Deadlock persists
THE only outcome of the foreign secretaries’ talks in New Delhi is that there is no outcome. Matters remain where they were before Jalil Abbas Jilani and Ranjan Mathai met. For two days, they put their heads together and then came out with a joint statement that might as well not have been there, notwithstanding the familiar ‘they agreed’ refrain on issues ranging from visa liberalisation and cultural contacts to Kashmir and nuclear CBMs. At Thursday’s press conference, Mr Jilani refuted Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s charge that the evidence gathered after Zabihuddin Ansari’s arrest confirmed Pakistani ‘state actors’ were involved in the Mumbai carnage. Sadly, once again on the eve of talks, prospects of peace dimmed following the arrest of the suspected terrorist in circumstances that remain a mystery. And judging by its reaction, India has still not emerged from the shadows of the Mumbai attack. At the same time, Pakistan has continued to stall on trying to punish the Mumbai suspects, increasing Indian frustration.
Beginning with their meeting in Bhutan in 2010, which gave rise to what the media called the ‘Thimphu spirit’, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh met several times and pledged to push the peace process forward in a manner that appeared genuine. At Mohali, where they watched the cricket world cup semifinal in March last year, Mr Gilani extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan — an offer that was renewed by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar when she was in New Delhi in July the same year. The two prime ministers met again in the Maldives and South Korea, but without achieving a breakthrough even on less contentious issues. The apogee of good intention was reached over the April ‘lunch’ when President Asif Ali Zardari not only invited the host prime minister to visit Pakistan, the latter accepted the invite and said he would be “very happy to visit Pakistan on a mutually convenient date”. Given the way things are moving, one shouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t agreed on a “convenient date”.
The MFN issue is bogged down by Islamabad’s insistence on the removal of non-tariff barriers; in May the interior secretaries merely spoke of an agreement on a liberal visa regime “at an early date”, and in June the defence secretaries reported failure on Siachen. This is a record the two sides should be ashamed of. The only consolation for the people of South Asia is that the two governments continue to talk. There is no breakdown of communication, and this perhaps is the only sop.
So long Kashmir issue is alive, there will be no normal relationship between the two neighbours.
"And judging by its reaction, India has still not emerged from the shadows of the Mumbai attack. "
It is because many feel that Pakistan has remained disengaged with India on Mumbai and Hafiz Saeed.
Pakistan and its people fail to understand impact of Mumbai attacks on Indian Psyche. Majority do not want anything to do with pakistan.They do not appreciate VISA liberalization or any other measures until Pakistan take definite measures to overcome the trust deficit. Many even feel we are unlucky to have neighbor like this but we have to grin and bear!!
Pakistan fails to understand Mumbai attack impact in India. It's more realistic for India and Pakistan to work towards conflict management than resolution for now.
Mumbai blasts will continue to stand in the way of any progress between the two countries.
Manmohan Singh who is friendly toward Pakistan find himself unable to pursue any initiatives, as Congress Party weakens and the elections start to loom.
Even as more jingoistic faces rise in India, Pakistan is also adamant in not facing the reality and evidence in the Mumbai carnage. The civilian government should really rise to the occasion here, otherwise Pakistan will not be able to improve its relations for many years to come.
Please go talking something will come out of this. Keep the line open there is a troubled past and both sides seems to be not serious tosolve.but talk must go on.
In case you don't know, there is now an Urdu version of the DAWN online.
There are a few obvious and simple things that Pakistan could do to clear the air. For instance, Abu Jindal has identified the control center in Karachi. Wouldn't it be easy to publicly clarify what what is housed in that purported control center? Also worthy of exploration is how he came to acquire a Pakistani passport as well as papers giving him visa free entry, something that is available only to VIPs. This kind of transparency will reduce the massive trust deficit that gets generated every time a story like this emerges.
As long as Pakistan refuses to change course any improvement in relations will remain symbolic and not substantive. Indians do not like the poison of communalism or terrorism.
Frankly I think neither country cares, they are just playing to the gallery!
I agree. Only thing is they are talking that will at least help them stay in touch and stay calm.