Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Good gesture by Pakistan' that was published in Newsband

Good gesture by Pakistan

Hamid Nihal Ansari, an engineer from Mumbai who spent six years in a Pakistani prison at last returned to India. One can imagine the plight of the young man, who had crossed over into Pakistan from Afghanistan in 2012 on a mission to save a woman he had befriended online and been arrested for espionage. The authorities there put him through a trial in a military court. In December 2015, the court sentenced him to three years in prison.

All through his ordeal, Ansari’s parents kept alive the struggle to bring him back. The Ministry of External Affairs applied sustained diplomatic pressure on Islamabad. Ansari was released after he completed his sentence on December 15, although it had received another month from a Peshawar court to finish the formalities.

The credit goes to citizens’ groups in both countries that helped the family, particularly lawyers and human rights activists in Pakistan who worked together to ensure Ansari’s release.

Ansari’s release is just one positive happening. But what about the conviction of Kulbhushan Jadhav, and instances of prisoners like Sarabjit Singh dying in Pakistani jails? Both India and Pakistan must dedicate themselves to freeing hundreds of other prisoners who remain in each other’s jails. Pakistan holds 471 Indian prisoners while India holds 357 Pakistani prisoners. There needs to be a more humane approach.

Ansari had entered Pakistan to save one of his friend who was found guilty by the government of Pakistan. It is of course heartening to welcome Ansari back home after his unwise adventure to Pakistan.

It would be a canny decision if both the countries firstly verify that if the person who have trespassed the borders is innocent or not, what is his/her motive and also the native country must be informed immediately about such kind of activities. This can only be possible if there is trust and better understanding between the countries. Both the governments must act positively and release innocent prisoners and let them go to their respective countries. Both sides must identify innocent prisoners and see that they are freed unconditionally.

Though it’s a good gesture by Pakistan but was it Ansari’s identity of Muslim that was considered by Pakistan for his release? Would they have released a Hindu or Sikh in similar situation or would they be made to languish whole life in jail?

There are very definitive steps that Pakistan has to take before any meaningful dialogue can start and Pakistan is well aware of them. The bilateral relationship between the countries is in a moribund stage without revival for a long time. Yet there is hope for its revival after the cricketer turned politician takes charge and his continuous invitation for peace between the two. But India's stand for talk only after Pakistan stops terror attacks on India is reasonable.