Ans: Pak- India Relation:
The Kashmir Conflict:
History of conflict between India and Pakistan due to Kashmir issue dates.
back to the days of partition in 1947. Due to this issue, the two countries
could never develop good-neighbourly relations with each other. As soon as,
after partition, the Indian forces occupied Kashmir against the will of the
people of Kashmir and the unrest in Kashmir turned into full scale revolt First
Indo-Pak war on Kashmir issue broke out in May 1948. Another war started
on September 6, 1965 and lasted for 17 days.
Indian Military Intervention in 1971:
India played key role in the separation of East Pakistan as well. Indian
propaganda about West Pakistan’s exploitation of East Pakistan, infused
hatred in the people of East Pakistan which resulted in a full scale rebellion
in the province and ultimate dismemberment of Pakistan. In 1971 East
Pakistan was separated from West Pakistan and a battle between Indian
and Pakistani forces was fought on western front as well. India’s first nuclear
test in 1974 in Rajisthan incited a sense of insecurity in Pakistan and
instigated arm race in neighbouring countries. Sensible people in both
countries have now started thinking differently. It is obvious that this
perpetual state of war has never benefitted these two countries; this has only
given us poverty, ignorance and deprivation. Now time has come to divert
our resources from useless war mongering to meaningful nation-building.
For this we need to solve our conflicts through peaceful negotiations. In 1988
an agreement was signed by the Pakistan’s Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The two countries resolved to
abstain from attacking each other’s nuclear installations and to withdraw
forces from Siachen. In 1997 Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the Indian
Prime Minister I. K. Gujral started a new round of talks for reconciliation and
peace.
Indian Prime Minister Visit to Pakistan:
Attal Bihari Vajpaye was the first Indian prime minister who visited Allama
Muhammad Iqbal’s mausoleum to pay homage to the poet-philosopher, he
also went to Minar-e- Pakistan as a token of respect for Pakistan” integrity.
During this visit, both prime ministers signed an agreement and resolved to
settle all mutual disputes through peaceful negotiations. This agreement was
named “Elaan-e-Lahore”. After Vajpaye the Indian government went into the
hands of Hindu extremists and the process of reconciliation came to a
standstill.