Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent offer to hold talks with India to help improve relations between the two neighbours, both nuclear powers, is something which needs to be viewed seriously. Soon after Sharif spoke about a proximity dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi with the United Arab Emirates facilitating it, his office issued a statement that unless India restores the special status of Kashmir, there can be no talks. In an interview to Al Arabia TV, Sharif claimed that Pakistan had learnt its lessons from the three wars between the two countries, and therefore now the aim should be to live peacefully to help both countries improve their relations and cooperation. However whether the Prime Minister has the authority to speak on such a matter has to be viewed in the background of the relations between the military establishment and the civil government. It is common knowledge that the elected governments in Pakistan have their limitations since the military and its commanders have an overbearing influence over the policies which Islamabad pursues particularly so far as New Delhi is concerned. Kashmir from the understanding of every Indian is not an issue on which there can be any talks with Pakistan since it is an integral part of this country. Therefore, if Sharif indeed wishes to reduce the hostility in the atmosphere, he must ensure that the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies should stop fanning terror activities on our side of the border. Notwithstanding the denials of senior functionaries in Pakistan that there was any military involvement in the ultra-activities in Jammu and Kashmir, there is sufficient evidence to establish that the entire operation to destabilize the State was the sole objective of Islamabad. Thus, Sharif must go into the ground realities before making statements which virtually have no meaning. He recently also admitted about the mammoth debt his country was in and had stated that he was ashamed to ask for more loan to tackle the grim economic situation that existed in his country. The central government in India is doing its best to bring back normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir but this is a Herculean task, given the interference of Intelligence agencies and terror outfits from across the border. The Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to flee the state continue to be targeted by militants. The political leadership or what has been left of it in the region, has been demanding the restoration of Statehood and fresh polls to have an elected government to sort out the problems. The Centre has its own views and strategies and shall not be dictated by those who benefitted enormously when the State enjoyed a Special Status. The Indo-Pakistan relations are also dependent on the honesty with which Islamabad in particular keeps its side of the promise. There are several international powers that are seeking to weaken India and Pakistan has mostly sided with them. Besides, whenever elections are held in Pakistan, the Kashmir issue is raked by various political parties in order to whip up emotions against India. Pakistani politicians by and large lack sincerity and if any headway has to be made for improvement of ties between the two Nations, sponsored terror activities on this side of the border must end immediately.
