Overdue dialogue
New Delhi's unexpected offer to talk to the Pakistani leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is a rare bit of good news from the two South Asian neighbors. But it is still far too early to say whether this is the first step towards a genuine thaw between the two countries, or whether this initiative will join the heap of earlier failed peace attempts.
It is clear that both India and Pakistan are genuinely keen on repairing their fractured relationship. Both countries, however, wish to do so on their own terms, and here's where the problem lies.
The historical bone of contention between India and Pakistan has been the status of Kashmir. The success or failure of any future talks between India and Pakistan will depend on how both countries decide to treat Kashmir. For India, the only issue in Kashmir is to end Pakistani support for separatism. For Pakistan, the issue is to get India to agree to a referendum in Kashmir to determine whether the majority of people wish to stay in India or join Pakistan. This India has rejected out of hand.
What is important is that the dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad, which has been stalled since the border skirmishes in the Kargil region of Kashmir two years ago, restarts. India had earlier been wary of talking to Gen. Musharraf and adding to the credibility of his military regime. But whether New Delhi likes it or not, the General is there to stay, and there is little option but to talk to him.
Clearly, Kashmir will have to be a key part of any talks between the two countries. But it should not be the only issue they talk about.
It is vital that the two governments get down to the task of laying the foundations for a stable relationship between the neighbors. This would include allowing businesses in both countries to exploit the natural economic links between them, and letting people travel freely between the two countries.
If a dialogue between India and Pakistan does resume, it would be wise to involve the South Asian regional organization, SAARC, in some way or the other. SAARC could provide a useful umbrella under which to build the economic and business links with which to underpin the political dialogue.
-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong