SOMETIMES, all it takes is a phone call or a handshake to change — temporarily — the tone and tenor of the dysfunctional India-Pakistan relationship.

The last few weeks had been marked by shrill vitriol emanating mostly from the Indian side, which has been matched by equally zealous remarks from Pakistan.

However, thankfully for all those in South Asia who are put off by such brinksmanship and favour the path of peace, temperatures were brought down a few notches on Tuesday when Narendra Modi called Nawaz Sharif to extend Ramazan greetings before the advent of the fasting month.

Know more: Modi calls Nawaz, extends wishes for Ramazan

Mr Modi talked of the need for “peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries”, while Mr Sharif replied in a similarly positive tone. The Indian leader also announced the release of Pakistani fishermen detained in India, which Nawaz Sharif reciprocated with an order to release Indian fishermen detained here.

The good wishes and bonhomie are a welcome departure from the toxic atmosphere that until very recently was prevailing in South Asia.

Earlier this month while on a visit to Dhaka, Mr Modi made impolitic remarks regarding the tragedy of 1971, which expectedly caused an uproar in Pakistan.

Some of the members of Narendra Modi’s cabinet have made even more outrageous statements; one junior minister suggested India could cross the western (ie Pakistani) border in case of “disturbances” in the aftermath of a reported Indian raid into Myanmar, while in May, the Indian defence minister said his country would counter terrorism with terrorism.

Early in May, the Pakistani military had claimed RAW was involved in fomenting trouble in this country. Thankfully, this war of sound bites seems to have subsided due to Mr Modi’s call.

Yet this was not a Pakistan-specific gesture; the Indian prime minister also extended Ramazan greetings to the Bangladeshi and Afghan leaders, in effect wishing well the leaders of Saarc’s Muslim-majority states.

The events of the recent past illustrate how necessary it is for Pakistan and India to address the many underlying problems in their relationship in a constructive, long-lasting manner.

Mechanisms must be evolved so that provocations do not derail the peace process and channels of communication are always kept open.

We hope there will be no more inflammatory statements and jingoism. Instead, the respective leaderships in New Delhi and Islamabad must put their heads together and formulate a plan that can address each other’s concerns and pave the way for long-term peace in the subcontinent.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2015

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