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Peace Process As the peace process between India and Pakistan is progressive a lot of change in the attitude of the Pakistani leadership has been noted towards India in recent times. Before the 1999 Pakistani leadership used to use the hatred against India as the major issue in the elections. But After Vajpayee’s peace initiative both the countries had understood it that they cannot ignore each other for more time. Though  Former Military general turned President of Pakistan General Parvez Musharraf was responsible for the Kargil war, it was the same leader who initiated the peace process with India again. Leaders of both the countries took some bold decisions that normalized the relations and ended the feeling of mistrust. Though Musharraf has not remained in power now, the government of Pakistan has taken the peace process ahead.

Circumstances There are many reasons for the changed approach of both of the nations towards each other. First of all it is the militancy both the countries are suffering from. US led war on terror has become Pakistan’s ‘own war’. Pakistan has suffered a lot because of years of military rule. Its economy is in shambles. It is fighting against Taliban militants in NWFP which is nothing than a full grown war. It is recovering from the economic and social devastation is has suffered during the military rule. On the other hand India is the second fastest emerging economy of the world. It needs at least 15 years of peace to become a developed country. Circumstances has brought both the nations more close to each other.

Economy General Parvez Musharraf will be remembered for his bold decisions that he took to strengthen the peace process. President Asif Ali Zardari has followed the same path. In a recent interview to an international news paper he has said that “India has never been a threat to Pakistan. I’. He also said that  without better ties with New Delhi “there is no other economic survival for nations like us. We have to trade with our neighbours first.”  He also accepted that militants operating in J&K are the terrorists. It is perhaps for the first time that any Pakistani top leader has made such a statement. India and China are the leading emerging economies of the world and Pakistan can not remain untouched from the economic impacts of its neighboring economies. It is in the interest of Pakistan to have better relations with its neighbors for its own ‘better future’.