Despite Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani meeting Kashmiri separatists on Tuesday, India and Pakistan held ministerial-level talks on Wednesday in a “cordial” and “constructive” manner. This shows the resolve that nothing should be allowed to come in the way of the dialogue process that has been revived after it got snapped in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Ms Rabbani should have avoided any contact with controversial elements like Syed Ali Shah Geelani when India had specifically stated that this would not be welcome. That she went ahead with her objectionable programme makes one believe that the separatist elements fit into the scheme of things of Pakistan. But this cannot be described as good diplomacy as her action threatened to spoil the cordial atmosphere that was there for the talks between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Ms Rabbani. Their meetings preceded discussions between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan.
Interestingly, the two sides held deliberations on all the issues which formed part of the agenda, including Kashmir and the need for cooperation to fight terrorism. Going by what is there in the customary joint statement issued at the end of the ministerial-level talks, trade and people-to-people contacts between India and Pakistan can go up considerably in the days to come. Not only that cross-LoC trading days have been increased to four from the earlier two with more facilities to ensure a substantial rise in the trade volume, arrangements have been made to remove the operational difficulties being encountered by businessmen. It is good that people will now feel encouraged to travel to both sides of the LoC as tourists. Religious tourism involving the two neighbours may now get a fillip.
There is need to provide all the facilities required to enhance people-to-people contacts so that there is pressure from the public on the rulers not to do anything that may affect the drive for the normalisation of relations between the two countries. In this context, efforts must continue to make the issuance of visa easier. There will be greater urge to improve relations once India and Pakistan develop high stakes in economic activity involving the two sides.
Interestingly, the two sides held deliberations on all the issues which formed part of the agenda, including Kashmir and the need for cooperation to fight terrorism. Going by what is there in the customary joint statement issued at the end of the ministerial-level talks, trade and people-to-people contacts between India and Pakistan can go up considerably in the days to come. Not only that cross-LoC trading days have been increased to four from the earlier two with more facilities to ensure a substantial rise in the trade volume, arrangements have been made to remove the operational difficulties being encountered by businessmen. It is good that people will now feel encouraged to travel to both sides of the LoC as tourists. Religious tourism involving the two neighbours may now get a fillip.
There is need to provide all the facilities required to enhance people-to-people contacts so that there is pressure from the public on the rulers not to do anything that may affect the drive for the normalisation of relations between the two countries. In this context, efforts must continue to make the issuance of visa easier. There will be greater urge to improve relations once India and Pakistan develop high stakes in economic activity involving the two sides.
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