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Caution required

Sir, — One more chance has come for India and Pakistan to improve their bilateral relations. But in the backdrop of past experience India must see that this opportunity does not fail. It must neither be swayed away by emotions nor succumb to external pressure. Failure of attempts to mend fences only result in pessimism and sets a bad precedent. Keeping this in mind, India must toe a cautious line and try to strengthen its relations with its neighbour.

Awadhesh Kumar,
New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — The talk about starting a dialogue with Pakistan and posting a High Commissioner there has generated considerable optimism. But too much optimism in this regard is misplaced. A five decade-old problem is not likely to be solved quickly.

The Kashmir issue raises such nationalistic and communal passions that it will be difficult for the leaders to agree on any solution to the problem, even if they have the will to do so. With this emotive issue unsolved, any attempt to establish commercial and cultural relationships is not likely to succeed.

We know what happened in Agra. The public should definitely be taken into confidence before any agreement is signed, but only after the contours of an agreement had been established.

K. Vijayakumar,
Bangalore

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