India-Pak crisis intensifies as Track II diplomacy fades

Without civil society actors working behind the scenes, India and Pakistan are left with a vacuum when trying to smooth out thorny issues like Kashmir.

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For years, informal dialogue sponsored by NGOs and civil society groups was critical to building bridges between India and Pakistan.

The process is known as “track II diplomacy” and involves networks of non-state actors like NGOs, civil society members and peace activists. They all work towards finding prospective solutions to crises through dialogues with stakeholders. Governments often use feedback from Track II entities to help with policy-making.

Funding from Western donors would regularly sponsor informal interactions in neutral environments across the world. In this way, even the most hardline voices from both India and Pakistan could meet eye-to-eye and exchange viewpoints.

However, these networks between India and Pakistan have now been rendered less effective. This is partly due to funding problems, but also because the two governments are less inclined towards dialogue.

After India and Pakistan approached the brink of war in April, a group of track II actors from both countries issued a statement to deescalate tensions.

“We are of the considered view that fanning war hysteria and perpetuating ongoing tension into any kind of military conflict would be extremely destructive for our countries and peace-loving people,” the statement said.