In a departure from war rhetoric of the last two months, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed desire for India and Pakistan to work together for a democratic peaceful and progressive South Asia.
Prime Minister Imran Khan sent out a tweet, quoting his Indian counterpart on Pakistan Resolution Day, marking March 23 Resolution for an independent country in 1940.
“It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence,” Modi says in the message, according to Khan’s tweet.
Received msg from PM Modi: "I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence"
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2019
Modi’s message may help reduce tension between the two South Asian nuclear powers but they remain tense amid international concerns and calls for restraint. Many analysts say Modi has been engaging in a dangerous rhetoric and vitriol against Pakistanis because he wants to shift Indian political discussion to security issues on the eve of this year’s general election.
The two countries have been in a state of heightened military tension along Jammu and Kashmir disputed territory since India carried out an incursion to Pakistani territory, claiming to target a training camp of Jaish e Mohammad militant organization that New Delhi says was behind Pulwama attack on its security personnel.
Pakistani air force shot down two Indian warplanes the following day in Kashmir.
Even as Modi sent a message of peace to Khan, Indian forces killed seven people in Kashmir as people continue to demand their right to choose their destiny – to live independently or be a part of Pakistan or India.
Pakistan also captured an Indian pilot but returned it after a few days, a decision that analysts say contributed to restraints on the Indian side.
Modi’s far right and ultranationalist ruling BJP party leaders created a war hysteria by threatening Pakistan with water wars and military actions.
Imran Khan responded to these threats with vows of self-defense but called for cooperation and peace talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
New Delhi has long blamed Pakistan for stoking militancy in Kashmir, where people have been fighting for freedom from Indian rule.
Both Pakistan and India claim Kashmir – a UN-accepted disputed region – in its entirety and control parts of it with heavy military presence.
