Strengthening the Peace Process

The POST, Sun, Dec,25, 2005.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema


As it is well known that the people of both India and Pakistan are fully supportive of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, the need of the hour is to guard against the creeping misperceptions. In countries like India and Pakistan misperceptions quickly gain strength. To replace misperceptions with constructive and realistic perceptions is not an easy task. It requires dedicated and concerted efforts to realize the desired transformation by both the media as well as the governments.

The devastating earthquake that hit most areas of Pakistan and some area of India opened the floodgate of constructive emotions the two nations have for each other. In the wake of the earthquake many constructive proposals were advanced. Among these proposal which materialized was the opening of the LOC at five points. These points are serving contact points between the people of two Kashmir. However it is not very clear that these points would remain open and operative permanently or they would be closed after few months.

While Pakistan has expressed desire to retain currently operative status of these point on permanent basis, the Indian attitude towards these points appear to be somewhat ambiguous. Frequently one comes across statements reflecting the limited nature of this concession. I think the Indian authorities can easily lift the clouds of ambiguity by just issuing a positive statement reflecting their desire to keep this entry point open on permanent basis.

Much more damaging is impression that is gaining strength within some Pakistani circles is that India has not done enough in terms of responding to Pakistani constructive overtures such as the notion of de militarization and self governance. Some have even asked the question that if India is not going to respond positively then Pakistan should review its ongoing policy of openness. If such impression gains sufficient strength then it could create difficulties for the going peace process. Therefore it is imperative that the Indian authorities should seriously consider some constructive gesture that could arrest adverse creeping trends and quickly reverse it.

In this connection some ideas can be suggested. First, the process of opening of Consulates in Mumbai and Karachi should be accelerated. Reports indicating that site chosen by the Pakistanis are running into problematic areas needs to be constructively looked into it. In fact the Indian authorities should make concerted efforts to assist the Pakistanis to secure a suitable place for their Consulate. Similar efforts could also be undertaken with regard to the opening of Indian Consulate in Karachi. 

Second, the Indian government could seriously consider to handover the Jinnah House to Pakistan. In fact it would a great confidence building measure. It is indeed difficult to see any serious objection to this measure. After all Nehru is already on record having expressed his desire to gift the Jinnah House to Pakistan. Jinnah house is located on Malabar in which he lived for years. Soon after partition it was taken over by the Indian Rehabilitation Ministry as an evacuee property. After retaining the possession of the House the Rehabilitation Ministry decided to auction it but later decided to postpone the auction. The postponement attracted considerable attention in Pakistan and much pleasure was expressed at the postponement of the auction.

In a note to the Cabinet on 7^th March 1955, Nehru seemed to have forcefully stated that House should not be sold or auctioned. He even went to the extent of stressing that Indian authorities should be prepared to handover the House to Pakistan as a gift from India. He asked the Cabinet to consider the matter and decide on principle. Now is perhaps the most appropriate time to gift the House to Pakistan. The Indian authorities may put the condition not to use it as a Consulate but could be used as a memorial. Such bold initiative can provide enormous strength to the ongoing peace process.

Third area which needs to be subjected to serious thinking is the media’s role. Sometimes media projects news in such way that it leaves adverse impression. To begin with it would be greatly appreciated if editors are made to realize the delicate nature of the process. While there is no doubt that people are supportive of the process, it is not too far fetched to assume that continuous reading of the interpretations based on misperceptions could leave undesirable marks upon the supporters of the process. Many Indian viewed the presence of NATO on Pakistani soil as something detrimental to their regional designs. Not only the issue was hotly debated within some Indian circles but even subjected the enlarged role of NATO to severe criticism despite fact that everybody knew that a small contingent of NATO forces that had come to Pakistan was there only to help restore roads and assist in providing the medical facilities.

The peace process is approaching a delicate point where it becomes imperative to inject either some more CBMs such as opening more routes, initiating trucking business, further facilitating visa procedures and even considering the concept of country visa or come out with some kind of agreement relating to conflict resolution. Undoubtedly the issue of Siachin is ripe for resolution. The two governments have had sufficient discussions over various aspects of the issue. Many in both countries feel that Siachin is an issue that should have been resolved long ago. After all the two governments had already agreed on its solution in 1989 but it was not implemented because of domestic considerations.

When one stresses that most people are supportive of the process, such delays over something which can be easily resolved tend to inject discomforting elements which later on could confront the two nations with unnecessary complexities. Judged by any yardstick, the currently prevalent atmosphere is certainly conducive to conflict resolution. Indeed time has come to focus more on conflict resolution than only be satisfied either by the introduction of more CBMs or conflict management.

If the two nations feel that they still need more time for their deliberations over some contentious issue, at least they should consider constructive gesture like handing over Jinnah House to Pakistan or some such act that could inject confidence. Alternatively the chances of emerging misperceptions gaining further grounds are likely to be enhanced.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute.