India Pakistan historical and civilizational attachment and the question of terrorism. The question about Pakistan's links with terrorism is a hard one to ponder for any Pakistani. It requires a great deal of emotional detachment from a place you care about. It is also hard to sift the truth from propaganda in the face of a constant and shrill onslaught from Indian sources. So what is the truth?

The underlying fact is that India and Pakistan, both share a deep and intertwined history, bound by shared cultural roots, linguistic similarities, and a common past. They emerged from the partition of British India in 1947, a traumatic event that left deep scars and fictional myths against each other on both sides of the dividing line.

Historical and Civilizational Attachment:

• Shared Heritage: Both nations draw from a rich tapestry of shared history, encompassing ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley Civilization, the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism, and the arrival of Islam.
• Cultural Similarities: Despite their differences, they share many cultural similarities, including music, literature, cuisine, and festivals.
• Intertwined Histories: Their histories remain deeply intertwined, marked by periods of cooperation and conflict, reflecting the complexities of their shared past.

Obstacles to Reconciliation:

• The Kashmir Conflict: The unresolved dispute over the region of Kashmir remains the most significant obstacle to peaceful relations. Both states opted for confrontation and war but failed to resolve their differences including their position over Jammu and Kashmir. The important aspect is that both the states, India and Pakistan have been and still are dictated by ultra-nationalism, colonial mindsets, and religio-sectarian hatred. The norms of past imperial and slave societies keep dictating their policies and decisions rather than a scientific approach and factual situation on the ground. Had they allowed people from both sides of the forcibly divided state of Jammu and Kashmir as it was before 14/15 August 1947: a) to elect their representatives b) to agree upon the future constitution of the state c) to get consent on the subject constitutional document from all its neighbors India, Pakistan, and China on the principle of shared sovereignty as it is working among the member states of the European Union d) subject constitutional document be put before the people of Jammu & Kashmir for the final vote.  If there is will there is way. The question could have been resolved long ago without shedding the blood of innocent people and wars. The irony is that the political thinking on both sides of the divide is the prison of the past history.  
• Terrorism: Cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan has been a major source of tension, fueling mistrust and animosity. This is because Pakistan chose a policy to resolve its disputes with India right from 1947, a path of conflict and confrontation leading to political violence and wars rather than using friendly and cooperative paths such as the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The Indian leadership used the tools of force to occupy many states rather than democratic means. Moreover, India's cooperation with Anglo-US undercover operations against China in Tibet in the 50s and 60s is well documented. The point I am trying to make is that both never honestly choose the path of friendship, and cooperation, and by using the democratic tools to resolve their bilateral differences and create the life of their people better on both sides of the divides. 
• Nuclear Proliferation: Both countries possess nuclear weapons, increasing the risk of escalation and raising the stakes of any conflict.

Political and Military Tensions: A history of military confrontations and political mistrust further exacerbates tensions between the two nations.

The Question of Trust:

The issue of trust lies at the heart of the India-Pakistan relationship. Decades of conflict, including wars and acts of terrorism, have eroded trust between the two governments and their populations. 

The origin of the society is socially grounded under the law of physics, not ideologically built. Ideologies, religions, sects, or any other natural human diversity is part of inclusive life; today it is citizen and state. All the citizens are equal. We are not living in Mosses time or 1400 years ago.

• Accusations and Counter-accusations: Both sides frequently accuse each other of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region.   
• Lack of Dialogue: The lack of sustained dialogue and confidence-building measures further hinders the develop a culture of cooperation and trust. They must allow their citizen to travel to each other's country without even a visa and both authorities must cooperate in law enforcement in letter and spirit. This would improve the standard of living on both sides of the divide and would be a dividend of peace and trust for all. 

Conclusion:

The India-Pakistan relationship is complex and multifaceted, characterized by deep historical and civilizational ties and significant political and security challenges. Overcoming these challenges requires building trust, addressing the root causes of conflict, and engaging in meaningful dialogue. I think that both countries need to change their past policies and behaviours which proved nothing fruitful for both but self-destructive at all levels. Embarking on a new path, they need to evolve new policies and new approaches by allowing their citizens to share their lives rather than dividing the societies by using the hate tools of mass media or sharpening the hatred by using religions, sects, ethnicities, or any other possible human diversity.