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India-Pakistan DialogueProspects for Peace
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July 29, 2011
The strategic competition and mistrust between India and Pakistan severely undermine both states prosperity and also thwart the regional cooperation in South Asia. The recent contacts between the Indian and Pakistani Ministers, however,have germinated optimism about the transformation of belligerent neighbor’s bilateral relationship.

Since March 2011, numbers of official-level meetings have been alternated between New Delhi and Islamabad. These meetings have generating an impression that both New Delhi and Islamabad realized the significance of dialogue process. The Indian foreign secretary categorically stated that the suspension of dialogue process in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 was not an appropriate decision.

The people and government of Pakistan have been maintaining similar stance that the suspension of dialogue only encourages those forces which are against the cordial relations between India and Pakistan in particular and regional peace in general.Importantly, the terrorist groups were successful in spoiling the relationship between India and Pakistan on numerous occasions. They had brought both states on the brink of war in 2002 and again in 2008. On December 13, 2001, the terrorists’ attack on the Indian Parliament resulted in the eyeball-to-eyeball military deployments between the nuclear capable Indian and Pakistani Armed forces. More precisely, the 2001-2002 military deployment on the India-Pakistan border disturbed the entire world because of the fear of escalation of the border conflict to the level of nuclear exchanges.

In 2004 Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan was started. The process continued for almost four years. Both sides gave impression that they realized each other’s concerns and were able to negotiate constructive agreements. For instance, New Delhi and Islamabad had formalized an agreement regarding the prior notification of long range ballistic missiles tests. Indeed, the continuity of Dialogue process generated hope for the people of Pakistan and India for a durable and sustainable peace.

TheComposite Dialogue process was suddenly suspended after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26-28, 2008.When Mumbai incident took place, the then Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, was in Delhi for the fifth round of Composite Dialogue. Despite, the government of Pakistan’s assurances, New Delhi suspended dialogue. The sudden wrapping up of the Composite Dialogue was a big blow to the peace process between India and Pakistan.

Islamabad remained committed with the Composite Dialogue despite the New Delhi’s stubborn stance on the Mumbai incident. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on numerous occasions took bold initiatives to engage his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. With the passage of time, situation improved. The Indian leadership has started responding positively. On July 16, 2009, Gilani and Singh met on the sidelines of the 15thNon-Aligned Summit at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt. They issued joint statement. The important features of the joint statement were:

• Both leaders agreed that terrorism is the main threat to both countries. Both leaders affirmed their resolve to fight terrorism and to cooperate with each other to this end.

• Prime Minister Singh reiterated the need to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice. Prime Minister Gilani assured that Pakistan will do everything in its power in this regard.

• Both leaders agreed that the two countries will share real time credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats.

• Prime Minister Gilani mentioned that Pakistan has some information on threats in Balochistan and other areas.

• Both Prime Ministers recognized that dialogue is the only way forward. Action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these should not be bracketed. Prime Minister Singh said that India was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan, including all outstanding issues.

Despite the willingness of the Prime Minister Singh, the deadlock between India and Pakistan continued because of the severe criticism of the Indian parliamentarians over the July 16, Joint Statement in the Lock Shaba. Nevertheless, the rationality prevailed over the madness. The Indians refrained from alleging Pakistan over the July 13, 2011, bomb explosions in Mumbai. Therefore, the Foreign Minister meeting scheduled for July 27, 2011, was not cancelled. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar arrived in New Delhion July 26, 2011, to discuss confidence-building measures, such as relaxing trade and travel restrictions across a ceasefire with the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

The restart of dialogue process between India and Pakistan is certainly a right step in the right direction. It would provide opportunity to both states to enhance bilateral trade and jointly combat the menace of terrorism. Moreover, it would also assist Islamabad and New Delhi to address the security dilemma puzzle between them. For instance, in the previous Foreign Sectaries meeting (at Islamabad) proposals were made for expanding trade and travel across the Line of Control. At present trading between Indian held Kashmir and Azad Kashmir is done through Muzaffarabad-Uri and Poonch-Rawalakot routes, while India has proposed three additional points — Nauseri-Tithwal, Hajipur-Uri and Tattapani-Mendhar routes. The materialization of these proposals would

Islamabad seems very sincere in combating the menace of transnational terrorism and drug trafficking. On July 23, 2011, Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik suggested the constitution of SAARC-Pol, on the pattern of Interpol. He also called for the formation of a joint task force to control incidents of piracy in the Indian Ocean. The SAARC-Interpol, certainly, contributes positively in combating the trans-regional criminals.

To conclude, the preceding discussion manifests that both the ruling elites and opinion makers in India and Pakistan should realize that the avoidance of rhetoric allegation, restart of composite dialogue and chalking out a sharedcounterterrorism strategy are imperative to combat the menace of terrorism in the South Asia.

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