Pakistan Bharat Taluqaat Mein Tareekhi Tabdeeli Ke Imkanaat?
My journalistic career is nearly coming to an end, but nothing has changed in the relationship between Pakistan and India. In fact, over time, these two countries have gradually become almost strangers to each other. Such estrangement between the closest neighbors is indeed a remarkable phenomenon.
As a reporter, it was my professional duty to cover events in India starting from the mid-1980s. I first went there to cover the elections shortly after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, which led to a historic victory for Rajiv Gandhi. At the beginning of this century, I spent around three years working for an English newspaper as a correspondent in Delhi, alternating three months in Delhi with two months in Islamabad. Eventually, I grew weary.
It was difficult to convince the owners of my organization that nothing would change in the relations between Pakistan and India. I requested to be spared from the hassle of being away from my family in India. When the “backdoor” negotiations for a “lasting peace” in South Asia during General Musharraf’s final years in power failed, my request began to seem reasonable to my employers. Moreover, the “lawyers’ movement” had taken off in Pakistan by then, which was a blessing in disguise for me.
This week, the reporter inside me stirred to life briefly as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference commenced in Islamabad, marking a return after many decades. The government showed great respect for the retired reporter in me, providing press center access cards with much honor. The center was set up in the grand Pak-China Complex, located on the road connecting Islamabad’s Rose and Jasmine Garden to the Lok Virsa Museum and Shakarparian. Entering the complex on Tuesday afternoon, amid the nearly deserted and curfew-like streets of Islamabad due to security checkpoints, I was truly “delighted.”
In just two days, our Ministry of Information, under the supervision of our diligent Public Information Officer, had transformed the Pak-China Complex into a state-of-the-art press center. Since 1986, I have traveled multiple times each year to various international or regional conferences in the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries. The press center here matched the best in terms of modern facilities. It provided all journalists with the necessary resources to maintain constant contact with their offices, and the food and refreshments reflected our culture of hospitality.
Because of my age, I am not familiar with many of Pakistan’s young journalists. Some know me from the National Assembly’s press gallery and always remind me of their names when we meet. Among the Indian journalists, however, I didn’t expect to know anyone. Yet, Suhasini Haidar, a well-known Indian journalist who closely follows foreign affairs, recognized me, stood up, and greeted me warmly. She introduced me to the other Indian journalists, all of whom were pleased to have a “workstation” in the press center with an office-like environment. They needed nothing else.
Yet, the sole question occupying both Pakistani and Indian journalists was whether the Indian foreign minister, who had come to Islamabad for the SCO meeting, would have a “one-on-one” meeting with Pakistan’s prime minister or foreign minister. I saw no likelihood of such a meeting. Observing the curiosity of my younger colleagues on this matter reminded me of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a regional organization established to promote cooperation among the countries of our region.
SAARC was actualized by Bangladesh’s General Zia. Its summit was hosted in Pakistan in 1988, shortly after Benazir Bhutto took office, with Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in attendance. As a journalist, I covered it extensively. Even then, the media’s focus was solely on whether a bilateral meeting between Bhutto and Gandhi would take place outside of SAARC, and if it could bring any “historic” change to Indo-Pak relations. Eventually, the meeting did occur, resulting in significant decisions, including troop withdrawals from Siachen. However, none of these decisions were implemented.
I have participated in several other SAARC conferences in the region since then. Over time, journalists from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka grew increasingly frustrated with the organization, seeing it as being “held hostage” by Pakistan-India relations. The organization hasn’t held a summit for several years now, and there are no signs of revival in the near future.
SCO is not just about India; it includes major powers like Russia and China. China’s premier arrived two days before the conference began, while Russia’s prime minister arrived late Tuesday night. The Russian delegation included around 400 people, comprising senior officials from various ministries and key government positions.
However, while spending several hours at the SCO press center on Tuesday, I didn’t hear a single journalist express curiosity about why Russia, with which Pakistan doesn’t share very close relations, had come with such a large delegation. All the attention was on whether the Indian foreign minister would meet privately with Pakistan’s prime minister or foreign minister.
Amid this, there was much admiration—and often envy—regarding Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, who apparently entered Pakistan via Wagah on foot to attend the SCO. She met with Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, then did a “sensational” vlog before returning to India the next day. However, I am certain that Sharif’s “sensational” interview with Dutt won’t lead to any “revolutionary” changes in Pakistan-India relations.
