Happy Birthday Pakistan: India is thankful you exist

India and Pakistan’s relationship has gone through more high and lows than the helpless rupee. Most often than not, the relationship follows this pattern- one minute, we’re bickering about our border feuds, the next minute, we’re admiring each other’s spirit but the moment someone mentions- Kashmir, everything suddenly goes haywire.

It's been over sixty years, but the exact status of the bond between these two countries is still unknown, just like the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Just kidding. Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India, obviously.

But all said and done, it would be a colossal mistake to not acknowledge that over the years, our closest neighbour/blame-game player has been a source of great help and never-ending guffaws.

Thus, in celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day, Business Insider draws up a list of five reasons why Indians should be making a ‘thank-you card’ for Pakistan.

1. World-class cricket rivalry: Without Pakistan, would the world cup or cricket matches ever be the same? I shudder to think of the boring matches’ women who can’t differentiate a ‘wide’ from a ‘no-ball’ would have to endure. An India- Pakistan match has the power to unite families and induce patriotism like nothing else. Moreover, the rivalry between both these cricket teams put the rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to shame. Winning a match against Pakistan is of greater significance than discovering the cure for a deadly disease or just about anything else. That’s right. And, let’s not to forget, the easy retweets that can be garnered by cracking Shahid Afridi and Inzamam-ul-Haq jokes. We might not like to admit it, but Indians need you, Pakistan.

2. Fawad Khan: Fawad Afzal Khan, better known as the only reason women all across India endured Khoobsurat, a two-hour long snoozefest masquerading as a movie. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Fawad Khan is Pakistan’s national treasure. His chiseled face, perfectly sculpted body has us swooning and watching Khoobsurat on repeat, at the cost of damaging our brain. Don’t think it’s possible to thank you enough for his existence, Pakistan.

3. Pakistan army gives the Indian army a much needed practice: When our neighbour is in one of their no-so-friendly moods, it results in a couple of infiltration bids and the sacred LoC being violated. As a result, the Pakistan army unknowingly motivates the Indian army to stay on their feet by providing much-needed net practice. Additionally, it also keeps them prepared for any plausible serious confrontations with other nuclear states. (China, we’re looking at you)

4. Helping Bollywood directors with movie plots: Bollywood Directors just like Bollywood lyricists would have been ‘inspired’ by works of others while figuring out plots for movies had it not been for the partition and the subsequent creation of Pakistan. If you’re one of those who loves Gadar, 1947, A Love Story, Veer Zara and the recent Bajrangi Bhaijaan, you have to no one to thank, but thy neighbor. Thank you Pakistan for providing our directors with the perfect storylines for Independence Day special films since 1947.

5. Chand Nawab: Nawazuddin Siddiqui might have kept us laughing with his antics as Chand Nawab in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, but he undoubtedly failed at overshadowing the original Chand Nawab on whom the character was based. Chand Nawab, a Pakistani journalist with Indus News had to face many hurdles while recording his PTC in a crowded railway station. The video of his attempts to get his PTC right while having to dodge people who would walk in front of the camera went viral and made us fall in love with this man, who has become our new favourite. All due to Pakistan, guys!

Special mention- If there’s one thing that India has gotten horribly wrong while Pakistan has hit the bull’s eye, it is Coke Studio. With their version, Pakistan showed us what a music programme should ideally be about.

We’re indebted. With love, India.