The Hindu : 'Heartening course'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 06, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

'Heartening course'

Sir, — Your Editorial, `Heartening course' (May 3) is heartening indeed. For more than five decades, Pakistan and India have remained unfriendly towards each other. We have even forgotten that before Partition we were one nation, sharing the same culture. Pakistan's assertion that Kashmir is the core issue in the dispute between the two countries is countered by India's assertion that Kashmir is an integral part of India and that there is no scope for any dispute in that regard.

These stubborn assertions have created enmity between the two and the result has been awful. Militancy and terrorism, obviously encouraged by the opponent, have resulted in death of the innocents and destruction of property.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee, has extended his hand of friendship once again and Pakistan is endeavouring to grab it. What is primarily required is an earnest attempt from both sides to build friendship through the restoration of diplomatic channels, trade, travel, use of airspace, exchange of cultural visits.

Once friendly ties develop between the people of the two nations, the Governments can boldly and frankly discuss Kashmir and find an amicable settlement.

K.D. Viswanaathan,
Coimbatore, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — Nothing can be farther from the truth than calling the recent offer of friendship by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, `whimsical' while praising the Pakistani policy as `streamlined'. The argument that Mr. Vajpayee's reported refusal to go to Pakistan sends confusing signals is untrue.

A summit meet at this stage will be the most counter-productive, as we have seen in Agra before. Even Pakistan has conceded lately that the top-down approach failed last time and a bottom-up approach is needed now.

So, where is the question of our Prime Minister visiting Pakistan? If Pakistan demands more trade, economic, cultural, sports and people-to-people contact between the two neighbours, it is for them to act.

Sridharan,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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