NARENDRA MODI: A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A GRAND BARGAIN


     Narendra Modi and his party BJP enjoys an overwhelming majority in the Indian parliament. He is in his second year of a 5-year second term as the prime minister of India. I am making an humble suggestion that now is the opportunity for him to strive for a grand bargain with India's neighbor Pakistan, on the Kashmir issue. BJP as a party associated with Hindu religion is most likely to succeed in such an endeavor, as Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger of the Republican party in USA were successful in making an opening with communist China, and just as Ronald Reagan was in a good position to establish a friendly relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev of Soviet Union.


     Kashmir has been a longstanding thorny issue between India and Pakistan. It has cost thousands of lives on both sides. Peace on Kashmir issue is paramount for develpment of Kashmir and for friendly relationship between these two neighbors. War is not an acceptable means of resolving this issue. Let us, once and for all, settle the division of Kashmir between the two countries, essentially at the current line of control. Let what is on the Eastern side of LOC, be part of India and let what is on the western side, be part of Pakistan. This is a practical compromise for peace at the border, for winning hearts and minds of Kashmir valley Muslims and for good economic trade relationship between the two neighbors. It is also likely to promote unity across religious communities within each country. 

     By the way, if such a grand bargain is achieved, it will be a great legacy for the prime minister Narendra Modi. Are we upto it?
















Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 4, 2020 at 2:14 PM

    Good suggestion to settle the issue. However, please remember there is a third party to this issue - China, who has captured a small part of Kashmir also. I think India needs to be still stronger - militarily and economically to force the settlement to India's stand & desire, and it night be another few more years years.

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