04 November, 2024
India Foundation, in collaboration with India Habitat Centre, organised a Book Discussion on ‘Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan’ by Amb Ajay Bisaria, Former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan on November 04, 2024 in New Delhi. The discussants of the book were Shri Tilak Devasher, Author and Member, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), India; Prof (Dr) Jyoti Pathania, Professor, School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University and Shri Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The session was moderated by Capt. Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation.
The discussion centred on the book and its insights into India-Pakistan relations and spanned around seven decades of turbulent history. Key themes of the discussion included Pakistan’s identity crisis, the impact of army elites, and the evolving power differential between the two nations. The specific issues which were highlighted included Pakistan’s use of sub-conventional warfare, the integration of Kashmir into India, and the crisis in Pakistan. The discussion also touched on the need for strategic focus on Pakistan and the potential for cautious optimism in future relations.
The key points of the deliberation included the military’s repeated interventions, the impact of anger management in diplomacy, and the paradoxical nature of Pakistan’s political system. He also highlighted the ideological divide between the two nations, the role of misinformation, and the need for realistic engagement. The discussants emphasised on the importance of understanding the historical context and the challenges of fostering lasting peace.
The other issues highlighted were the ineffectiveness of deterrence post-Pulwama, the institutional hostility of the Pakistani army towards India, and the fragility of people-to-people goodwill. The conversation also covered the impracticality of long-term peace frameworks, the limited impact of trade and cultural exchanges, and the scepticism towards the Bangladesh model. The panelists emphasised the need for realistic expectations and strategic approaches, acknowledging the deep-seated issues that hinder normalisation.
