Shared Roots, Divided Roads: Rethinking Indo-Pakistan Relations

Despite sharing identical cultural values, linguistic heritage, musical traditions, culinary preferences, and social norms, India and Pakistan have been embroiled in four major conflicts. The recent barrage of missile attacks and drone deployments by India starkly contradicts the notion of harmonious coexistence, reinforcing the relevance of the “Two-Nation Theory.”

The underlying causes of these conflicts are multifaceted. Is it the Hindutva ideology, which advocates Indian hegemony in South Asia, or the Kashmir dispute, which perpetually fuels tensions between the two nations? Notably, three of these conflicts were directly related to Kashmir: the 1947–1948 war over Kashmir’s accession to India, the 1965 war sparked by Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar aimed at infiltrating Kashmir, and the Siachen Glacier conflict.

Is the Kashmir issue the primary bottleneck, or is it merely a symptom of deeper, systemic problems—perhaps exacerbated by political motives such as forthcoming elections in Bihar, which seek public affirmation through nationalistic fervor?

India’s growing technological prowess and defensive pride may also contribute to its increasingly assertive posture. However, war has never been a viable solution. It brings nothing but devastation and economic dislocation for the masses.

India’s democratic system, often praised globally, has also come under scrutiny for its undemocratic tendencies—where political leaders and their heirs are elevated to near-heroic status, often suppressing dissent and undermining accountability. This has led to a perception of political stagnation and institutional instability, where religious extremism is often conflated with faith, and political unity is overshadowed by partisan interests.

Recent concerns about the treatment of Muslim minorities in India—especially following the passage of the Waqf Bill on April 2, 2025, which mandates the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council—raise serious questions about the protection of minority rights and the growing influence of Hindutva ideology.

Ultimately, the question remains: where does the root of the problem truly lie? The core issue extends beyond the territorial dispute over Kashmir. It lies in the entrenched mentalities shaped by decades of ideological conditioning. Hatred towards a particular group, nurtured over generations, can lead to catastrophic consequences.

I firmly believe that the roots of this dysfunction are deeply embedded in flawed educational systems that prioritize obedience over vision and silence over inquiry. Reforming pedagogical approaches and cognitive frameworks is essential. Notably, Indian curricula have seen considerable success in cultivating critical thinking and innovation, whereas ours often emphasize dominance and rote learning.

To avert a potentially disastrous war between two nuclear-armed nations, we must build on shared values and identify commonalities that can serve as the foundation for cooperation.

Fortunately, there are numerous cultural similarities that can facilitate dialogue. We share a common language, and as Noam Chomsky astutely observed, “Language is the most important tool for communication and it’s also the most important vehicle for the transmission of culture.”

Our cultures, cuisines, and even musical traditions are intricately intertwined. All we need is a platform to come together and address our differences through meaningful dialogue and mutual respect.

No religion advocates massacre, disharmony, or war. Rather, every faith promotes moral and ethical values. The beauty of ethnicity lies in diversity, and the strength of a nation is derived from its ability to embrace and celebrate that diversity.

The Pulwama attack was unequivocally unethical, and while we condemn it in the strongest terms, the underlying factors exacerbating these tensions must be addressed with sincerity and urgency.

The recent ceasefire agreement and the prospects of renewed dialogue are steps in the right direction. While contentious issues like the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and the Kashmir dispute will undoubtedly remain central in upcoming negotiations between the leaderships of both nations, it is equally important to focus on the root causes that repeatedly fuel these crises.

As Mahatma Gandhi so eloquently stated, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others and to work towards peace.”