Five years ago, when the Zardari-Gilani civilian administration came into being in Pakistan, Prof. Ashutosh Varshney wrote that 'Democracy in Pakistan will continue to disempower these two groups （religious political parties and the military). The critical issue is whether democracy will last. (IIC Quarterly, Winter 2008-Spring 2009)
That administration completed its full five years since then. It was really for the first time in this country, something of a miracle indeed. It is another matter if it had done a good job to the satisfaction of the voters. The answer to that lies in their devastating defeat, and the return of Mr.Nawaz Sharif to power.
This is the third time he will be saddled with a heavy task. On both of the previous occasions he was squeezed out by the military, and by a coup at that on the second occasion. Naturally, therefore, his relations with the military is bound to crop up sooner rather than later. This will in its turn inevitably bring in the question of India-Pakistan relations.
Ashutosh Varshney was also writing that Sharif expressed the hope, just as Jinnah had done before, that India and Pakistan would live like the US and Canada. Coming from the man who ordered Pakistan's nuclear test as against India's, in 1998, and who was at least nominally responsible for the war of Kargil in 1999, it is not easy to believe it. But if he really believes so it is well within his reach.
Writing in the same journal, and in more or less the same tone, B.G.Verghese says that 'A significant and growingly assertive democratic tendency is discernible(in Pakistan) and anxious to build liberal democratic institutions and live as good neighbours with India'. He thus talks of a possibility of 'two estranged brothers' coming together.
These words are reminiscent of Gandhi. There is still an unfinished debate on whether Gandhi was really against the Partition or not. But at least the so-called "C.Rajagopalachari's Formula", agreed to by Gandhi was a proposal for a peaceful partition of India. Its fourth clause said 'In the event of separation, mutual agreements shall be entered into for safeguarding defence, and commerce and communications and for other essential purposes'.
One would think that the clause would have made the India-Pakistan relations much closer to the actual US-Canada relations. But it was rejected by Jinnah, mercilessly, probably not because of this clause but a previous one on 'a plebiscite of all the inhabitants'.
The present Indo-Pakistani relations leave much to be desired, which means that there are also possibilities for improvement. Mr.Sharif is said to have made a long telephonic conversation to Mr.Manmohan Singh. There are theories that the present tension is man-made in that both the military are in need of it. The responsible politicians on both sides should prove that it is a lie. For that they should tackle the crux of the matter, Jammu and Kashmir.
That administration completed its full five years since then. It was really for the first time in this country, something of a miracle indeed. It is another matter if it had done a good job to the satisfaction of the voters. The answer to that lies in their devastating defeat, and the return of Mr.Nawaz Sharif to power.
This is the third time he will be saddled with a heavy task. On both of the previous occasions he was squeezed out by the military, and by a coup at that on the second occasion. Naturally, therefore, his relations with the military is bound to crop up sooner rather than later. This will in its turn inevitably bring in the question of India-Pakistan relations.
Ashutosh Varshney was also writing that Sharif expressed the hope, just as Jinnah had done before, that India and Pakistan would live like the US and Canada. Coming from the man who ordered Pakistan's nuclear test as against India's, in 1998, and who was at least nominally responsible for the war of Kargil in 1999, it is not easy to believe it. But if he really believes so it is well within his reach.
Writing in the same journal, and in more or less the same tone, B.G.Verghese says that 'A significant and growingly assertive democratic tendency is discernible(in Pakistan) and anxious to build liberal democratic institutions and live as good neighbours with India'. He thus talks of a possibility of 'two estranged brothers' coming together.
These words are reminiscent of Gandhi. There is still an unfinished debate on whether Gandhi was really against the Partition or not. But at least the so-called "C.Rajagopalachari's Formula", agreed to by Gandhi was a proposal for a peaceful partition of India. Its fourth clause said 'In the event of separation, mutual agreements shall be entered into for safeguarding defence, and commerce and communications and for other essential purposes'.
One would think that the clause would have made the India-Pakistan relations much closer to the actual US-Canada relations. But it was rejected by Jinnah, mercilessly, probably not because of this clause but a previous one on 'a plebiscite of all the inhabitants'.
The present Indo-Pakistani relations leave much to be desired, which means that there are also possibilities for improvement. Mr.Sharif is said to have made a long telephonic conversation to Mr.Manmohan Singh. There are theories that the present tension is man-made in that both the military are in need of it. The responsible politicians on both sides should prove that it is a lie. For that they should tackle the crux of the matter, Jammu and Kashmir.
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