THE state of Pak-India relations is vexing to the uninitiated at the best of times, mutual acrimony and a befuddling ‘action-reaction syndrome’ rendering true peace a frustrating mirage. Blame for that must, and has, been laid on the governments of both countries over the decades. But setting aside nationalist impulses, the present post-Mumbai impasse has now dragged on for so long, with no end in sight, that it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that it is the Indian side which has once again reverted to being obstinate and unyielding.

The terrorist attacks in Mumbai last November were abominable and India was right to demand that its architects be punished for their crimes. Yet, there are two facts that the Indian political and foreign policy establishments seem unwilling to acknowledge. One, Pakistan has demonstrated its bona fides in trying to bring to justice those inside this country who were involved in the attacks. The Indians, however, appear to have hinged everything on the prosecution of Hafiz Saeed, leader of the Jamaatud Dawa. At the same time though, India seems unwilling to either provide conclusive evidence that will stand up in a court of law against Mr Saeed or accept that Pakistan does not have the requisite evidence in its possession.

Two, and this is the larger point, India seems unwilling to acknowledge that relations between the two countries go beyond and are bigger than just the attacks of last November. Mumbai or no Mumbai – and this is in no way to try to play down the trauma of those events – India and Pakistan cannot ignore each other. The two countries are the largest in the region, they have a host of unresolved, seemingly intractable, problems accumulated over the decades, and, notwithstanding the chest-thumping bravado of the uber-nationalists in both countries, neither country can realise its full potential without having a reasonably stable and friendly relationship with the other. So why keep both countries hostage to acrimony and the attendant dangers of physical conflict?
 
The present Indian position amounts to the clichéd one step forward, two steps back. Any indication of contact between officials from Pakistan and India is quickly slapped down or rendered meaningless by the demand to ‘do more’ on Mumbai. On its part, the Pakistan government has expressed its desire to restart the peace process ad nauseam that for a while there was a suspicion the government was embarrassing itself. Pakistan certainly has been no angel in the past, but it is time the world realised that at the moment blame for the present impasse must lie primarily with India.