A new book examining the roots and future of Pakistan-India relations was launched in Islamabad, drawing senior diplomats, former ministers and security experts who described the relationship as dominated by mutual distrust and competing ambitions. The book, Pakistan-India Relations \u2013 Fractured Past, Uncertain Future, authored by former ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, analyzes Kashmir, the politicization of terrorism, and broader regional power dynamics, and argues that meaningful peace will require a shift away from zero-sum thinking and a sincere resolution of outstanding disputes.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Chaudhry, who has long been engaged with the Pakistan-India peace process, framed the book around a central question: are the two countries\u2019 problems the result of specific unresolved disputes, or do deeper, structural dynamics prevent cooperation? He argues that India\u2019s refusal to seek a negotiated settlement on Kashmir, the political framing of terrorism, and ambitions for regional dominance have perpetuated mistrust. The book revisits past mistakes and considers whether a more hopeful future for South Asia is achievable.<\/p>\n
Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar told attendees that Pakistan\u2019s efforts to normalize ties have been stymied by an atmosphere of distrust rooted in India\u2019s hegemonic tendencies. He said Pakistan\u2019s responses to recent acts of military aggression sent a clear message that sustainable peace requires sincere dispute resolution and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tarar praised Chaudhry\u2019s work as timely for understanding the sources of regional tension and Pakistan\u2019s role in seeking stability.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Johar Saleem, president of the Institute of Regional Studies, urged that channels for cooperation remain open despite prevailing tensions. He called on Indian leaders to abandon zero-sum approaches and embrace frameworks based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, saying such a shift would be essential for long-term stability and prosperity in the region.<\/p>\n
Former federal minister Khurram Dastgir described a historical pattern of hostility from India and said recurrent wars and intermittent peace processes have not produced lasting coexistence. He attributed the problem to a sustained desire for regional dominance, which he said has intensified under the current Indian government\u2019s nationalist narratives. Dastgir warned that domestic political framing in India often casts Pakistan in a negative light, complicating diplomacy between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.<\/p>\n
Former presidential spokesperson Murtaza Solangi, author of The War that Changed Everything, cited recent confrontations as illustrations of the book\u2019s argument that India\u2019s pursuit of regional dominance fuels instability. He argued that a more cooperative Indian posture could have brought peace to South Asia much earlier.<\/p>\n
Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz (Retired), former president of the National Defence University, commended the book\u2019s treatment of Kashmir and its analysis of how the cross-border terrorism narrative has sometimes been used for political ends. He said the research shows several incidents of militancy and terrorism in India were driven by internal factors but were frequently attributed to Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Professor Arshi Saleem Hashmi, dean of the Faculty of Contemporary Studies at the National Defence University, praised the book\u2019s opening chapter for tracing the rise of Hindu and Muslim nationalisms in the subcontinent. She said Chaudhry\u2019s work answers many criticisms leveled at Pakistan and highlighted the final chapter, which catalogs confidence-building measures and agreements that could form the basis for renewed cooperation if India reconsiders its anti-Pakistan stance.<\/p>\n
The launch was jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies and the Sanobar Institute in Islamabad and was broadcast live and posted on social media. Organizers said academic panels and podcasts discussing the book will follow in the coming weeks to engage young researchers and scholars in a detailed examination of its findings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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