ISLAMABAD – The outgoing Pakistan envoy to India, Sohail Mahmood, is doingwhat dyed-in-the-wool diplomats are expected to do: present the mostoptimistic face possible, even when bilateral equations between twoestranged countries have touched a new low.
Sohail, who is soon to take over as the new Pakistan Foreign Secretary, hassaid that his country hopes for “re-engagement with India”, once the LokSabha elections conclude, noting that dialogue would enable the twocountries to understand mutual concerns, resolve outstanding disputes andbuild on durable peace and security, DNA has reported.
Pakistan’s outgoing high commissioner is right in saying that diplomacy anddialogue are “indispensable”. He has added for good measure that anarrative is needed that captures the reality in Pakistan objectively andmore fully, a narrative that also helps recognise opportunities forpeaceful, cooperative and good neighbourly relations.
It would not be incorrect to state that unlike some of his predecessors,Mahmood has been the most low key and sober. His short tenure of less thantwo years has been marked by no major controversy, even when terror attacksin India like Pulwama and its aftermath, have brought the two unfriendlyneighbours to the brink of war.
To be sure, Mahmood is not talking in his individual capacity, but carryingthe brief of the Pakistani government. He is repeating what Pakistanpremier Imran Khan has said about re-engaging with India once the generalelections in this country are over.
The thing to be noted, however, is that given the patently bad relationsbetween the two countries — which includes a tense military standoff — theHigh Commissioner has done well to project a forward-looking agenda. He hasrefused to get into a slanging match with the Indians, as some of hispredecessors had done.
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Neither has he used the language that politicians resort to for scoringbrownie points or for winning elections. While, given the deep cynicismthat exists between the two sides, it is easy to play down the envoy’sstatement as rhetoric, it is also important to remember that scoffing at anidea, no matter how far fetched it may seem, is self-defeating.
A good diplomat’s job is to keep all manner of hope alive and not getcarried away by an obviously bad situation and Mahmood needs to be creditedfor doing what is expected of him. Having said that, the envoy has spentenough time in India to be able to convey to his government the aspirationsof the Indian government and people.
source:link
