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Why Modi must end this theatre of the absurd with Pakistan

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Rakesh Sood
Rakesh SoodAug 23, 2015 | 08:38

Why Modi must end this theatre of the absurd with Pakistan

It is a fact that every round of talks between India and Pakistan attracts media attention but the forthcoming round of talks between NSAs Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aziz, scheduled for 23-24 August in Delhi has been reduced to a theatre of the absurd. So much so that it has overshadowed the actual meeting, if it does take place! Spokespersons on both sides have read out statements setting out their respective positions; advisor Sartaj Aziz and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj have addressed press conferences; and pundits have analysed each word threadbare with each side accusing the other of backsliding. 

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Any diplomatic engagement between two countries is a negotiation and by definition, a negotiation can only be successful if the outcome is seen as a win-win outcome for both sides. This requires careful management of expectations and media handling. 

Incidentally, this media circus is in sharp contrast to the Ufa meeting between Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif which paved the way for the NSAs’ meeting. Somewhere down the road, the plot was lost. Instead of being able to deftly address different constituencies in the run up to the talks - within India, in Pakistan, other neighbours and the major powers, we seem to have descended to a tu-tu-main-main with Pakistan. Neither side wants to call off the talks but is engaging in brinkmanship to see if the other side blinks.

Following Ufa, absence of a reference to Kashmir was hailed as a victory by the Indians and Pakistanis responded predictably. Then came the issue of a meeting of the Hurriyat leaders with Aziz and their being put under detention in Srinagar and released after a few hours. Clearly, PDP (BJP’s coalition partner in J&K) was miffed by Delhi’s decision. Recent terror attacks in Gurdaspur and Udhampur and intensification of firing across the LoC had already cast a shadow on the talks. The atmosphere has now been vitiated by deliberate leaks to media to ensure a win-lose outcome, which in diplomatic terms actually becomes a lose-lose outcome. 

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Is this what Modi wanted? If so, why reach out for a bilateral meeting at Ufa? Why promise that he would visit Pakistan for the SAARC summit in 2016? Modi is perfectly justified in putting forwards his terms for the dialogue but India cannot impose it on Pakistan either by clever drafting or by media driven diplomacy. It requires patient planning and convincing Pakistan that the outcome will be mutually beneficial. Scoring victory by defeating the other side works in battle field; a political negotiation is not a zero sum game. Modi’s neighbourhood diplomacy requires that he find a better way of managing relations with Pakistan.

Last updated: August 23, 2015 | 08:38
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