This refers to the article, “Can India, Pakistan learn from Trump-Kim SummitIJ” by Balbir Punj (June 18). The historic agreement between US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, terminating the armistice in their Korean war of 1953, evoked global feelings for a similar détente between two warring neighbours — India and Pakistan. But, unfortunately, Pakistan is a different, nearly-impossible, case. There have been so many occasions in the past seventy years, starting with the October 1947 invasion of the Kashmir Valley by Pakistan-sponsored tribals, followed by the aftermath of 1965 and 1971 Bangladesh wars, and ending with the recent commitment by the Director-Generals of military operations, to honour past agreements on peace on the borders and the lOC. But, sadly, Pakistan has violated each one of these undertakings.
Hence, one has to closely examine Pakistan's anti-Indian psyche. It appears that its existence is related to the enmity with ‘Hindu India’. In his recent book: Reimagining Pakistan: Transforming a Dysfunctional Nuclear State, former Pakistani envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani has repeatedly noted: “Since Independence, Pakistan has been consistently told (by its religious and political leaders) that India and Hindus are at the heart of all ‘evil designs' against Pakistan...” Since this thinking is deeply embedded in the Pakistani army and political leadership, any reliable understanding between the two countries for harmonious relations seems nearly impossible.