While relations between India and Pakistan are fraught with difficulties, Tridivesh Singh Maini* sees hope that Gulf countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia can play a role in reducing tensions.
Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif recently said he was keen to work towards improving relations with India.
In an interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, he said that three wars had brought only more misery, poverty, and unemployment to the people.
“We have learned our lesson and want to live in peace with India provided we are able to resolve our problems,” Mr Sharif said.
The Prime Minister also said both countries needed to live amicably and stop wasting their resources.
India and Pakistan should sit across the table and discuss “burning issues” like Kashmir.
Since 2021, there have been some indicators that both sides are seeking to reduce strains, though there has been no substantive progress toward breaking the deadlock.
It would be pertinent to point out that Mr Sharif’s office stated that talks would be conditional to India reversing its action of August 2019 when it revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Sharif, on the other hand, during his interview, did not set any pre-conditions for engaging with India.
His statement comes when Pakistan’s economy is in the doldrums.
While the country was already facing external debts, the floods last October have worsened the economic conditions, with rising inflation and low foreign exchange reserves.
The floods impacted more than 30 million people with more than 1,700 losing their lives.
The country is facing a severe flour crisis because of the shortage of wheat, and prices have skyrocketed in different parts of the country.
There have also been stampedes in Sindh and several instances of clashes have been reported between people over subsidised power.
In addition, Pakistan is also facing a security threat from the Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan.
During the Al Arabiya TV interview, Mr Sharif made another significant point.
He said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had good relations with both New Delhi and Islamabad and was in a good position to “bring the two countries to the talking table”.
The fact that Saudi Arabia and the UAE share robust ties with both India and Pakistan makes it easier for these countries to act as intermediaries.
While the United States has sought to reduce tensions in the past, there is greater resistance to this in Pakistan — especially after the deterioration of ties between Pakistan and the US in recent times.
Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been nudging India and Pakistan towards engagement and a reduction of hostilities.
The changing geopolitical landscape has paved the way for both Gulf countries to act as peacemakers.
It remains to be seen whether at this point of time, when there are numerous global and economic challenges, the UAE and or Saudi Arabia will step in and pitch for the normalisation of relations between both countries.
*Tridivesh Singh Maini is a New Delhi-based Policy Analyst. He is associated with The Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana.
This article first appeared on The Rise website.
