Today, I received a message, “Two nuclear powers, one without Oxygen and the other without vaccine”, the two countries referred are India and Pakistan. For a second I was traumatized, but soon gathered the courage to write this blog.
I am of the opinion that Pakistan can play a role in saving the lives of Indians who are dying due to an acute shortage of Oxygen. My suggestion is well supported by the efforts of employees of Pakistan Steel Mills, working to bring its Oxygen plant back into operations.
Luckily, Pakistan enjoys road, as well as rail links and gas cylinders, which can be swiftly transported to India, within a very short span of time. India can complement the supply chain by sending empty cylinders to Pakistan.
In this endeavor, the border forces/customs can also play their role by ‘clearing’ cylinders expeditiously, maybe round the clock for a while. To reciprocate Pakistan’s goodwill gesture, India may also consider supplying the COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan.
Both the countries have lost hundreds and thousands of people due to COVID-19 and the near and dear will face the trauma for a long time to come. This must also brighten a fact that in case the two countries indulge in another war, with a high probability of using atomic warheads, the death toll may run into millions.
Therefore, both countries have to make concerted efforts to resolve all the long outstanding issues, including Kashmir. A huge percentage of the population on both sides of the border lives below the poverty line.
It goes without saying that both the countries enjoy the potential to complement each other’s economy. Trading between the two countries is still going on through the third country, which added to cost and extends transit time. India has already granted Pakistan ‘Most Favored Nation’ status and Pakistan has yet to reciprocate.
Though the Government of Pakistan decided not to import cotton from India, but no word is the last word in politics, it can be reviewed. To ease the tension India can also reduce the number of troops deployed in Indian Administered Kashmir.
The friendship between two countries flourishes, when their social and economic goals become common. In the prevailing circumstances, both India and Pakistan face a mammoth task of saving precious human lives. They can take the first step by exchanging Oxygen and vaccine.
Written by
Shabbir H. Kazmi
Economic / GEO Political Analysis
THE AZB
