Pahalgam Terror Attack and India-Pakistan Relations.
A summary of the captivating conversation between Amb. Gautam Bambawale and Sanjay Pulipaka on India-Pakistan relations.
-By Sriadita Emani
Amb. Gautam Bambawale was the former Ambassador of India to Bhutan and China and High Commissioner to Pakistan. He is currently associated with Symbiosis International University as Distinguished Professor and with Pune International Centre as a Trustee.
Ambassador Gautam Bambawale reflected on Pakistan’s economic growth, defence preparedness and its interactions with India. Amb. Bambawale opined that the Pakistani army has often played a dominant role in domestic politics. He contends that the Pakistan army often prioritises national security over economic development, leading to a national security state mentality. The conversation also reflected on the seepage of radical religious ideology into the Pakistan army, affecting its decision-making, raising questions on its professionalism.
Amb. Gautam Bambawale critically evaluated Pakistan’s economy, which has struggled for decades, facing repeated foreign exchange crises and a reliance on IMF loans. According to Amb. Bambawale, economic disparities contributed to growing ethnic divides, particularly in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Pakistani army’s actions against popular leaders like Imran Khan have further aggravated tensions in the polity. Amb. Bambawale suggests that India should adopt a long-term strategy to apply pressure on Pakistan, including working to ensure that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) places Pakistan on its grey list.
The conversation also reflected on Pakistan’s nuclear sabre-rattling as a tactic to gain international attention. In terms of regional players, Amb. Gautam Bambawale contends that Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are unlikely to significantly alter the India-Pakistan tensions. China will remain diplomatically supportive of Pakistan, but will hesitate to intervene militarily in the India-Pak conflict. Noting that analysts often overemphasise the historical connections between the two countries, Amb. Gautam Bambawale emphasises the importance of recognising the distinct political and economic trajectories of India and Pakistan for accurate analysis.
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