Nepal, April 9 -- Among the many issues that will confront the government that emerges from India's upcoming general election-running from April 19 through June 1-one of the most important will be what to do about the country's frayed relationship with its troubled neighbour, Pakistan. The answer may be simple: not much.

Until recently, there was some hope that elections in both countries in the first half of 2024 might create an opportunity for a fresh start. But any optimism about the bilateral relationship's future quickly dissipated after Pakistan's controversial February election: With the popular former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party having been barred from running, the new government's legitimacy ...