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For the past several months, there have been reports that Pakistan and India are holding covert backdoor talks to calm tensions between the two countries particularly over Kashmir. These talks have not been denied nor acknowledged.
Pakistan always remained of the opinion to resolve bilateral issues, including Kashmir, through peaceful means, and diplomacy is a pivotal tool to negotiate peace.
Pakistan has always given chance to India for table talk but the Indian hawkish approach often end up ruining diplomatic efforts initiated by Pakistan. Let’s take an in-depth review of the India-Pakistan relations and reports of the backdoor diplomacy.
Foreign Ministers’ meeting in UAE
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Indian Shah Mahmood Qureshi S Jaishankar are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the weekend. Qureshi arrived in the UAE on Saturday where he was expected to hold talks with his UAE counterpart.
The moment Qureshi landed in the Gulf country, the Indian government announced that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar would be in Abu Dhabi for a day trip on April 18. This set off speculations that the top diplomats may meet as part of efforts to seek rapprochement.
Pakistan, however, has refused reports of any meeting taking place between Qureshi and Jaishankar. In response to queries, FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, “No such meeting is scheduled during Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s ongoing visit to the UAE.”
Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that a person familiar with developments said Jaishankar’s visit is “purely bilateral” and his engagements are “only with UAE dignitaries”.
UAE brokered deal
The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) envoy to Washington confirmed the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a “healthy and functional” relationship.
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said the UAE played a role “in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level”.
“They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get it to a level where it’s functional, where it’s operational, where they are speaking to each other,” he added.
Meanwhile, Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, according to Reuters.
India-Pakistan ties
Ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in occupied Kashmir in 2019 was blamed on Pakistan, leading to India sending warplanes to Pakistan.
Later that year, India’s prime minister withdrew the occupied region’s autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.
What’s next?
Pakistan’s stance is that it wants the resumption of peace dialogue with India but for this, India has to create a conducive environment, particularly in IIOJK. Pakistan will never compromise on its principled position on Kashmir but will try its best to ensure maximum relief for the people of IIOJK.
However, it was the positive result of such backdoor negotiations that ceasefire agreement of 2003 was reinstated in the early days of 2021 and people living in the vicinity of LOC heaved a sigh of relief.
Whatever prompted the talks and whoever is meditating, it should be welcomed that both sides have shattered the ice and are speaking to each other. India and Pakistan can solve all outstanding disputes including Kashmir by dialogue.
It is also surprising that India, who always denied third-party interventions, has also agreed to hold talks with Pakistan. The UAE is perhaps more acceptable and can influence both countries. It is also essential that these talks yield results.