Aiming for a permanent seat in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) both India and Pakistan are trying to play good guys to world forum. It looks too premature to make any assumptions over the normalising relations between the two neighbours. Pakistan did not delay in retorting back on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment on Bangladesh liberation war. Though as a goodwill gesture Modi called up Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif to convey his wishes for Ramadan and announced the release of fishermen to mark the occasion. If the proposed meeting between the two takes place on the sidelines of SCO meet in Russia it could provide the first real opportunity to the two to arrest the fallen relations since the release of 26/11 accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. And if there is any indication India will not get permanent membership at the SCO meet, Modi may call of the visit and attend only the BRIC summit in Ulfa. Currently both the countries have ‘Observer’ status in SCO, whose six permanent members are Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. As international forces pull out of Afghanistan India sees SCO playing a significant role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. India has high stake in rebuilding that militancy ravaged country as counter measures to bring down Pakistan’s influence. India too paid heavy price fighting Islamic militancy exported by Pakistan. India needs to maintain a strong presence in the region keeping its historic ties with that country since time immemorial. It is imperative that the reality dawns on our policy makers in New Delhi as early as possible and are able to fathom the depth and implications of such an ideology gripping India with many sleeping cells of militants within the country yet to be activated. India has to refocus its foreign policies to decide the new strategies to contain the spread of such elements which could turn detrimental to its citizens, assets and interest within the country and abroad.
