Review of India's Current Pakistan Policy

           India-Pakistan Relation

Despite common socio-cultural linkages between India and Pakistan, relations between the two countries have been extremely tense since independence. The main reason for this has been the anti-India policies of Pakistan, which have been the following-

1. In fact, Pakistan portrays India as an existential threat, so that the government can gain legitimacy from the public. Pakistan has always been keen to match India in South Asia. This is the reason why Pakistan always tried to establish closer relations with the superpowers.

In fact, Pakistan's geostrategic location is very important. Pakistan has been playing a major role in the power politics of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia as well as in gaining ground in the Indian Ocean region. That is why the superpowers have also been trying to establish their influence on Pakistan.

During the Cold War era, Pakistan was a frontline state for America. Pakistan was important for America in the following ways- 

●Pakistan was important for the strategic encirclement of the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. America had succeeded in stopping the expansion of Soviet Union's influence in the Indian Ocean region through Pakistan.

● Through Pakistan, America was also interested in establishing its influence in South Asia, especially in creating psychological pressure on India. 

●After 2001, Pakistan has been an important ally for America in the war against terrorism.

At present, Pakistan has become important as a frontline state for China, because-

●China is interested in entering the Indian Ocean through CPEC. This alternative route is a concrete solution to its Malacca dilemma. 

●China can exert psychological pressure on India through Pakistan. Pakistan is also helpful in the strategic encirclement of India in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

●China wants to expand its influence in the Islamic world through Pakistan. China also wants Pakistan's cooperation on the issue of Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang province. 

●China is expanding its influence in Afghanistan only with the cooperation of Pakistan.

2.Pakistan considers Kashmir as an unfinished agenda, hence it has been trying to internationalize the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has been accusing the Indian Army of human rights violations, which could tarnish India's global image. Besides, Pakistan has also been supporting the separatists in Kashmir.

3. Pakistan sees India as a threat to its existence, hence as a deep state, not only the army has been made powerful by Pakistan but the army itself determines the relations with India. In fact, there are three center of power in Pakistan. The center is the elected government of Pakistan, the army and religious groups. However, the influence of the army is decisive in Pakistan.

4. Pakistan has also been trying to encircle India at the regional and global level, for this it has been trying to get support from the countries of the Islamic world against India under the concept of Muslim Ummah.

5. Cross-border terrorism has also been used by Pakistan as an instrument of foreign policy against India.

India's traditional foreign policy towards Pakistan

 1. India has always spoken about peaceful and bilateral resolution of mutual disputes.This commitment of India is also expressed in the Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.. 

2. India has always been a supporter of peaceful and stable neighbourhood, hence giving priority to cooperative relations with all neighboring countries including Pakistan through Panchsheel Policy and Gujarat Doctrine. Therefore India never interfered in the internal affairs of Pakistan.

3. India has been a supporter of continuous and composite dialogue with Pakistan as it strengthens Pakistan's democratic and liberal strengths. 

4. India has been considering the role of SAARC as decisive in improving relations with Pakistan. Along with official talks, India has also been a supporter of the policy of establishing dialogue and contact among the people.

     India's current Pakistan policy 

1. Instead of the traditional idealistic policy, India is now following a more realistic policy under which it has been made clear that terrorism and talks cannot go together. Therefore, unless Pakistan takes concrete action against terrorism, talks with it are not possible.

2. Keeping national security in mind, the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and separatism is being followed. Such as conducting surgical strikes on Pakistan, destroying terrorist infrastructure in Kashmir Valley, ending the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, taking concrete action against separatists, making border management effective, etc.

3. Efforts are also being made to isolate Pakistan at the regional and global level. At the diplomatic level, Pakistan's terrorism-supporting image was made public by India to the world, as a result of which Pakistan was seen by the US for the first time as a haven for terrorism.Similarly, even after the abolition of Article 370, there was no opposition to India on the platform of OIC.

At the political level, for the first time India raised the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan and Gilgit and Baltistan in the United Nations.

Similarly, at the economic level, India withdrew the MFN status from Pakistan. A review of the Indus River Agreement was also indicated and sub-regional economic cooperation like BIMSTEC is being promoted.

Review of India's current Pakistan policy

India's current Pakistan policy is more realistic and driven by national interests. This is a more assertive and aggressive foreign policy. This has created pressure on Pakistan to improve its global image. The current Pakistan government is not only indicating concrete action against the terrorist group but is also presenting itself as a country suffering from terrorism. In fact, at the global level Isolated Pakistan is trying to reduce its dependence on China.

On the other hand, under the current Indian policy, the terrorist structure and network in India is being effectively weakened. Pakistan-supported terrorists and separatist elements have weakened in Kashmir. 

India has also been successful in isolating Pakistan at the regional and global level. Even Pakistan is not getting benefit from the concept of Muslim Ummah.

At the same time, the process of regional integration has intensified on the platform of BIMSTEC, which was not possible in SAARC. Due to this, Pakistan is not able to strengthen the feeling of Big Brother Syndrome in the neighboring countries against India.

However, the following criticism is also being made on the current India-Pakistan policy: 

1.,Without talks with Pakistan, the elected government and democratic forces there will be marginalized, due to which the army and fundamentalist forces will become stronger in the name of anti-India.

2.Globally isolated Pakistan's overdependence on China is increasing. Due to this, China can use Pakistan against India, which will be a serious threat to India's national security. 

3.Use of hard power like surgical strikes can create a feeling of insecurity against India in neighboring countries.

4.The strained relations between India and Pakistan are turning the domestic public opinion of both the countries against each other, limiting the possibility of improvement in relations in the future. 

5.The strained relations between India and Pakistan are weakening the process of regional integration in South Asia. Even SAARC is now a moribund organization.