Breaking The Ice In India-Pakistan Relations at GOA Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting 2023

The recent meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa saw the welcome of the Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. This meeting marks a significant opportunity for both countries to improve their relations and work towards a more peaceful future.

It is important to note that the relationship between India and Pakistan has been tense for decades, with both countries facing various challenges and conflicts. The SCO meeting in Goa provides an opportunity for both countries to put their differences aside and work towards a peaceful and cooperative relationship.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's statement that the people of Pakistan and India want peace is a positive step towards building better relations between the two nations. It highlights the need for both countries to work towards a peaceful future and to put aside their differences in order to achieve this.

However, Zardari also stressed that New Delhi needs to create a "conducive environment" for talks between the two nations. This implies that India needs to take the initiative to create a favorable environment for negotiations to take place. India needs to understand the importance of peace and cooperation in the region and take steps towards achieving this goal.

The SCO meeting provides an opportunity for India to take the initiative towards building better relations with Pakistan. India can work towards creating a favorable environment for negotiations to take place by taking steps towards resolving the various issues and conflicts that exist between the two countries.

One of the key issues that India needs to address is the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. India and Pakistan have been at odds over Kashmir for decades, with both countries claiming the region as their own. The conflict has resulted in violence and tension in the region, causing immense suffering for the people living in the area.

India can work towards resolving the conflict in Kashmir by engaging in dialogue with Pakistan and taking steps towards finding a mutually acceptable solution to the issue. This would require both countries to put aside their differences and work towards finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to the problem.

Another issue that India needs to address is terrorism. Pakistan has been accused of supporting terrorist groups that operate in India, which has led to a breakdown in relations between the two countries. India needs to take a firm stance against terrorism and work towards addressing the issue with Pakistan.

Overall, the SCO meeting in Goa provides an important opportunity for India and Pakistan to work towards building better relations and finding solutions to the various issues that exist between the two countries. Both countries need to take the initiative towards building a more peaceful and cooperative relationship, and work towards resolving the various conflicts and issues that exist between them.

In conclusion, the statement by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the people of Pakistan and India want peace is a positive step towards building better relations between the two nations. The SCO meeting in Goa provides an opportunity for both countries to work towards a more peaceful future and to put aside their differences in order to achieve this goal. It is up to both India and Pakistan to take the initiative towards building a more peaceful and cooperative relationship, and to work towards finding solutions to the various issues that exist between them.

Tanveer Iqbal is A senior Pakistani Journalist/writer & Blogger.

@thetanveeriqbal