Relations between Narendra Modi’s many-faced government and Nawaz Sharif’s shifting stands do not still go against commitment to an eventual rapprochement. Meanwhile terrorists based on the other side of the LOC produce a few disturbing eruptions, lately on the Indian air force installation at Pathankot. But a number of things had happened meanwhile. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had a guftagu with Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad. The ISIS had brought Delhi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi closer by declaring war on these power bases. National Security Advisors of the two countries had resumed contact in Bangkok. Nevertheless, there is a schizophrenic response in New Delhi, especially the BJP’s approach on a proposed trip by Narendra Modi to Islamabad. Sharif has made a peace call from Sri Lanka. But Modi has asked Nawaz Sharif to deliver on his promise of “prompt and decisive action” against those responsible for attack on the Pathankot airbase. The ruling BJP is said to have indicated that the government’s talks with Islamabad hinge on whether there is proof of a Pakistani state actor’s involvement in the Pathankot attack. But all this is a tall order as Delhi has always failed to come up with positive evidence of any such complicity by the Pakistani establishment in terrorists from Pakistan’s soil pronging Indian border installations.
What is surprising is that the RSS, Hindutva standard-bearer, is not uncompromising about Modi’s decision to meet Sharif even after the Pathankot outrage. Senior RSS member Dattaraya Hosbale said, “sometimes relations (with Pakistan) sour, like it happens between brothers”. But Delhi has to bargain from a position of strength. The unexpected dilution of RSS intransigence may not seem a riddle after Sushma Swaraj wearing green in Islamabad. The sudden death of J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a tragic event but the prompt succession of daughter Mehbooba Mufti to fill the void is unlikely to make any difference to the BJP’s policy of adjustment in Srinagar.