No muslims of the sub continent haveva common link whether anyone likes it or not
kashmir is a open wound and there cannot be peace until kashmir is free from india
The massacre of muslims in places like gujraar also matters, how can pakistan work with india when sub subcontinent muslims are killed
worse still if there killer like MODI beomes prime minister of india relations with india on all things must stop at that point
Thats the usual short sighted view. However, that is not the point of the thread. It is about Pakistan's options, geo-politically.
Traditionally Pakistan has always taken an aligned stance. At first it was the United States, now it is China. Its every move, or should I say, its moves for the most part have been about "tackling India". Hence their downfall. India on the other hand took a non-aligned position, and that has been its advantage. The problem with an aligned stance, especially aligning yourself with a bigger power is that these powers tend to use you for their benefit. So currently the United States is using Pakistan for its War on Terror, and China is using Pakistan to counter India's influence and further its own businesses. But sadly, most Pakistanis are too enamored with the Chinese. China has never been a fair weather friend, they always look out for their own interests. However, they are not to be blamed. Pakistan that started out socialist, somehow became "Islamic". This has also proven to be one of its disadvantages.
Ive said it many times before, for countries to develop, their borders need to be peaceful. China and India realize this and that is why they are working towards trade relations, confidence building measures etc and we have been moderately successful. Its still a work in progress, but China and India havent been hostile with each other for over 45 years.
It is high time that Pakistan stop living in the past, and start improving relations with India. Put the Kashmir in the backburner, let it not be given too much of importance atleast for 25 or 30 years. In the meantime concentrate more on development, eradicating religious extremism etc.,
Instead people like to kid themselves about how India has armed secessionist groups within, about how India's neighbors dont like it, about how China is hostile to it etc., All of that amounts to nonsense, not the ground reality.