How possible is it to improve India-PAK relations? Why is this not an easy task, what benefit do we get from it?

A news of July 1, 2026 caught the attention of entire South Asia, in which 117 well-known personalities from India and Pakistan appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi And wrote a joint letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. In this letter, an appeal has been made to restore dialogue between the two countries, improve diplomatic relations and end mutual enmity. But will the relations between India and Pakistan really improve and will this letter bring any concrete change?

Who wrote this letter and why?

This letter has been written on the initiative of the Center for Peace and Progress (CPP), whose president is O.P. Shah is. This letter has been signed by 61 big personalities of India and 56 of Pakistan.

Signatories from the Indian side include:

• Farooq Abdullah: National Conference President and former CM of Jammu and Kashmir
• Mehbooba Mufti: PDP Chief and former CM of Jammu and Kashmir
• Mirwaiz Umar Farooq: Hurriyat Conference leader
• Manoj Jha: Rajya Sabha MP (RJD)
• Mani Shankar Iyer: Former Union Minister (Congress)
• A.S. Dulat: Former RAW Chief
• Humayun Kabir: AJUP leaders

Signatories from Pakistan’s side include:

• Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri: Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan
• Ashraf Jahangir Qazi: former ambassador
• Isfaniyar Bhandara: Pakistani MLA
• Parvez Hoodbhoy: famous nuclear scientist

This letter has been written at a time when relations between India and Pakistan are going through a very delicate phase. There are 11 big demands in this letter like opening the border, improving relations, increasing trade, issuing visas, opening the Kartarpur corridor and starting bus travel.

How far have India-Pakistan relations deteriorated in the present times?

The relations between the two countries have deteriorated due to 4 major reasons:

• Pahalgam attack (22 April 2025): A major terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed. India held Pakistan responsible for this attack.
• Operation Sindoor (7 May 2025): In response to this attack, India operation vermilion Driven. Indian Army carried out precise strikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and PoK. More than 100 terrorists were killed in this operation.
• Controversy over Indus Water Treaty: After this India suspended the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan made it a serious issue and said, ‘Water should never be made a weapon.’
• Diplomacy completely stalled: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lahore on 25 December 2015 was the last high-level meeting. Bilateral talks have been completely halted since the Pathankot attack on January 2, 2016.

Is it possible for India-Pakistan relations to return to the way they were before?

The answer to this question is not straightforward. According to experts, there is little hope of normalization of relations. There are several major obstacles behind this:

• Issue of terrorism: India’s stand is clear, ‘Terror and talks cannot go together.’ India has clearly said that any talks will take place only on the issue of terrorism and any reforms are dependent on Pakistan ending cross-border terrorism.
• Lack of trust: Decades of hostility and repeated terrorist attacks have completely destroyed trust.
• Radical forces in both countries: According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, ‘At one time the hard right in Pakistan was against generalization with India. Today, fundamentalist elements in the Indian system are against friendship with Pakistan.
• Pahalgam’s wound fresh: Aishanya Dwivedi, wife of Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the Pahalgam attack, says, ‘We do not need Pakistan, Pakistan needs us.’
• BJP’s tough stance: BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh said, ‘Water and blood cannot flow together’ and warned, ‘Pakistan-born terrorism will not be tolerated in the name of peace.’
• Congress’s opposition: Congress MP Manish Tewari said, ‘In the last 50 years, whenever India had contact with Pakistan, there was a terrorist attack every time.’ He said that those who Pahalgam They have forgotten the killing of innocent tourists, how can they talk about generalization.

On what terms can talks be made?

If negotiations ever take place, they can only take place on certain strict conditions:

• Ending terrorism: India’s first and biggest condition is, ‘Pakistan should completely stop promoting and training terrorism.’
• Elimination of terrorist infrastructure: To stop cross-border terrorism, Pakistan should take concrete action to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure present on its soil.
• Trust enhancing steps: Before any major talks begin, small confidence-building steps will have to be taken.
• Addressing Security Concerns: The ‘legitimate security concerns’ of both sides have to be addressed.

If things are reached then what will be the benefit to India?

If by some miracle talks start and relations improve, India could get many benefits:

• If peace increases between the two countries, it will benefit the entire South Asia economically. Trade will increase, borders will open and businessmen of both the countries will get new markets.
• If tension reduces, India will have to spend less on border security and that money can be used for development purposes.
• With peace in South Asia, it will be easier to face big challenging countries like China. The dispute over Indus Water Treaty can be resolved through dialogue.
• India’s international image will improve and it will be seen as a country leading regional peace.