Pahalgam attacks Indo-Pak tie from minimal stability to deep crisis are in trouble: Ex Envoy TCA Raghavan

Pakistan’s TCA Raghavan’s former high commissioner described the status quo of India-Pakistan relations after the Pahargan terrorist attack, which was “potentially very dangerous” and said the incident was trapped in bilateral relations between the two countries, from minimal stability to a “deep crisis.” Raghavan spoke with PTI about the onlookers of the recently concluded Nainital Literature Festival (NLF), emphasizing that “the severity of the coronavirus cannot be underestimated.” “These are innocent tourists, ruthlessly killed, shot. So, in a sense, when more people die, it is very reminiscent of the Mumbai terrorist attack, or like the situation after the parliamentary attack.
“The most unfortunate thing is that major terrorist attacks like this have put India-Pakistan relations in a deep crisis of a period of minimum stability (but still stable) period,” Lagawan said.
The former diplomat has served as the High Commissioner of India since June 6, 2013 until his retirement on December 31, 2015.

On April 22, terrorists opened fire on a grass called “Mini Switzerland” near the Pahalgam tourist hub in southern Kashmir, killing 26 people, mainly tourists. It was the worst attack in Kashmir since the Pulwama strike in 2019, when 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

After the attack, India demoted diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a series of measures, including the expulsion of Pakistan’s military annex, the suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and the immediate closure of the Attari Transit Transit Post. Raghavan stressed the inherent “danger” in the current situation, emphasizing that India’s diplomatic steps – especially the suspension of the Indian Water Treaty – should not be discounted. Raghavan acknowledged the widespread and deeply felt anger in various Indian societies, but the government pointed out that the government must address the current crisis in three ways – “the international situation, the situation at Pakistan and the strong family anger”.

He added: “The perpetrators of this attack should not be punished, it is a feeling of anger. Therefore, the government must address these emotions.”

That being said, the 69-year-old also stressed that India cannot ignore the reality of being located in a “deeply troubled region” and therefore, despite tensions, it is still impossible to afford to detach from its immediate vicinity.

The author of “People Next Door: Curious History of India-Pakistan Relations” emphasizes that the stability of our relationship with our confrontational neighbour Pakistan is in line with our overall national interests and is closely linked to “India’s long-term development goals and the need to protect its economic achievements”.

“I hope that in the coming weeks and days, whatever measures and countermeasures are taken, the long-term view of India and South Asia will always be kept in mind.”

Novelist Shobhaa De, writer Anand Neelakantan, writer and former diplomat Vikas Swarup, actor Sandhya Mridul and food historian Pushpesh Pant are speakers for the first release of NLF.

The three-day Literature Festival ends on April 27.