The recent appeal endorsed by civil society members from both Pakistan and India, urging the prime ministers of the two countries to take “meaningful and sustained” steps towards peace, is a welcome initiative. No rational observer can deny the urgent need to end hostility in South Asia, where nearly eight decades of mistrust and confrontation have poisoned relations. Yet peace requires reciprocity, and while Pakistan has repeatedly attempted to restart dialogue in recent years, India has shown little inclination to respond positively.

Over a hundred individuals — including former diplomats, academics, politicians, and peace activists — have signed the appeal coordinated by a New Delhi think tank. Their call for confidence‑building measures and the restoration of full diplomatic relations reflects genuine concern. Diplomatic ties were downgraded after India revoked occupied Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019, and relations deteriorated further when New Delhi blamed Pakistan for last year’s Pahalgam incident without evidence. The brief armed conflict in May, initiated by India, only deepened the chill.

While some voices in India appear sincere in their desire for peace, the BJP‑led government has consistently rejected dialogue. Its unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is a case in point. Pakistan’s Indus commissioner recently noted that communications with Indian officials have gone unanswered, while the deputy prime minister warned that India was “sowing the seeds of war.” Indian ministers have openly declared their intention to stop water flows to Pakistan, and the Foreign Office has accused India of aiding terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. These actions hardly suggest a government committed to peace.

Beyond state policy, large sections of the Indian population have been radicalised against Pakistan and Muslims, fuelled by the shrill jingoism of mainstream media. This raises a fundamental question: is the Indian polity prepared for peace? At one time, hard‑line elements in Pakistan opposed normalisation with India. Today, it is the Hindutva‑driven radicalism within India that blocks reconciliation. Unless this mindset changes, prospects for peace remain dim.

The most meaningful confidence‑building measure India could take would be to restore the Indus Waters Treaty and assure Pakistan of its commitment to abide by international agreements. Without concrete diplomatic and political steps, particularly from New Delhi, appeals by idealists will remain symbolic gestures. Peace in South Asia requires more than rhetoric; it demands sincerity, responsibility, and a willingness to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation.

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