Mani Shankar Aiyar’s relationship with Pakistan is unlike that of many politicians caught in the politics of rivalry. Over the last forty years, through roughly forty visits, he has developed a connection with the country that transcends headlines and official statements. Pakistan, he says, is his “second favourite country”—a sentiment rooted not in political convenience, but in deep personal experience.
Serving as India’s Consul-General in Karachi, Aiyar found himself immersed in a culture both familiar and strikingly different, discovering warmth and kindness that defied the hardened narratives often portrayed in the media. His stories are filled with encounters—of shared meals, conversations in bustling markets, and quiet moments with everyday people—that paint a picture of a country pulsating with life beyond the realm of conflict.
This personal bond reveals a truth often forgotten: that behind borders and disputes lie millions of lives connected by common dreams, struggles, and humanity. Aiyar’s reflections carry the subtle but profound message that engagement, empathy, and sustained contact can open doors to understanding even where political will seems absent.
Without grand proclamations, his words quietly invite us to see Pakistan not through the prism of enmity, but as a place of possibility, a nation where relationships can be rebuilt slowly, patiently—one encounter at a time.
In naming Pakistan his “second favourite country,” Mani Shankar Aiyar offers a window into a path less traveled—one of connection and respect, hinting at the enduring potential for peace that grows when people choose to look beyond conflict and toward each other.
Watch: Pakistan Is My Second Favourite Country Says Mani Shankar Aiyar | Karan Thapar Interview
