Engaging with India Pakistan and India

are at odds over a number of issues, but terrorism and the unresolved Kashmir conflict are the most prominent issues that have perpetuated animosity.

However, other points of contention include the water dispute, the Sir Creek issue, Siachen, and strategic animosity—the arms race, military modernization, and alliances versus counter-alliances. When India ended Kashmir's autonomy on August 5, 2019, the relationship between the two countries suffered.

Pakistan responded by deteriorating its commercial and diplomatic ties with India and launching a diplomatic campaign to force the letter to reverse its unilateral action.

However, the Indian government regards its action in Kashmir as a done deal, and Pakistan's diplomatic offensive is nothing more than a rehash of an old tactic.

Perhaps this was the final blow that broke the camel's back. Pakistan has extended an olive branch to India in exchange for a dialogue-based solution to the bilateral issues.

India, on the other hand, tries to isolate Pakistan internationally, which is nothing more than a ploy to gather information given Pakistan's importance to the world in terms of geography, population, and military.

India asserts that Pakistan is responsible for the indigenous struggle for self-determination in Kashmir.

It ignores the general public's desire for freedom. It is an identity and symbolic effort to free the territory from Indian illegal occupation without the consent of the aboriginal people.

India accuses Pakistan of orchestrating the indigenous Kashmiri freedom struggle and labels it "terrorism."

Pakistan, on the other hand, denies this claim and maintains that India is the source of terrorism in the country.

The TTP has recently intensified its nationwide terrorist operations. "Zero tolerance" against terrorism was reaffirmed recently at the meeting of the National Security Committee.

"Pakistan's security is uncompromisable, and full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of Pakistan's territory" was maintained in the NSC huddle.

It is essential to stop the terrorism problem in its tracks for the sake of national security. However, only a regional counterterrorism mechanism can make it possible.

If terrorism is a source of irritation that has widened the gap between Pakistan and India, it will also serve as a basis for cooperation.

Because both nations are susceptible to terrorism, militant groups pose a threat to regional peace.

Pakistan has recently completed all substantial, technical, and procedural aspects of both the 2018 and 2021 action plans, which means that it has been removed from the FATF grey list.

India must acknowledge this and put an end to its accusations against Pakistan as it demonstrates that Pakistan does not support terror financing.

Pakistan may offer India the opportunity to jointly combat the threat posed by terrorism by establishing a joint regional mechanism because terrorism has returned to the region, posing challenges to national and regional security.

By eliminating the contentious irritant, it not only prepares the ground for the elimination of terrorism but also provides an avenue for engagement to resolve bilateral issues: terrorism.

It will undoubtedly open the door to resolving the Kashmir dispute if India gives up its hegemonic position and creates an atmosphere that encourages dialogue.

A regional counterterrorism body will be established to combat terrorism. In order to effectively eliminate the threat posed by terrorism in the region, all significant regional nations will be invited to form a united front.

Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and the United States are expected to be members of the Regional Counter-Terrorism Mechanism (RCCM).

It will greatly facilitate the regional nations' engagement on a level playing field. India and Pakistan will no longer criticize one another for their support of terrorism; However, in response to the threat posed by terrorism in the region, both nations work together.

The body that fights terrorism will work together. Sharing intelligence, obstructing the regional network of militant groups' funding and manpower sources, and arms control are all examples of this.

It significantly hinders terrorist activities by insurgents. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on the other hand, provides a platform for dealing with the regional terrorism issue.

The SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) can significantly assist member nations in forming a united front to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism.

Member nations' capacity building in the areas of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency is crucial to reducing terrorism.

Engaging with the Afghan Taliban government is essential. Regional peace will be harmed by Afghanistan's instability.

Since militant groups will find Afghanistan to be a fertile ground for breeding and operating there without any obstacles, the more Afghanistan is neglected, the greater the likelihood of terrorism challenges.

As a result, countries in the region, particularly India and Pakistan, see Afghanistan as a place where they can work together to maintain regional stability.

In addition, shifting geopolitical conditions in the region make it possible for India and Pakistan to work together to resolve their differences.

In Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022, US President Joe Biden met with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The meeting between Biden and Xi has put a definitive end to the New Cold War, despite the fact that both global powers consider each other to be a geopolitical rival and have divergent strategic interests.

India and Pakistan will have more room to work out their differences that have arisen as a result of the region's great power competition if, at least for the time being, it appears that China and the United States are not on a collision course.

Pakistan faced a security dilemma as a result of India's strategic partnership with the United States in opposition to China.

Pakistan's fear of being strategically outweighed is alleviated now that the US appears to be creating a balance between India and Pakistan.

As a result, Pakistan may pass up this chance to use great powers to convince India to engage in dialogue.