Modi 3.0: Navigating Ties with Pakistan

“You can change your friends but not your neighbors.”

Pakistan and India never had ideal relations. Nevertheless, they were never as bad as they got under Modi since his grab of power in 2014. Recently, Modi 3.0 secured 240 seats in Lok Sabha in the general elections of 2024, short of a clear majority. The relatively weak government of Modi 3.0 raised the prospects of a humble India, ready to introspect its foreign policy behavior. Contrary to this, only Premier Shahbaz Sharif was among the neighboring countries not invited to the inauguration. Lately, Modi 3.0 reiterated the mantra of ‘terrorism emanating from Pakistan’. The Indian behavior demonstrates that New Delhi is committed to continuing its ‘Neighborhood First minus Pakistan.’ The obstinate behavior of the BJP dwindles any hope to improve Indo-Pak relations.

Indian centrism is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s policy. Since Modi 3.0 took reigns in 2014, the anti-Pakistan rhetoric has surged. This is evident from the violations of the LOC ceasefire line. In 2019, India breached Pakistan’s sovereignty by illegal incursion into Pakistan’s airspace. Pakistan responded with ‘Operation Swift Retort’. It resulted in the downing of the two Indian airplanes, with Wing Commander Abhinandan taken captive. The wreckage of one plane fell on the other side of the Indian border. However, Islamabad de-escalated the situation. Pakistan released Abhinandan as a goodwill gesture. It showed to the world that Pakistan can defend itself against any aggression, and take every step to avoid further escalation. However, the relations dipped when New Delhi stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. New Delhi abrogated articles 370 and 35-A and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. Consequently, Pakistan suspended the bilateral trade and downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Delhi.

During Khan’s era, Islamabad exhausted every possible avenue to improve bilateral relations. To provide better facilities for Sikh pilgrims, Pakistan inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor. Islamabad responded as a responsible nuclear state during the Indian aggression of 2019. To de-escalate the situation, Pakistan responded with a goodwill gesture.  Pakistan unconditionally released the wing commander Abhinandan. Islamabad continuously employed all diplomatic efforts to get New Delhi on the table. Pakistan seeks to resolve all conflicts, including the unresolved issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through peaceful means. During the 2019 Indian elections, the then-Premier Imran Khan expressed the hope that Modi 3.0’s victory could improve the relations between the two nuclear states. Moreover, PM Shahbaz Sharif and former premier Nawaz Sharif congratulated Modi 3.0 on his electoral success. Nawaz Sharif expressed the hope of replacing hate with love in South Asia.

It is unsurprising that PM Modi has consistently acted in a domineering manner Contrary to reciprocating Pakistan’s endeavors, it has always deteriorated the situation. New Delhi has refrained from bilateral talks despite Pakistan’s efforts.  The BJP regime stripped the Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. It desires to change the demography of Kashmir. It is a brazen violation of the right of self-determination, guaranteed under the UN Security resolution. India wrongfully accuses Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. Pakistan is a victim of cross-border terrorism. Recently, Pakistan handed a dossier to the UN, documenting Indian sponsorship of terrorism inside Pakistan. New Delhi is also indulged in transnational Repression. Canada suspended the bilateral relations, citing Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India is not hesitant to silence the so-called dissidents on foreign soil. Modi 3.0 is quoted as saying “I will take account selectively and will enter the house and kill”. (Al Jazeera)

The relationship between Pakistan and India have never been good. Both fought three wars over Kashmir. These relations had their ups and downs. But the relations have never dipped to such a historic low. Owing to the possession of nukes by Pakistan and India, both countries should work together to improve their relations. But it is not possible with the BJP in power. The BJP is a proponent of an expansionist ideology ‘Hindutva’. The concept of Hindutva is a brazen security threat to Pakistan. Moreover, the marginalization of Indian Muslims further augments the argument. India has a population of nearly 200 million Muslims. The BJP government is employing the state machinery to harass the minorities in India. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 religious freedom report on India also corroborates this fact.

India and Pakistan are nuclear countries. Both are vital to maintain regional stability in South Asia The key to regional stability is bilateral talks to resolve all the conflicts including the outstanding conflicts. Finger-pointing is in no one’s favor. Both countries need to work together on matters of mutual interest. Bilateral trade is in the interest of both Islamabad and New Delhi. The recent electoral results show that the Indian system is capable of course correction. The Indian people need to get rid of the BJP’s extremist policies if they want the South Asian region to be prosperous and stable. New Delhi needs to comprehend that she cannot pursue her policy of neighborhood first without taking Islamabad into her equation. Healthy bilateral relations are in the interest of both Pakistan and India and are key to regional stability.