The last one year has been rather unkind to a country that had convinced itself of its super powers. The reality check, when it came, was harsh. Which is why the members of the Hindutva brigade remain in in denial even as their make-belief world collapses around them.

Should this matter to us in Pakistan?

Yes. But not in the conventional way. The fact is that both Pakistan and India are undergoing significant political, social and diplomatic changes. Navigating these changes requires absolute clarity shorn of ideological baggage and political hubris. India under the present Hindutva regime is unlikely to pivot to a realistic assessment of the situation. Which is why, we must.

This past week two developments pointed towards such a need. First, speculation swirled around Track 2 meetings between retired officials from both countries on foreign shores. A few days later, well-meaning prominent citizens from Pakistan and India jointly signed a petition calling for improved bilateral ties. Taken together, these developments suggested a desire to break the ice between Islamabad and New Delhi.

We should not walk down this path.

Instead, Pakistan should aim to institutionalise a well-considered and calibrated policy that acknowledges that India is a mere headache – and we need to find a cure as soon as possible. To do this, we should factor in three aspects of Hindutva India.

First, majoritarian India's obsession with Pakistan will only grow stronger as it slides further into officially sanctioned societal bigotry. The Hindutva project is fuelled by anti-Muslim hate and BJP's........

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