The recently held
meetings between Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries seem to be a little
but important step ahead
Last
week’s foreign secretary level dialogue between India and Pakistan was a
disappointment for those who were in search of a quick breakthrough on chronic
issues between the nuke-neighbouring states. Another section found these talks
too mundane an exercise to notice. However, to me, the mere fact that talks got
resumed was a step in the right direction.
Secretary
Rao’s statement that, “the ideology of military conflict should have no place
in the paradigm of our relationship of the 21st Century” and should be replaced
with a “vocabulary of peace” cannot be termed as merely a courteous gesture.
Likewise, Pakistan’s official line on these dialogues that it was desirous of a
purposeful and result-oriented dialogue process with India for sustainable
peace and development in South Asia was quite significant.
In
diplomatic world, diplomats (especially Indian and Pakistani diplomats on
Indo-Pak issues), have to think really hard before uttering even a single word.
It is good to note that both sides, at least in their statements, have started
acknowledging the importance of peace in South Asia. The secretaries not only
agreed to keep the dialogue on but also announced that foreign ministers of
both the countries would take stock of the progress made, if any, in Delhi next
month.
Pakistan
was interested in Kashmir, Peace and Security (including confidence-building
measures), nuclear CBMs, and friendly exchange. India’s emphasis was on counter
terrorism. Moreover, there were quite a few other issues, including trade and
commerce, Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Siachen glacier, and CBM
across the Line of Control (LOC). India’s alleged involvement in Balochistan
and India’s most wanted Dawood Ibrahim’s presence in Karachi, Samjhota Express
blast, Mumbai attack, and trail of Ajmal Kasab were also discussed in sideline
meetings during these two days dialogue.
It
was good to note that, finally, Kashmir issue was discussed from a humanistic
angle rather than pure geo-political angle. India agreed to offer six-month
visit visas to citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. India also offered opening
up of five entry and exit points and promotion of local trade across the LoC.
Both sides agreed that the working group will meet in July to streamline
modalities for more trading days, additional routes, reducing red tape, and
specifying the 21 items of trade to ensure that only goods made in Jammu and
Kashmir are traded.
On
peace and security, both the countries discussed certain CBMs. They agreed that
working group on nuclear CBM would discuss modalities of mutual learning and
sharing of experiences in civil nuclear energy, particularly in the light of
the leakage caused in the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan after the
devastating earthquake earlier this year.
Although
no immediate decision is expected but recognising the importance of
people-to-people contact, ease in visa process for intellectuals, journalists,
civil society representatives, exchange of cultural troops; exchange of media
delegations and other measures were also discussed. In the absence of any
discussion on the opening-up of consulates in Mumbai and Karachi, one may
assume that both sides are more interested in VIP-to-VIP contacts rather than
people-to-people contacts.
Since
the inception of WTO in 1995, one kept on arguing that granting of Most
Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India should not be linked with Kashmir issue
and, finally, there are reports that Pakistan is willing to shift to negative
list of tradable items from positive list approach and gradually may grant it
MFN status. This would be an extremely positive step for promoting regional
trade, implementing South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), and strengthening
SAARC. Both the countries also decided to open up a new “trade gate” on Wahga
border. The new gate is expected to be operational by the end of this year and
would be helpful in promoting bilateral trade.
While
progress was noted on issues of Wullar Barrage and Tulbul Navigation project
during these dialogues, there was a deadlock on Siachen and Sir Creek. I agree
that there is no “substantial” breakthrough and bilateral issues, yet inching
towards peace and attempting to mend the 60 years of trust deficit is not an
easy task. It would require lot of patience and consistency on both sides.
Now
is the most appropriate time to begin finding solutions to our bilateral issues
outside the shadow of guns. India has joined the league of emerging economies
of Brazil, Russia, and China. It is eyeing a permanent seat in UN Security Council.
Access to Central Asian Republics (CARs), and to Afghanistan through Pakistan
would not only ensure access to energy but to new markets for India too. Many
describe India as a giant elephant whose one leg is chained with a tiny cat
called Kashmir.
Pakistan,
on the other hand, is passing through one of the toughest phases of its recent
history and needs to focus on its western borders to curb terrorism with a
complete peace of mind that nothing would go wrong at its eastern borders. Both
of these countries also need to reduce their massive defense budgets to create
a cushion to spend on socio-economic uplift of their ordinary masses, hence
peace is in both India and Pakistan’s interest.
If
NATO forces are seriously interested in leaving Afghanistan and want to see
durable peace in this region; they should know that the historical tension
between India and Pakistan is one of the major threats to Afghanistan’s
stability. Thus, it is in their interest, too, to leave a region with minimum
number of disputes. Now it is upto our political leadership to seize the
moment.
Here,
it is worth-mentioning that certain actors do not want peace between India and
Pakistan and something goes wrong whenever talks between the two looks
promising. However, this time a non-state actor helped in building a positive
image of Pakistan while the talks were taking place. The Indian media was all
praises for human rights activist Ansar Burni for his role in the release of
six Indian crew members form Somali pirates.
Burni,
who was deported from New Delhi airport by Indian immigration authorities in
June 2008 on the grounds of “inadequate documentation” was raising funds and
playing his role for the release of all crew members, including Indian crew
members.
His
act simply shows that people-to-people contacts are much stronger than official
contacts. Ordinary citizens, through their CBMs like Aman ki Asha, Imagine New
South Asia, and Climate Action Network South Asia, etc., can teach states how
to engage in a civilized peace process: a civilized process in which military
conflict is replaced by the vocabulary of peace. Hope our decision-makers give
peace a chance and contribute to a prosperous South Asia.
The writer is the executive director of
Sustainable Development Policy Institute and can be reached at suleri@sdpi.org
Web Link: http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2011-weekly/nos-03-07-2011/pol1.htm#3
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