Pakistan Calls For Scripting 'Future of Hope' With India

Pakistan’s top diplomat in India, Saad Ahmad Warraich, the Chargé d'Affaires (CdA) at the High Commission, on Thursday said that a “future of hope” was possible for the two countries, which have had strained ties for most part of their post-Independence history since 1947.

“The founding fathers of Pakistan and India envisioned amicable relationship between the two countries. Unfortunately, the history of our bilateral relationship has remained challenged for the most part. A cycle of perpetual conflict intention is not our ordained destiny,” Warraich said during his address at the Pakistan National Day reception at the High Commission in New Delhi.

"We can emerge from the shadow of the past and script a future of hope for our two peoples, based on peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality and mutual respect," the senior diplomat remarked.

He expressed hope that both countries could resolve their outstanding issues through bolstering "mutual understanding".

"The goal of regional peace and stability can be achieved by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing shared concerns, and resolving long standing disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir dispute," Warraich said.

Ties between the the Subcontinental neighbours have remained tense since 2019 over New Delhi's concerns over cross-border terrorism as well its decision to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution through a parliamentary vote.

Article 370 afforded a degree of autonomy to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, a region partially controlled by both the neighbours.

In response, Pakistan suspended its bilateral trade ties with India as well as recalled its High Commissioner to New Delhi and expelled India's High Commissioner in Islamabad. Both the posts remain vacant till date. Successive Pakistan administrations has maintained that India should restore Article 370 in order to normalise ties.

Rejecting Pakistan's proposition, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar asserted at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting last May that any future dialogue on Kashmir would be centered on Pakistan-administered Kashmir, or what New Delhi describes as "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

India and Pakistan Have 'Common Traits' As Well

CdA Warraich also noted in his address that in spite of a strained government-to-government relationship, the people of Pakistan and India had a few common traits.

"As you would appreciate, Pakistan and India don't agree on many things. But it is not that we do not agree on anything. The love for cricket, good food and the irrepressible energy for discussion and debate on anything and everything under the sun are some of our common traits," Warraich said.

The Pakistan National Day reception on Thursday was the first time that the event was being held at the High Commission in New Delhi since 2019. New Delhi didn't send any official representation to the event.

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