India on Thursday asked Pakistan to put “all cards on the table” during the next round of comprehensive talks so that both countries could actually move towards resolving some of the issues bedevilling their ties.
At an hour-long meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, India announced a trade-related confidence-building measure to match Pakistan according the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India.
Dr. Singh said India had decided to move towards a Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan. He also said a liberalised visa regime to replace the current onerous system would be implemented soon.
With the previous round of meetings having witnessed both sides simply reiterating their positions, the Prime Ministers hoped that frankness would prevail when talks covering all subjects opened next Tuesday, with a meeting of the Commerce Secretaries to be followed by one between the Home Secretaries in December.
“We have wasted a lot of time in acrimonious debate in the past. The time has come to write a new chapter in relations,” Dr. Singh said after meeting Mr. Gilani at a picturesque island resort on Villingili, just before the opening of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.
Calling Mr. Gilani a “man of peace,” the Prime Minister wanted both countries to join hands in combating terrorism so that this “perennial concern” did not affect relations again.
At the same time, he reminded Mr. Gilani of Pakistan's unfinished agenda of bringing to book the masterminds of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which led to a freeze on the composite dialogue till the two leaders met on the sidelines of the previous SAARC summit in Thimphu.
Mr. Gilani responded by hoping that the next round of the talks, if held under the rubric of frankness and openness, would be “more constructive, more positive, and will open a new chapter in the history of both the countries.”
Besides resolving to candidly discuss all outstanding issues, ranging from Jammu & Kashmir to Sir Creek, the Prime Ministers focused on terrorism and trade.
They agreed that the measures to facilitate trade and travel across the Line of Control, decided upon by the Foreign Ministers in their July meeting, should be implemented expeditiously. Both Prime Ministers urged a greater degree of openness in discussing all issues of discord during the next round of line Ministry-level talks.
They also decided to revive the Joint Commission, said to be the bread and butter of bilateral ties, which has not met for six years.
SAARC is vacation time for both countries leader, nothing will come out of these meetings, Pakistan's leadership has no power to make any decisions, Army and ISI breating on their neck.
When we have so much in common,India and pakistan need not be at loggerheads.Why should we squander our scarce resources on defence?We can resolve our differences without resorting to war.
Pakistan is only reciprocating Indian gesture of extending MFN to Pakistan years ago. What is the need to immediately reciprocate. Let us first consolidate existing agreements and see what does that go.
While co-existence as good friendly neighbors is ideal, we cannot ignore certain ground realities. To Pakistan's ISI, India is number 1 enemy. It is keeping the kettle of trouble in J&K boiling by encouraging and exporting terrorism. The army's power towers over civilian government in Pakistan. However emphatically Pakistan's Government may declare its intentions in meetings there is no encouraging sign in action. When the fundamental is flawed, the derivations are also necessarily flawed. India was partitioned on flawed ideology of religious segregation. That is why East Pakistan became independent BanglaDesh and Indira Gandhi is no way responsible for it. I only fervently wish Mowlana Abul Kalam Azad's prediction is proved wrong for the sake of India's and Pakistan's welfare.
Combating terrorism should be the key role of the SAARC meeting.Though started in the post 80's this meeting could not come up to a conclusion in the measures necessary for eradicating or atleast minimize the terrorism.I think the guest roles rather the supporting status role given to the west and the china would certainly be a useful hand if the issue is taken to the peak.
It is good to know that Government of India has decided to have Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan. Improving good relation between both the countries will facilitate to improve economic condition of the common people, as both are culturally very close.My simple question how many Pakistani know Chinese but language is not an issue among Indian & Pakistani. Many Pakistani are positive towards India. While I was in abroad we the academicians did not have any hatred feeling each other. History shows after August 1947, three wars took place between India and Pakistan benefiting some developed countries as arms and ammunition were purchased from them and what was the result of the wars killing and destruction among ourselves as up to 13 August 1947 we were one. However, Kashmir type delicate issue may be addressed through negotiation which may take sometime but trade and commerce can take place. Earlier news revealed that India supported Pakistan's candidature in UNSC and WTO.
It is a waste of time for Indian prime minister. Pakistan is not sincere and is seen to be using this occassion for showmanship. There is no humility to be seen on the leaders of this failed state. We could use the effort to develop better ties with Iran instead.
The steps which would be taken by both countries, it is good for our nation.The reason is,while trading with other country,the both countries would do favorable to one another.So these things would reduce the terrorism.
The PM has rightfully said "We have wasted a lot of time in acrimonious debate in the past. The time has come to write a new chapter in relations”. Millions of people on both sides have lot to gain with better relations and trade between the two countries in improving their standard of living and enjoying traveling across the border visiting their kith and kins. Just like China, Pak also should put aside their border issue as the only core issue to make or break the relations with India and improve overall trade and cultural relations to the highest level possible. When people of both countries are out of poverty and prosper, all the other issues would become secondary.
INDIA has shown its sincerety of commitment with its offer of PTA to pakistan.With instant increase in market for pakistani goods leading to increased economic growth with job growth PAKISTANI leadership should be able to observe the benefits to improve &strengthen mutual security.
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