It is not all bad between India and Pakistan, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A letter from 117 eminent Indians and Pakistanis has reignited debate on dialogue, despite the recent Pahalgam horror (2025).
• Historically, both India and Pakistan demonstrated restraint during their three wars (1947, 1965, 1971), largely avoiding civilian targets.
• Instances of quiet cooperation include Indian intelligence support to Pakistan in 2003 and the continued Nuclear Confidence-Building Agreement (2005).
• The 2022 accidental missile firing by India was met with notable restraint from Pakistan, and a ceasefire commitment was reaffirmed during General Bajwa's tenure.
• Terrorism, particularly the Pahalgam attack, is identified as the primary obstacle to improved bilateral relations.
• Potential areas for future cooperation include glacial melt, stubble-burning alternatives, and narcotics trafficking.

Detailed Insights:

• During their conflicts, India and Pakistan primarily targeted military installations, a contrast to the "area bombing" tactics seen in World War II.
• After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, then-President Asif Ali Zardari's attempt to send the ISI Chief to Delhi for cooperation was reportedly refused.
• Indian Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Narendra Modi all invested political capital in outreach to Pakistan, facing varied outcomes.
• The Nuclear Confidence-Building Agreement (2005), which includes annual exchanges of lists of nuclear installations, remains active and was last reviewed in January 2026.
• General Qamar Bajwa advocated for leveraging Pakistan's geo-economic potential by opening trade corridors with India, possibly influenced by Pakistan's economic challenges.
• A ceasefire commitment was reaffirmed during General Bajwa's leadership, even amid Galwan incursions and India's abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
• Pakistan has faced internal security challenges as groups it once supported, such as the Taliban, have turned against it.
• Cooperation in areas like narcotics trafficking has historical precedents, suggesting a pathway for future collaboration if support for terrorism ceases.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pahalgam horror (2025): A terrorist attack in April 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, and significantly heightened India-Pakistan tensions.
• Nuclear Confidence-Building Agreement (2005): A bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan aimed at reducing the risk of accidental nuclear conflict, including provisions for pre-notification of ballistic missile tests.
• Indus Waters Treaty: A water-sharing treaty signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, governing the distribution of the Indus River system's waters.
• Article 370: A provision in the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, which was abrogated by the Indian government in 2019.