Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples. (UPSC 2015)

Terrorism and distrust have made India-Pakistan ties security-driven, but soft power can still generate limited goodwill among citizens, not resolve core disputes.

• Sports: Cricket has often created shared excitement and reduced hostility, as seen in bilateral series and World Cup encounters. Yet attacks and diplomatic crises have repeatedly halted tours and pushed matches to neutral venues, showing its fragility.
• Cultural exchange: Music, films, Sufi traditions and pilgrimages can humanise the “other” and soften stereotypes. The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor briefly strengthened religious goodwill, but security shocks can quickly reverse such gains.

Thus, soft power is useful for people-to-people trust and keeping channels open, but lasting goodwill needs sustained action against terrorism and political confidence-building.