The issue of Kashmir is a perennial lightning rod in the subcontinent. Whenever leaders in both India and Pakistan wish to burnish their nationalist credentials, jingoistic references are made about the troubled territory.

In a similar vein, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a visit to Leh — his second to India-held Kashmir after securing the top slot — to slam Pakistan and revive memories of 1999’s Kargil imbroglio. Speaking to the Indian troops, Mr Modi castigated Pakistan for engaging “in a proxy war” while he recalled the infiltration of Kargil.

Considering his audience — Indian military personnel — it can safely be said that Mr Modi was playing to the gallery. While there has been some militant activity in India-held Kashmir, the most recent incident being an ambush of troops near Srinagar, as well as cross-LoC trading of fire by both militaries, Mr Modi knows there is no comparison with the situation that existed two decades ago.

At the height of the Kashmir insurgency in the late ’80s and throughout much of the ’90s, hundreds of deaths were reported every year from the held territory, including a high civilian death toll. Today there is no such parallel; instead, there is a feeling of isolation from India in Kashmir and periodic waves of unrest — much of this is due to the harsh laws in place in the region as well as the heavy Indian military presence.

Comments such as those made by Mr Modi will only raise the temperature in the region and fail to address the real problem. And we must accept that Kashmir remains an unresolved issue.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office, while criticising the Indian prime minister, said Islamabad seeks “good, neighbourly relations” with India. Both countries must realise that good neighbours discuss their differences in a calm, logical manner and do not go about accusing each other in public.

If India has concerns about infiltration — which is indeed unacceptable — it needs to communicate these via diplomatic channels. Issuing combative statements only makes the resolution of outstanding issues all the more difficult.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014