Peace as a value
We are just past a military clash, though very short and swift, between Indian and Pakistan. The confrontation had the potential to spiral out of control and go beyond a point that none could have envisaged. Thanks to the maturity of leadership, and fine art of diplomacy, that cessation of hostilities came sooner than expected. An atmosphere that was full of war walk suddenly received the calm breeze of peace.
Who initiated, what path it traversed, and how it resulted into a ceasefire, all this is a matter of detail. In all such matters this detail trickles down very slowly and the world gets to know about it years, may be decades later. Even in this age of media glare and social media glow, certain things remain wrapped in darkness. Whatever the case, people heaved a sigh of relief.
What was once again demonstrated is the power of global diplomacy. The back channel engagements, cool and calculated messaging, measured conversations and real talking – all this is what matters in the end. The impact of institutional diplomacy, the need of transnational institutions, and the role of political leadership were once again felt.
In recent times we saw that transnational institutions turned very ineffective, and it resulted in continuation of military conflicts. The Ukraine conflict is a case in point. A military clash that saw devastation at a scale could not be ended in its first phase. Similarly the Mid East crisis that centred around Palestine sent shock waves around the world. The scenes of devastation are very hard to see.
In this kind of a world, the need for diplomacy and political leadership is all the more required. We have piled up stocks of weapons, and we are too vulnerable. We have accumulated conflicts and contestations, and unless there is a mechanism in place to diffuse the situations arising out of that, we are at a risk of a war that will leave no winners in its trail.
More than diplomacy, negotiations, and talks what the world requires this time is an emphasis on peace as a universal human value. Like a consciousness building around climate, there is a need to strengthen consciousness around the importance of peace for human societies.
