Missed opportunity or ill-timing? (Acrimony over India and Pakistan foreign ministers meet)

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Missed opportunity or ill-timing? (Acrimony over India and Pakistan foreign ministers meet)

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• Rocky start: The Indian PM's congratulatory letter to Pakistan's PM calling for constructive engagement was not understood by Pakistan's establishment for which India's MEA embarrassed Pakistan.
• US intervention: After the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pakistan, he issued a response to the Indian congratulatory letter with 2 things : 

1. Pakistan was offered a face saving by the mention of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek.
2. India was offered a possibility of resumption of trade and willingness to discuss the issue of terrorism

• India's response: India responded favourably to the offer and agreed to a meeting between the foreign ministers but cautioned that it’s not a resumption of the dialogue process. Welcomed by the US, the meeting was cancelled.
• Domestic politics in Pakistan: The recently concluded elections in Pakistan saw bitterness in election campaign. 

1. Imran Khan had called Nawaz Sharif Modi's personal friend and had accussed him od doing business with  Modi compromising Pakistan's interests. 
2. Modi's 2015 Lahore visit in 2015 also was crticised by Khan.

• After the elections: After the elections however Imran Khan adopted a conciliatory approach and had agreed to engage with India.
• More damage: 

1. After the cancellation of the Foreign Ministers' meeting Pakistan could not exercise restraint for long and commented that Modi was a small man in a big office without naming him. 
2. Immediately after this the chief of Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged belligerent statements which worsened the situation.

• The road ahead: 

1. With the United Nations General Assembly coming up, more heated statements and arguments are expected.
2. It remains to be seen how Khan and Modi work together if there is no change of Government in India after 2019.

• Summary : Nothing has improved on the India-Pakistan front as domestic political compulsions are acting contrary to the efforts at everlasting peace.

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