Citation: Zeb, R., Shahzad, S. A., & Alam, M. (2021). New Delhi’s Pakistan Dilemma and the Indo-Pakistan Peace Process. Global Legal Studies Review, VI(I), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-I).03 DOI: 10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-I).03 p- ISSN: 2708-2458 e- ISSN: 2708-2466 L- ISSN: 2708-2458 Pages: 17 — 26 Vol. VI, No. I (Winter 2021) URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-I).03 New Delhi’s Pakistan Dilemma and the Indo-Pakistan Peace Process Rizwan Zeb * Shahbaz Ahmed Shahzad † Muhammad Alam ‡ Abstract: Although many argue that since Modi took over, Indo-Pak peace became a mirage yet, this paired minority conflict started in 1947. At present, any discussion in the west on India-Pakistan relations implicates Pakistan for all the wrongs with the relationship. What is missing from this narrative is the lack of a clear Indian position and policy towards Pakistan. What is New Delhi’s Pakistan policy? How New Delhi intends to address its Pakistan problem? The core argument of this paper is that the biggest hurdle to establishing India-Pakistan peace or normalization is a lack of a clearly stipulated Pakistan policy on the part of New Delhi and that it has no vision for how to deal with Pakistan other than as an enemy. Key Words: India, Pakistan, Peace Process, South Asian Security, India-Pakistan Relations Introduction Since Narendra Modi assumed the office of the Indian prime minister for a second term, and the policy his administration adopted towards South Asia in general and Pakistan, in particular, made peace between India and Pakistan a mirage. Although his hostility towards Pakistan was an open secret yet after his reelection, Modi and his national security team have openly expressed hostility towards Islamabad, attacked Pakistan and supported terrorists and terrorist activities inside Pakistan. (The Economic Times, 18 Dec 2017) Anti-Pakistan rhetoric was at the core of his election campaign. This was coupled with his anti- Indian Muslim agenda that has since become glaringly visible to all. Therefore, the generally held belief among the South Asia watchers was that due to his anti-Pakistan stance, the likelihood of any meaningful progress in the Indo-Pak bilateral relationship is impossible. Modi’s government argued that the political leadership in Pakistan is just window dressing, whereas the actual decision-making is done by the military. When prime minister Imran Khan assumed office after winning the 2018 elections in Pakistan (Hashmi, 17 August 2018), a noted Indian commentator stated that for the first time, New Delhi has a prime minister in Pakistan that enjoys full support and endorsement of the Pakistani * Associate Professor and DS Research, Department of War Wing, Air War College Institute (AWCI), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Email: srizwanzeb@gmail.com † Independent Security Analyst with Expertise in South Asian Strategic Stability Affairs. ‡ Demonstrator, Department of Political Science, University of Buner, KP, Pakistan. army and has been called as the GHQ-man by New Delhi. (Jacob, 4 August 2018) This, according to him, provided New Delhi with an unequal opportunity to work with the actual decision- makers in Pakistan. In other words, Modi got an ideal partner if peaceful bilateral relations were to be established. Yet, when the Pakistani prime minister reached out to New Delhi by stating, “I really want to fix our ties… If they take one step towards us, we will take two, but at least [we] need a start” (NDTV, 27 July 2018) New Delhi suffered from a cold foot. Unsurprisingly, New Delhi did not reciprocate. Responding to Khan’s statement, New Delhi hoped that Imran Khan’s government would work constructively to “build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia free of terror and violence.” (NDTV, 29 July 2018) Following up on the peace offer, Islamabad took several conciliatory steps; for the first time ever, the Indian military attaché attended the Pakistan Day parade. (Yousef, 23 March 2018) Unfortunately, these peace signals were ignored by New Delhi. Why, despite, Islamabad’s peace signalling, New Delhi could go on blaming Islamabad for all the problems in the bilateral relationship? Historically, Pakistan, India’s proverbial twin, has a complicated relationship with India. Since