Can Nawaz Sharif improve the Indo-Pak relationship?
So after the President Election of Pakistan which everybody was eagerly waiting to happen, the world is now willing to see a great change in Pakistan. India is also hoping to come into some sort of agreement regarding the old hanging issues between the two neighbouring countries.

Why is India hoping for some change?
Since the birth of Pakistan, the nation has done nothing but playing the role of enemy to India. The hatred for India was seeded in Pak people’s mind by the British and they were so successful that even after so many decades have passed, both these neighbouring countries are still fighting with each other.
If we inspect the root of this nature of Pakistan, one reason surely catches the eye. The politics of Pakistan was never ruled by a democratic government successfully until the last government by Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP (Pakistan People’s Party). Military has always interfered in Pakistan’s politics. Now we all know people can’t be happy under the rule of army. So the army took a pretty clever role. They have been spreading the rumours of enmity against India for years so that people become busy thinking about the imaginative unjust that is done by India to Pakistan and in the meantime some people can make their life being in government. Sadly any politician in Pakistan who could become president or prime minister in Pakistan, be it for a little time, followed the same cheap path. So the  relationship between India and Pakistan could never become well.

Role of Nawaz Sharif:
India is hoping for good because the person elected is Nawaz Sharif. So what are the reasons for India being happy? There are some reasons of course. The time   when Nawaz is going to take the oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan is perhaps the darkest hour in the history of Pakistan. Terrorists are killing common mass every day. Swat region has permanently gone to the hands of Taliban after peace pact between Pak government and the Taliban. Baluchistan has always been the headache for Pakistan. They have gone stronger now. The investment in Pakistan has  gone so low that government is suffering from the fear of bankruptcy. The power cut problem has become a towering problem for the dying economy of Pakistan. Terrorists are attacking on the soil of Pakistan regularly and people are dying every day. So investors are not feeling safe anymore to pour his capital in Pakistan being under such an unstable state. Rashid Rahaman, editor of Pakistan’s Daily news told the power crisis "has ruined the economy and brought industry and commerce to its knees. Clearly no investment is coming in — domestic or foreign."
So before making a quarrel with a neighbour like India Nawaz will surely think about recovering Pakistan to its normal state. Pakistan is now under a grave danger; it is struggling for its existence! So being a practical leader of Pakistan, Nawaz will not take the risk to continue quarrelling with India. Rather he would emphasize on begin and continue progress in Pakistan. So he will need friendship of India in this hard work and a leader like Nawaz won’t deny the real situation.

What can Nawaz Do?
To create a bond of fraternity, Nawaz is looking forward to do several things. In his manifesto before election, Nawaz has promised to implement two important works to normalize relationship with India.
1)Granting India the Most Favoured Nation award: India has given MFN-status to Pakistan in 1996. But Pakistan has delayed again and again in giving India MFN status which is believed to be the result of the domestic political equation of Pakistan. Bashir Ali Mohommad, a member of the Pakistan-India Joint Business Council said on 2nd may, 2013 “Now general elections (in Pakistan) will take place... then within a month, by June it (MFN) should be granted “. Since Nawaz has promised to do so it is believed that India will get it by June, 2013 as this is the next deadline. This status would further normalise trade ties between India and Pakistan.
2)Controlling military by the people of Pakistan: Sharif believes today’s Pakistan needs the military to be under control of the people for making the base of the newly born democracy firm in Pakistan. It would not only return the belief of people over government but also other countries will gain their once lost faith over Pakistan. To do that, he must decrease threat perception from India.
3)Establishing Cricket matches with India: Being a cricket fan he is willing to establish the relationship with India again by starting cricket matches between these two countries. Cricket is the most popular game played in this continent and both the nations are cricket crazy. Sharif wants to exploit this possibility and start talking with India positively.
4)Closing Anti-India organizations: In a meeting with the press, Sharif has assured that no anti-India organizations will be given permission to carry on their business in Pakistan and that soil of Pakistan will not be allowed to use for any anti-India activity. Unlike the previous government, Sharif is not a fond of Taliban or religious leaders of Pakistan.

Hurdles Sharif has yet to face:
Although all these points seem very valid and doable and even if Sharif is ready to execute these plans, the path will not be comfortable.
1)Opposition will not give in easily: Pakistan Muslim League-N is a liberal party. But maximum parties of Pakistan are not liberal and they feel pond in making India suffer in any way. So even though Sharif wants to make the air clear, opposition will not make it easy for him. Military will also help the opposition So he cannot take fast decisions. He must wait and walk to his aim slowly. So it is understandable sudden change won’t occur in the foreign policy of Pakistan.
2)Threat from Terrorists: It is seen in past that whenever any initiative is taken from Pakistan’s side to melt the ice, terrorist’s started attacking over and over on both Pakistan and India. They don’t want to finish the war for good. They want chaos in the whole region. So Sharif has to be careful about that. Probably he has to first wipe out the terrorists and then only talks between the two can go on.
3)Kashmir issue: This is the most disputed issue between India and Pakistan. No one is willing to give up on Kashmir. It has become a prestigious issue for both the parties. Whatever be the history of Kashmir no party is willing to follow that. Clearly neither India nor Pakistan is going to give in to the other one over Kashmir issue. And no talk can become purely fruitful until Kashmir issue is solved. So these issues will not be solved by overnight.

Let’s hope for the best:
In spite of so many difficulties, we believe in a good future, a future where India and Pakistan will become good friends and good neighbours. It seems pretty unrealistic now, but given honest trials from both ends, this impossible thing can also become possible. Sharif has promised us a lot, now it’s time to fulfil them and it seems he has started. He invited Prime Minister of India to visit Pakistan. The time has come for him to show his political intelligence. Pakistan people also showed their faith over Sharif’s policy. Those policies include bringing ISI’s activity under public scrutiny and resurrecting back-channel diplomatic talks with India. So he should go to fulfil his policies courageously. A change is already made i.e. a milestone has already created in the history of Pakistan that a democratic government could reign for the full time of five years. Hopefully, the next change will also come true!

IMAGE COURTESY: itv news, indiawires.com