Recently Prime Minster Mr. Narendra Modi said: “The country which forgets its history also loses its ability to create history.” One hopes Mr. Modi has a fair idea about how an avoidable Partition of the subcontinent has profoundly and adversely affected the politics of this region. The hope that he has is strengthened by his inviting all members of SAARC nations to his swearing in ceremony. That gesture provided clear indication that consolidating the subcontinent is high on his foreign policy agenda. Well, fresh circumstances provide Mr. Modi a chance to create history and earn on it his place as an icon of change.

This writer has taxed the patience of readers with his repeated advocacy of a South Asian Union as the best means of promoting peace and progress in this region. Mr. Modi’s SAARC gesture provided hope of movement in that direction. But it takes two hands to clap. No leader in Pakistan except the late Benazir Bhutto indirectly supported the idea. Benazir spoke in general terms of South Asian nations cooperating more closely. A little after she said this she was assassinated. Now at last someone in Pakistan has explicitly supported the idea of creating a South Asian Union as the best means of promoting regional peace.

The distinguished Pakistani columnist Mr. Khaled Ahmed has quoted in an article the views of Mr. Ishrat Husain, a former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and a World Bank executive. Supporting a South Asian Union on the lines of the European Union (EU) Mr. Husain said: “India and Pakistan have to take the lead here for the benefit of their own people, the region and indeed the whole world.”

According to this writer there is a flaw in Mr. Husain’s assessment. As most economists he overemphasizes the impact of trade and underestimates the political identities of societies in bringing about change. The EU is floundering precisely because big business interests fell into this trap and thoughtlessly expanded the market ignoring political and cultural identities. Mr. Husain believes that a South Asian Union must take a long time to fructify after gradual expansion of Indo-Pakistan trade tries.

This writer believes that regional consolidation through resolving political disputes between India and Pakistan preceding trade ties would greatly expedite the creation of a South Asian Union. Once Islamabad bites the bullet, Dacca will inevitably follow. Eventually, genuine federal autonomy for provinces within nations and a confederation among countries within the region is what would create a United States of South Asia. If this were done separatist movements in the Kashmir Valley of India and Baluchistan province in Pakistan would be addressed effectively. But to accomplish this, bold and courageous political initiative is required. Can Mr. Modi create a South Asian Union? If he succeeds this single achievement will offset all other lapses. He will earn a permanent place in history.