Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to India for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit has created a buzz in the political as well as the diplomatic circles across the globe, and is expected to create new opportunities for the two countries to find a common ground to revive their stalled bilateral relations.
The visit of Bilawal Bhutto to India comes at a crucial time when bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have been at an all-time low, primarily due to India’s stubbornness and inhuman actions in the illegally occupied Kashmir valley.
There is no second opinion that the SCO summit provides an excellent opportunity for the two countries to come together and discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The visit could serve as a significant step towards the revival of bilateral relations between the two countries, which have been strained for decades due to various reasons, including border disputes and political disagreements.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s primary objective for his visit to India is to create more opportunities for both countries to come together and find common ground. He believes that the SCO summit provides an excellent opportunity for India and Pakistan to engage in constructive dialogue and explore ways to move forward.
Despite the many challenges that the two countries have faced in the past, there are still many opportunities for both countries to work together. Bilateral trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges are just a few of the areas where India and Pakistan can collaborate.
The conclave will provide an opportunity for the leaders to discuss regional and global challenges and reach some understanding on the common goals and objectives, notwithstanding the conflicting issues among the member countries.
It is argued that despite a “long history of war and conflict”, the Indian government’s actions in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir and its anti-Muslim agenda, it is not in Pakistan’s interest to remain disengaged. But, given India’s intransigence over the Kashmir issue, there is little hope for any breakthrough and normalization of the relationship.
From the 1948 war to the Kargil war, Kashmir was the focus for both states. Even beyond their direct conflicts, border management issues, terrorism and infiltration pose further complications between India and Pakistan.
Despite periodic attempts to advance peace talks and reconciliation, relations between India and Pakistan remained fraught with mistrust mainly due to the animosity of the Indian governments.
Improved relations could create opportunities for both countries to counter illiteracy, poverty, terrorism and extremism, floods and climate changes.
The visit of Bilawal Bhutto to India is an opportunity for both countries to build on this momentum and create more opportunities for collaboration. However, it is essential to recognize that improving relations between India and Pakistan is a long-term process that requires patience and persistence.
