Incrementally inching towards dismantling six decades of trust deficit, India and Pakistan on Friday agreed to build a constituency for peace at home through cessation of hostile propaganda and strengthening cooperation on counter-terrorism, besides narrowing divergences and building convergences on Jammu and Kashmir.
Mindful of the historical baggage and the internal political dynamics of both countries, all aspects of mutual concern — from Jammu and Kashmir to the Mumbai terror attack and the Samjhauta Express blasts — were discussed at the two-day engagement here between the Foreign Secretaries.
Joint news conference
And, in a surprising development, the Foreign Secretaries decided to jointly address a news conference after first announcing separate briefings. The news conference was in addition to a joint statement and, according to Indian officials, a signal that the usually squabbling countries can face the world together.
“It's not a reprimand”
Though Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao did not mince words, in her opening remarks, she said that “the ideology of military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our relationship of the 21st Century” and should be replaced with a “vocabulary of peace,” Indian officials maintained this was not a reprimand. “We have resurrected this process; let us not run this aground by rushing to conclusions.”
The need to remove the shadow of the gun was a recurrent line that Ms. Rao took but without finger-pointing.
Stress on absence of gun
To a question on the discussions on Jammu and Kashmir, she said peace and reconciliation had to be built step by step and “only in the absence of the gun can we discuss such issues.”
On specific cross-Line of Control (LoC) confidence-building measures (CBMs), the working group will meet next month to strengthen and streamline trade and travel arrangements and propose modalities for additional measures.
The group will look at the demand for more trading days, additional routes, reducing red tape, and specifying the 21 items of trade to ensure that only goods made in Jammu and Kashmir are traded.
Pakistan proposals
Similarly, separate expert-level meetings on nuclear and conventional CBMs will be convened to discuss the existing arrangements and consider additional measures that are mutually agreeable.
Pakistan apparently had a slew of proposals, including exchange of experience in civil nuclear energy, particularly in the light of the leakage caused in the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan after the devastating earthquake earlier this year.
Keywords: India, Pakistan, Indo-Pak ties, Foreign Secretary-level talks, Nirupama Rao, Salman Bashir, Mumbai terror, nuclear issues, conventional CBMs
I have no choice but to hope that only such discussions would bring a bright day for India and Pakistan. It is clear that a small minority in both of our countries wishes to see sour relations. The worst part of this story is that the silence of majority in both countries who want to see peace but dont voice their wishes. This is how a small minority in circles of politics and media succeed every time the two countries try to come closer to each other. It's time for India and Pakistan to move forward otherwise, the time will not come back and we will continue to live with empty slogans.
It's not "six decades of trust deficit"; it is six decades of mistrust that India and Pakistan have to dismantle. The task is gargantuan and it is applaudable that the Foreign Secretaries of both countries are 'inching towards' it. While the Foreign Secretary of India can guarantee that her decision will be honoured back home, the same cannot be said with regard to her counterpart. In Pakistan, no matter how serious the civilian government is about improving relations with India, it is still the military that calls the shots. To make matters worse, the military has lately been heavily infiltrated by terrorists with foreign policy agenda. What is unnerving is that the infiltration was facilitated by some top brasses. So until the military is cleansed of terrorists and their facilitators, a civilian foreign secreatary's decision counts for nothing. I hope the cleansing happens soon. The people of Pakistan deserve it. The vast majority in both countries want to be friendly neighbours.
It is a shame for India. What is the objectives of the talks ? India's demand for action against Mumbai attack masterminds is a genuine demand. Where is the action ? NO where. Nor there will be. Also Pakistan only have a list of demands and offers nothing in return.India will be a net looser in this game. Let us brace for another terror attack.
Good to note the positive developments on the talk. I like to remind both Indians & Pakistanis that we are same heritage wise.The religion is to get inner peace only,if it provides.In the name of religion, people should not kill each other. I wish both the country get the wisdom of peaceful coexistantce & improve the peoples quality of life.
just... waste of time and money.
The series of infructuous and sterile talks between the two countries have caused a serious credibility deficit in the people of India at least.
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