressed his hope for a better relationship with Pakistan.  After his call, terrorists killed 40 Indian soldiers in Pulwama and thereafter, the relationship between the countries started going downhill.  Instead of realizing the reality that Pakistan cannot get Kashmir, Mr. Khan made Kashmir number one issue for Pakistan.  As Mr. Modi had promised during the Parliament election, on August 5, 2019, the Indian government abrogated Article 370.  Since then, Pakistan has been totally obsessed with Kashmir to such an extent that even liberal Pakistani newspaper Dawn started writing strong anti-India editorials and published articles which could amount to encouraging violence in J&K.  Previously, there used to be news and articles in Dawn expressing pride in the Hindu heritage of Pakistanis including Muslims.  Now all of these have disappeared. It seems that a number of Indians read Dawn regularly. With the increase in Pakistan’s anti-India rhetoric, Dawn’s readers are also getting nastier.  Once in a while there are conciliatory and sensible comments expressing hope for a good relationship, however, most of the comments are childish and not palatable.  Sarcasm and putting down the other country do not help anyone.  It would be better if the readers can initiate a dialogue which helps bring both countries together.  Blaming Modi, BJP and RSS is not only factually wrong, it would neither lead to India’s disintegration nor in improving relations between the two countries.  Rest assured that as long as RSS is there, India will not disintegrate.  In fact, India will continue to become stronger.  I should also point out that Mr. Vajpayee, loved by Pakistan, belonged to the RSS until his death.  In spite of all efforts, the Congress government could not prove any allegations against the RSS and Mr. Modi. BJP and Modi will continue for a long time because of Modi’s good work and extremely confused and divided opposition.

I already provided some examples of Modi’s effort and RSS intent in improving the relationship.  I can and may write an article on the misunderstandings about RSS.  They are not anti-Muslim; their intention is to make sure that the Indian government does not pursue policies which are not favorable to India nor are detrimental and demeaning to Hindus.

Now, let me discuss what Pakistan and India, especially Pakistan, should do if there is going to be a relationship to mutual benefit.  Pakistan has to become pragmatic and has to follow the famous American saying, “It is economy stupid!”  Most of the OIC Countries have recognized the importance of economics and the reality that they cannot push Israelis into the ocean. The OIC Countries have either established or are in the process of establishing relationships with Israel.  After several months of a gap, India realized the economic benefits and has started allowing again the Chinese FDI in spite of increased border tension with China.

Pakistan has to realize that it is not going to get Kashmir; there is not going to be any uprising in Kashmir; India is not going to back from the abrogation of Article 370; and the world is not going to do anything about Kashmir.  Kashmir is no more an issue with the world and a freak statement by a person or organization in any country is not going to change the situation.  For many years, Kashmir was the issue primarily in India and Pakistan.  At my persuasion, Mr. Modi and the Indian government stopped discussing Kashmir or getting excited about it if Pakistan or any other entity or person mentions Kashmir.  However, Pakistan continues to be obsessed with Kashmir.

Based on certain statements by Mr. Biden’s aides made prior to his election, some Pakistanis started believing that upon his becoming the U.S. President, Mr. Biden may pressurize India to start negotiations with Pakistan.  This is not going to happen.  As reported in Dawn, the U.S. State Department Spokesman stated categorically that India and Pakistan should negotiate their issues bilaterally.

During Mr. Clinton’s Presidency, Mr. Biden was the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  I have known Mr. Biden since he first became the U.S. Senator in 1975.  He was raised and educated in New Castle, Delaware which, along with nine other major cities of the State of Delaware, has been my client since 1972. During Mr. Clinton’s presidency, Senator Biden was the Chairman of the US Foreign Affairs Committee.  I once asked Mr. Biden, “Joe what is the US ‘real position on Kashmir?”  His answer was, “In spite of the public statements, the United States supports India on Kashmir as it did not want Kashmir to go to Pakistan and become a haven for terrorists.”  Then I asked, “Joe can India trust you?”  He answered, “Of course Jay”.  This was his statement when Mr. Clinton was pushing India to negotiate the Kashmir issue.  As stated above, Pakistan should not expect much, if any, support from Mr. Biden.

Now only Pakistan has the Kashmir issue.  Just for internal satisfaction, Pakistan can continue raising this issue, for practical purposes, Pakistan has to put the Kashmir issue on the back burner.  India should ease the visa restrictions for Pakistanis.  India should also realize that it has to move forward to reduce the needless tension between the two countries and allow Pakistani players to play in India and artists to visit India.  Pakistan should also stop helping terrorist activities even by fringe Sikh elements.  Businesses of both countries should be allowed to start businesses in the other country.  For example, Steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal can modernize Pakistan steel industry and make it competitive.  Joint Pharmaceutical and agro-based businesses could also help both countries.

Recently, PM Imran Khan highlighted Pakistan’s historical heritage.  Besides Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, there are many other very ancient sites in Pakistan such as Taxila, the world’s first University.  Pakistan was the cradle in the Indus Valley and Aryan Civilizations.  Panini, the world’s first and the most famous Grammarian was born in Peshawar area.  A number of famous and ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh Shrines should attract millions of tourists from around the world if Pakistan’s image as a hub for terrorists and Islamic fundamentalism is corrected.  When I decided to visit Pakistan in 2014, my wife, daughter and friends advised me not to go there.  My daughter thought I would be beheaded there and she stopped worrying only after I returned from Pakistan.

This perception has to be removed.  Tourist visas, especially to those having travel tickets to Pakistan, should be issued on line or on arrival. I agree with one of the comments in Dawn that Pakistanis are the most hospitable people in the world.  I can confirm it based on my travel to over eighty countries. The tourism would bring hundreds of millions of dollars into Pakistan and great goodwill.

Recent ceasefire agreement could lead the way and again I hope that the land of my birthplace and the land where I grew up and got most of my education would live in peace and happily thereafter.