Trade against terror and tragedy

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While reporting the terror attack on the Delhi-Lahore train, FE (February 20, 2007) carried an editorial saying, “…it is during such moments of tragedy that the real basis of subcontinental peace can be glimpsed. That basis does not lie in complex territorial negotiations, but in more and more, ultimately leading to free and open, two-sided flows of people and business”.

Despite resumption of rail-road links, the journey between the two neighbours is critically dependent upon the security and safety of travellers. The governments of the two countries must address the challenges of security to sustain the renewed interest of the people in visiting each other more frequently. The Indian Express-Dawn News-CNN-IBN opinion survey in both countries and an NDTV 24X7 debate in Karachi give a clear message that people on both sides of the border feel that friendship and cooperation (read trade) are a prerequisite for improving relations between the two neighbours.

There are enough examples showing how treaties of sharing river waters, cross-border infrastructure projects and nuclear rapprochement have partially bridged divides between hitherto not-so-friendly or even belligerent countries. The Indus Water treaty of 1960 has ironically survived more than 47 years of conflict over Kashmir. Likewise, the war between Cambodia and Vietnam has not prevented them from reaping the fruits of a 1,500-km long crossborder highway project. And the Middle East Regional Cooperation projects have encouraged trade and thereby peace and prosperity in the region.