The New Great Game: India, Pakistan and the search for enduring peace

President Bill Clinton once called the border between India and Pakistan the most dangerous place on Earth. The two countries have been at war with each other on four separate occasions with numerous skirmishes in between. In 1948, 1965 and 1999 war was fought over Kashmir, and in 1971 it was over East Pakistan, later Bangladesh. There have been numerous peace talks, but in some cases the talks seem to have exacerbated the conflict.

Complicating the issues has been access to Middle East oil. The Chinese have embarked on a great road-building effort to bypass the Malacca Straits—through which they get their oil supplies and which can be bottled up by the U.S. Navy in times of conflict—by reviving the old Silk Routes to Asia and beyond. Part of this old Silk Route makes its way through Kashmir and into the Pakistani port of Gwadar, on the Persian Gulf. This also helps China keep India, a potential rival in Asia, on the defensive. Kashmir, containing both the headwaters of the great rivers of South Asia as well as the trade routes linking China to the Gulf, is key. Pakistan sees Kashmir as central to its identity and with China’s support, sees little advantage in seeking peace. India, with its nationalist government, will see any flexibility on its part as a sign of weakness. And the United States is determined to contain China any way it can.

Meanwhile the search for enduring peace between these two countries continues.

Helping us understand the various sides of the issues and the conditions required for peace are two former ambassadors and two journalists, all of whom have been, at one stage or another, involved with the peace process.

March 2, 2023

SPEAKERS

Abdul Basit
Former Ambassador, Pakistan; Author, Hostility, A Diplomat's Journey on Pakistan-India Relations

Anuradha Bhasin
Lyle and Corrine Nelson International Fellow, Stanford University; Executive Editor, Kashmir Times

Nirupama Rao
Former Ambassador and Foreign Secretary, India; Author, The Fractured Himalayas, India, Tibet and China

Beena Sarwar
Neiman Fellow, Harvard University; Editor, Aman ki Asha.

Kalidip Choudhury
Ph.D., Former Fellow, Stanford University—Moderator

The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum 📣, bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 500 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy.

Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Anthony Fauci in 2020.

In addition to the videos🎥 shared here, the Club reaches millions of listeners through its podcast🎙 and weekly national radio program📻.

[shadowhymn]

In this debate there are 3 people speaking on behalf of Pakistan and 1 person speaking on behalf of India.
Totally messed up debate.

[karolbagh]

Even if tomorrow you resolve Kashmir issue, How will you resolve Clash of Civilization Issue, which is amassing and gaining momentum day by day. There is a broad understanding developing within India that for last 1000 years of Islamic Conquest has destroyed our civilization, and now it's our time to take everything back from invaders, and throw out invaders their oppressive Ideology from the subcontinent. That's the biggest issue. That's the elephant in the room.

[mridulagrawal]

Power disparity b/w India and Pak is clear now more than ever before, India will and I think should continue to ignore Pakistan and just treat them as a security problem as it is being treated today

[kalyanmds]

Useless talk shop. The issue will be settled by India in due course of time. A bankrupt Pakistan is in no position to dictate terms. It should be happy if it remains in one piece.

[karolbagh]

Akhand Bharat Amar Rahe: Long live Undivided India 🇮🇳✌️

[NoMeWithoutYou]

There is nothing to discuss. Kashmir became Indian territory when Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in October 1947, after the Pakistani military and tribal forces waged war on the princely state. Both China and Pakistan will be forced to retreat in the near future as they struggle to keep their countries together. In twenty years, there will be no Pakistan and China as we know it.

[dineshshetty]

We 🇮🇳 thank Jinnha for creating Pakistan and successfully seggrigating the Jihadis...
We 🇮🇳 Hindus🕉️ consider Jinnha as Hero. He saved me and my family. I can't imagine undivided Bharat🇮🇳 as on today with 75 crore jihadis staying...
Thanks a lot..

[richardsking]

In my view, Pakistan should first come out of the current economic crisis, do elections, have stability, give power to the govt, stop meddling in affairs of neighbors mainly india and Afghanistan, completely abolish cross border terrorism, bring secularism in its constitution, change its name from Islamic republic of Pakistan, then only there will be a good atmosphere for peaceful resolution of issues between the two countries.

[Leon-TheEmperor]

Kudos to Ms. Rao!!! Brilliant exuberance of class and expression!! One can see the difference of personalities with this debate! Bravo ...me proud

[contrarian]

Pakistan has a bigger issue .. they feel they are culturally superior . They are struggling to adapt to modern equations ..hence Kashmir even though is resolved it won’t put a stop to this nuisance . However there is a silver lining to this . If we don’t engage in war with pakistan they will fight within themselves and break up .

[srinathmitta]

Moderator Kalidip Choudhury queered the pitch by adding the tag "right wing'" . He is clearly inclined to endorse the ideology of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

[SantoshMishra]

India really does not need any engagement with Pakistan right now. For all we know, we sit tight and focus on ourselves and let's see where Pakistan goes in terms of as a nation.if it continues in its current trajectory, then perhaps it will cease to be one. This discussion is an eloquent appeal for attention to a dead issue!! Indians have moved on

[vherlekar]

Time pass event -- for the elitists (of Pakistan especially) 😁😁
Fact :: people of India J&K are happy and peaceful, while those in GB and so-called AJK are busy BURNING exorbitant Electricity bills 😄

[nalinjoshi]

So disappointed in each and every participant in this discussion. They are not addressing the real issues with Pakistan. Even if Kashmir is given self-rule, Pakistan will forcibly take it over sooner or later and then possibly hand it over to China for the $30B it owes them. Kashmir does not have an army so how are they going to protect themselves? China will claim it as their own territory like Ladakh and Tibet. People in Kashmir have to open their minds and realize that for their own safety and peace of mind they are best aligned with India. Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir know better how their lives are 1000 time better than those in Pakistani ruled "Azad Kashmir". Just do your own research rather than listening to these people talk.

[srinathmitta]

The Commonwealth Club should consider the likes of Hussain Haqqani, Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed and Barrister Hamid Bhashani giving the Pakistani perspective on this topic.

[edisonone]

.

Enduring peace?

With India at the helm, good luck!

.

[MehranTadjfar]

If you don’t know the correct and historical name of Persian gulf, how can we trust anything you say? Educate yourself!

[SarveshShrivastava-vivg]

Which country teaches animosity and jihad even in textbooks.

[Bobsaccount]

British created security nightmare through division of India. All countries has to fight for their existence and ambitions. After the invasion of Tibet CCP is working to control south and southeast Asia by controlling the water of Tibet and trade of Indian and Pacific ocean and beyond. Tibet is landlocked and used to use Kolkata India port so CCP hatched BRI plan with debt trap loans. All countries should cooperate on security to reduce defence budgets and develop together like EU.

[srijandatta]

Extremely biased, shows how the organizers are tilted towards literally the wrong side. Kargil was an issue clearly because of the timing like every other thing. Stupid and unhelpful would be my review.