Sir — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to visit Pakistan next year for the Saarc summit should not be seen by Islamabad as a diplomatic success. The decision shows maturity by India to resolve outstanding issues, notwithstanding the regular ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army. Pakistan has agreed to build an economic corridor in the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with China to cement its position, thereby allowing China access to the Gwadar port. Though this port is touted by both countries as just a passageway to Central Asia, built for economic purposes, its objective is to provide infrastructure for China to counter India’s presence in Afghanistan.
But all is not lost for New Delhi. In the wake of the agreement signed between Iran and the top six world powers, that would essentially uplift the sanctions and mark the end of Iran’s political apartheid, India should expedite the work on Chabahar port to circumvent the moves of Pakistan and China in that region.