India-Pakistan Relations

S Jaishankar’s Islamabad visit is brings hope for improvement in India-Pakistan relations.

About

• The downturn in ties between India and Pakistan since 2016, after which no high-level bilateral talks have been held, is clearly mirrored in the survey.
• Previous surveys in 2011 and 2013 had indicated a much higher optimism for reconciliation in the subcontinent.

Brief on India- Pakistan Relations

• India-Pakistan relations are complex and have been marked byperiods of tension, conflict, and occasional cooperationsince the two countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Timeline

• Partition and Early Conflicts:The partition of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947 led to large-scale migrations and violence.
• The first major conflict came with the First Kashmir War (1947-48) over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Wars and Conflicts:The two countries fought three more major wars:
• 1965 War:Another conflict over Kashmir, resulting in a UN-mandated ceasefire.
• 1971 War:Resulted in the independence of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) after a brutal conflict.
• 1999 Kargil Conflict:A brief but intense conflict in the Kargil district of Kashmir where India emerged victorious.
• Nuclearization:Both countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, this has added a new dimension to the strategic calculus.
• Peace Efforts and Dialogues:There have been numerous attempts at dialogue and peace-building, including the Agra Summit (2001) and the Lahore Summit (1999).
• However, progress has often been stymied by various issues, including terrorism and cross-border violence by Pakistan.
• Terrorism and Security Issues:Attacks like the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks have significantly strained relations.
• The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has been accused of playing a role in several terrorist attacks in India.
• Pulwama Attack:In February 2019, an attack on a convoy of Indian paramilitary forces in Pulwama, Kashmir, killed at least forty soldiers.
• The attack, claimed by the Pakistani militant group JeM, was the deadliest in Kashmir in three decades
• India retaliated by conducting an air strike that targeted terrorist training camps within Pakistani territory.
• Current Dynamics:The relations remain strained, with sporadic dialogue and efforts at normalization, but ongoing issues like the Kashmir dispute, cross-border terrorism, and political tensions continue to dominate the relationship.

Areas of Cooperation

• Indus Water Treaty:This treaty, established in 1960, governs the use of the Indus River and its tributaries.
• Despite ongoing disputes, it has largely been successful in managing water resources between the two countries.
• Kartarpur Corridor Agreement (2019):An Agreement between India and Pakistan for the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Pakistan, was signed in 2019 in order to fulfill the the long-standing demand of the pilgrims to have easy and smooth access to the holy Gurudwara.
• Cricket:Cricket matches between India and Pakistan often attract widespread attention and have sometimes been used as a platform to ease tensions and foster goodwill.
• Bilateral Talks:Periodic diplomatic dialogues and summits, despite their ups and downs, provide platforms for addressing various issues and finding common ground.
• Peace Agreements:Simla Agreement (1972), Lahore Summit Declaration (1999), Agra Summit (2001) are the major peace establishing agreements signed between both the countries.

Way Ahead

• Both countries have significant internal and external challenges that impact their bilateral relations
• In keeping with its “Neighbourhood First Policy”, India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan
• Indiahas made clear that itwill not compromiseon issues relating tonationalsecurityand will takefirm and decisive stepsto deal with all attempts to undermineIndia’s security and territorial integrity.