Are India and Pakistan really heading towards peace?

A ceasefire at the border, a sporting visit or two, pleasantries between prime ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan. It’s all looking up, isn’t it?

Not quite, say experts. What looks like positive discussions on the Indus Water Treaty and progress in Kashmir may hide deeper disagreements

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An Indian Army soldier stands guard near the border with Pakistan. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:00pm, 24 Mar 2021Updated: 12:26pm, 25 Mar 2021

Are the winds of change finally blowing across Sir Creek, the narrow strip of water dividing India and Pakistan?

After years of tension, violence and even aerial bombings that have brought the two countries to the brink of war, a series of moves have rekindled a hope for peace between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Last month, the two countries made a surprise announcement that their armed forces had agreed to halt all cross-border firing across their shared border, The Line of Control.

The Line of Control is a heavily militarised, turbulent border where frequent exchanges of firing and heavy shelling take place. In 2020, 36 people died and 130 were injured in 5,100 instances of firing and shelling, the most in the last 18 years, according to Indian government data.

Since the announcement, the two countries have moved swiftly – yet quietly – to consolidate this thaw in their relationship.

The two countries have even signalled a soft resumption of sporting ties. Last week, a Pakistan team visited India to take part in the equestrian International Tent Pegging World Cup qualifiers. The same week, Pakistani Usman Chand was granted a visa to participate in the shooting World Cup.