The times ahead

The way politics is unfolding in this region, and the security scenario is shaping up, it depresses to think about the future of this region. The way nation states are turning into deep security structures, and military-industrial complex is discovering deeper interests in the regional contestations, no hopeful prognosis can be made about the future of communities living in the region. The age old biases, and some perverted historical narratives are now again being madly employed to pollute the atmosphere of interaction. The political leadership of the two major countries in South Asia at the time of independence could not have thought of such a fate of this region. It is extremely unfortunate that the present leadership, state structures, and at the larger level the people of both the countries have not been able to change the course of things for last 7 decades. Mistrust, and the consequent animosity, still persist the same way as it was on the first day of the birth of the two nations. It is this atmosphere that has put to peril the life of a common person in the two countries. Just a cursory look at the history of the two countries gives an idea of how devastating it has been. Multiple wars fought, border skirmishes, and the military exchange on the LoC; all this is a manifestation of the fundamental flaw in the relationship of the two countries. The question, once again needs to be asked that where would all this lead us to, in the end. This is the most pressing question that needs deliberation at all level of human interaction. It’s good that the top military leadership in both the countries recently acknowledged the need for political measures to solve the outstanding issue, and putting dialogue at the centre of any resolution process. Such voices are needed at this juncture, more than ever before. Other need to join in and the raise the pitch of the voices of peace.