Prof Madan Mohan Goel, Proponent Needonomics & Former Vice-Chancellor
The relationship between India and Pakistan has been one of suspicion, hostility, and bloodshed since 1947. Whenever the subject of friendship between the two nations arises, most patriots instinctively react with negativity. Memories of the violent partition, wars fought in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999, as well as decades of cross-border terrorism, immediately fill the hearts of citizens with bitterness, resentment, and distrust. This psychological burden has created a hardened mindset: “Pakistan can never be trusted.”.
Yet, the Needonomics School of Thought (NST) urges us to re-examine these assumptions. Wars, regardless of their justification, ultimately end at the negotiating table. The human and economic devastation left in their wake only strengthens the case for dialogue. The message of NST is straightforward—humanity must stay away from the horrors of war, because war corrodes compassion, dignity, and moral responsibility. It leaves behind wounds that scar generations and locks societies into cycles of vengeance.
Present Reality
Pakistan continues to grapple with internal contradictions. In Baluchistan, widespread dissatisfaction with the federal government has led to protests and resistance. Instead of addressing its people’s grievances, Pakistan often seeks to portray itself as the victim of Indian interference, propagating the false narrative that India alone fuels instability in the region. Meanwhile, terrorist activities originating from its soil make India deeply suspicious of Pakistan’s intentions.
It is unrealistic to fully believe Pakistan’s claims of innocence, just as it is impossible to accept that India is entirely blameless in the narratives built by Pakistan. The truth in international conflicts often lies somewhere between what governments admit and what they deny. The only certainty, however, is that hostility benefits neither side.
From the standpoint of national security, India today faces dual challenges. According to official data, India currently maintains around 29 squadrons of fighter aircraft. Pakistan has about 25 squadrons, and China—India’s much larger neighbor—has an estimated 66 advanced squadrons, many of which are fifth-generation. In the coming years, Pakistan too is expected to receive advanced squadrons from China, further tilting the regional balance.
India, despite being a rising power, is still a developing nation with pressing needs in health, education, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation. A prolonged war with Pakistan—or worse, a two-front conflict with both Pakistan and China—would severely derail its developmental trajectory. Pakistan, with its fragile economy and social challenges, is in no better position. Both countries would fall behind the world if trapped in a cycle of conflict.
Logic of Dialogue
NST emphasizes that the ultimate destination of every war is peace talks. If dialogue is inevitable, why delay it until after the destruction of lives, homes, and economies? Why not accept dialogue as the first step, rather than the last resort?
Today, Pakistan itself has signaled interest in pursuing better ties with India. While skepticism about its sincerity is natural, India’s leadership should not ignore even the smallest opportunities for peace. It is in the national interest to explore every opening for dialogue. History has shown that courageous leadership requires thinking beyond electoral calculations and political rivalries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his first term, surprised the world by making an unannounced visit to then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence on his birthday. Although this move was criticized by opposition parties at home, it symbolized a statesmanlike attempt to rise above suspicion and embrace goodwill. The NST views such gestures not as political miscalculations but as moral and strategic necessities. It is time to revive that spirit.
Needonomics Perspective: Pulling Pakistan Closer to India
At present, Pakistan’s strategic dependence on China is deepening. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), giving it strong influence in Islamabad’s economic and security policies. Similarly, Russia has shown increasing interest in engaging with Pakistan.
If India chooses permanent hostility, Pakistan will only lean further toward these external powers. But if India adopts a Needonomics-driven policy of friendship, it could gradually replace China and Russia in Pakistan’s calculations. Economic collaboration, industrial expansion, and cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan would not only reduce the risk of conflict but also expand India’s global influence.
This aligns with NST’s mandate for needo-consumption, needo-production, needo-distribution, and fearless trade. Instead of wasting scarce resources on an arms race, both nations could invest in uplifting their citizens. Peace dividends would materialize in the form of increased employment, reduced poverty, stronger regional trade, and improved quality of life.
A Needonomics Roadmap for India–Pakistan Dialogue
To transform philosophy into practice, the following Needonomics-driven steps are proposed:
- Fearless Trade Initiatives
- Begin with limited trade in essential goods like medicines, agricultural inputs, textiles, and IT services.
- Encourage need-based trade that reduces costs for citizens in both nations rather than serving elite interests.
- Joint Cultural Forums
- Promote people-to-people exchanges through sports, films, literature, and academic collaborations.
- Revive student exchange programs and allow universities to co-host conferences on sustainable development.
- Shared Water and Energy Projects
- Set up joint mechanisms under the Indus Waters Treaty to manage floods, droughts, and irrigation needs.
- Explore renewable energy partnerships, particularly in solar and wind, where collaboration could reduce dependence on external powers.
- Economic Cooperation Zones
- Establish cross-border industrial clusters in safe zones for textiles, pharmaceuticals, and agro-processing.
- Such projects could create employment opportunities for youth on both sides, reducing the lure of extremism.
- Health and Disaster Management Cooperation
- Develop protocols for sharing vaccines, medicines, and medical expertise during pandemics.
- Build joint disaster-response teams for earthquakes and floods, which are frequent in the region.
- Security Dialogue on Terrorism
- Agree to joint monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of territory for terrorism.
- Confidence-building measures (CBMs) like military-to-military talks can reduce accidental escalations.
Final Appeal
The moral responsibility lies on the shoulders of leaders on both sides: to ensure that future generations inherit not the scars of war, but the fruits of peace. Let politicians in power lead with vision, and let those in opposition support with wisdom. Needonomics teaches us that true strength lies not in stockpiling weapons but in cultivating trust, not in nurturing enmity but in nourishing humanity. India and Pakistan have the opportunity to replace conflict with cooperation, suspicion with solidarity, and rivalry with regional renaissance. The time to begin is now.
Conclusion:
The path of war is easy to advocate but impossible to sustain; the path of dialogue is difficult to begin but rewarding in the long run. The Needonomics School of Thought reminds us that dialogue is not a weakness but the highest expression of strength.Politicians in power must demonstrate vision by prioritizing peace over political point-scoring. Politicians in opposition must rise above partisanship and support initiatives for dialogue, even if they come from rivals. National interest must not be sacrificed at the altar of electoral gains.
India and Pakistan stand at a historic crossroads. By choosing dialogue today, they can shape a tomorrow free of hostility, where resources are invested in prosperity, not destruction. By rejecting suspicion and embracing trust, they can prove that South Asia too is capable of writing a story of reconciliation and shared growth. The moral responsibility lies on the shoulders of leaders on both sides: to ensure that future generations inherit not the scars of war, but the fruits of peace.
