MALDIVES: The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan said Wednesday that trust between their countries had improved, providing the foundation for a renewed push at their troubled peace process.
India's SM Krishna and his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar arrived at a South Asian regional summit in the Maldives speaking optimistically of the improvements in ties achieved during talks over the last few months.
Referring to a "very positive atmosphere" between the countries, Krishna said that the "trust deficit" with Pakistan was shrinking and that they should now look at a "joint strategy" to fight terror.
"I think our relationship with Pakistan is becoming a little more stable than what it was before," Krishna said as he flew to the Maldives, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
Khar, appearing briefly before reporters, also said that the environment was improved ahead of bilateral talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
"I can certainly say from our side that we look at this environment to have improved considerably. The trust deficit that typically existed between the two countries for many, many years has been reduced to a large order," she said.
Both leaders also acknowleged the difficult work to do, not least tackling the vexed subject of Kashmir.
"We have many, many more miles to move ahead," Khar said.
Last week, Pakistan's cabinet announced it had approved a proposal giving India the status of "most favoured nation" which would help open the highly restricted flow of goods over their border.
Washington has actively pushed them together, hoping that a lull in tensions will enable Pakistan to concentrate on fighting militants on its western border who are active in Afghanistan.
Khar said the threat of terrorism was a challenge to both India and Pakistan and will be addressed by leaders at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.
Efforts to reduce tensions have been complicated by the increasing influence of Afghanistan in the bilateral equation.
India and Afghanistan signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership deal last month, leading to suspicion in Pakistan which is vehemently opposed to its arch-foe meddling in what it considers its backyard.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will also attend the SAARC summit, along with the leaders of other member nations Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated that the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh made the statement at the SAARC Summit. The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (48)
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@Usman Khalid: You have forgotten to quote parts of the resolution that speaks about the need for Pakistan to withdraw from parts of Jammu and Kashmir under your occupation. Besides, by making G&B your fifth province, AND gifting parts to China Pakistan has effectively lost its case.
The world can see your changed stance from Kashmir banega Pakistan to Freedom for Kashmir. Anyway Pakistan is coming around to saying Forget Kashmir.
@Usman Khalid:
Lets not forget what Nehru said about Kashmir and his promise of implementing the plebiscite, which the indian trolls here willingly forget. :D
@G. Din: Backyard mean territory close to the place or country where you live, reference: google again. Pakistan is close to india so Pakistan is IN backyard of india. That is why i wrote afghanistan is IN backyard of pakistan. i didn't write that afghanistan is backyard of pak. i think this is more than enough to say something on such a naive thing. Hope you ll get a good sleep now :D
@Usman Khalid: "because afghanistan is in backyard of pakistan… reference: see google maps "
Backyard is part of your own property. The last I checked Afghanistan was NOT the 5th province of Pakistan. Afghanistan is Pakistan's neighbour not in Pakistan's backyard.
India describes Pakistan as its neighbour. I am sure Pakistanis would not appreciate if India were to describe Pakistan as India's backyard.
@Usman Khalid: to anup "because afghanistan is in backyard of pakistan… reference: see google maps :D" So is Pakistan, a backyard of India. See google maps. You shall not be allowed to bully a neighour which is weak at the moment on any pretext. Days of colonialism are in the past!
@anup: because afghanistan is in backyard of pakistan... reference: see google maps :D
I just hope elements of the Pakistan state that are unaccountable to civilian rule - I mean the upper echelons of the Army and the ISI, have changed their course and no longer see India as an existential threat but as a potential partner. That is the key. If that happens, then genuine friendship can flourish, if it doesn't happen, then expect another terrorist-attack that will again bring the nuclear foes to the brink of war and back to square one.
@KirmaniL How dare you compare us to Somalia. FYI by Allah's grace we this time are ranked as 12th failed state whereas last year it was 10th. Even after so much difficulties we are progressing and Somalia is the No.1 failed state for many years. We are much better country than them. We should be treated as equals to USA India China.
No MFN for India, unless we are treated as equals.
@Proud White Khan Pakistani: You said t Kirmani "How come we can be compared to Somalia/ Ethopia when we are a atomic power, exports in the region of Billions of $s, with a position of 39 in top 40 economic powerhouses, a healthy space program and smart cities like Islamabad?
Do you know i have been to India and i have seen more people living on streets in Mumbai than that of Sub-Sahara Africa? Which world are you living in?"
The issue here is not of relative poverty or otherwise between Pakistan and India becase the fact is that both countries are in fact poor. The context was trade and export competitiveness. 95% of Pakistan's current exports are agricultural, meat or textile. Thos items constitute less than 20% of India's exports. In addition to these india exports automobiles, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, gems and jewellery, steel. Someone had said that there should ONLY be trade with India if everything is equal and I think the point that Kirmani was making is that India does have global competitiveness in far more areas than does Pakistan.
@Kirmani: I hope that was a joke. Are you an engineer? totally oblivious of the economic situation?
How come we can be compared to Somalia/ Ethopia when we are a atomic power, exports in the region of Billions of $s, with a position of 39 in top 40 economic powerhouses, a healthy space program and smart cities like Islamabad?
Do you know i have been to India and i have seen more people living on streets in Mumbai than that of Sub-Sahara Africa? Which world are you living in?
@rehmat: yes my dear...strife faced by the globe is a bi-product of US cop-like behaviour. Go do some research for the last 20 years in world affairs and then come back with your comments and excuses for US.
@anup: Dude, because it will be insensitive and possibly un-Islamic to call it Pakistan's junk yard..;-) Use all the flesh and blood and then throw the body over there, use all the juice you can find and throw the skin over there. Grow up Pakistan... Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and it is only just waking up.. Just imagine that it is a land that has fought the Russians an erst while super power and what it would do to you if it turns against you for all that you have done with it and its people ( i mean the citizens not the Taliban and others 'strategic assets'). Wake up!!!!
@Adil:
I am sorry, Adil, for the equal but not inferior policy to work in trade, you should be talking of dealing with African nations like Somalia and Ethiopia. Strictly in terms of economics. Unfortuantely, Pak economy is not equal to most of the developing countries. And will not be, till mullahs stop influencing policy.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu: what about the rights of Baloch,Sindhies and Hindus
@Vinod, Aditya, Manju:
I have all the right to express my opinion and this is what called the freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
After Bangladesh was created on the world map by the Indian army, Pakistan was supposed to balance the equation after 1971 and before 1998 through a military intervention in occupied Jammu and Kashmir to get the people freed from the clutches of Indian government, similarly as the Indian government did in 1971 after cutting one part of Pakistan i.e. the former East Pakistan.
It is unfortunate that Pakistan became a nuclear state in 1998 and therefore Pakistan have let no other option except to use the nuclear arsenal before the India look towards Baluchistan to separate from Pakistan in order to give a reply to the Indian government as what it did with Pakistan in 1971.
I do not foresee any other possibility to get the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir free from the clutches of the Indian government, except to talk to the Indian government and with other countries who talk a lot about humanity and human rights as why the man- slaughter is going on in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the last 64 years.
I am amazed that why the big powers that pursued people for the uprising in the Arabia have not pursued as yet people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the atrocities of the Indian army and the government for the rights of the citizens of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Rather than being an unreliable, back stabbing friend, I would prefer a reliable enemy.
Peace between pak and india will benefit the people of both country. We have 60 years of hostility. It is time to change.
@antanu g: "Bad news for US and the likes…but beware….it will not easily accept this and there could be a terrorist attack in the country to derail the process. Both the countries should hold their nerves and proceed forward to defeat UNCLE SAM’S nefarious designs"
Uncle Sam is not the one that has created terror attacks in the past
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu:
The day Pakistanis understand that religion cannnot form the basis for forming a nation and false representation of facts and misleading of masses in Pakistan and else where ( in this case saying that muslims are being selectively targeted all over india and more so in case of Kashmir so that they can mislead them into this 'freedom' and in between trying to occupy it as a Pakistani territory ) will only earn them more destruction if there is any thing sane left in Pakistan today which the entire world today seriously doubts..
And 'right of self determination of Kashmiris'. Do you think ordinary Pakistanis have a 'right to self determination'... LOL.. I think you should clean your house up before you venture out to find dirt else where. Kashmiris in India have been voting their leaders in since India came into existence unlike Pakistan where more than 50% of its post independence era has been under military dictatorship who not only dictate you how to eat, breathe and live but also how to hate!!!
Let's make real PEACE not War & prove the world that we can live like brothers & sisters! India Pakistan Friendship Zindabad
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu: well not just kashmir, not really...the day u guys decide the same with baluchs, the trust deficit wud become non existant...remember one thing, if u persist with kashmir, be guaranteed from our side, (vis-a-vis the huge disparities between india and pakistan), baluchistan wud be another addition to world's countries...so its better to stop fiddling with kashmir, or be ready to give up on baluchistan..
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu: Mohammad Saheb not so easy please add Palestine, Gaza, Tunisia, Zanzibar, Chechnya, Timbaktu and many many more. Is it not like a child that unless you give me five chocolates I will not speak to you.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu:
Well you seem to want to keep the defict for ever and we (India) dont have any problem with that.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiquiu: In that case, keep up the trust deficit.
@Adil: LOL
@Adil: Sir do you know the Paki trade deficit with China?:)
It is very good news and omen, yet relationship with India has always been so vulnerable and unpredictable that such news do not convey message of reassurance. Fear does not ease off. it is not only Pakistan that can be blamed for the past. Leadership of India also has to rise to occasion to address the long term pending issues, for solution of such issues will go in its own interest, and interest of Pakistan and the region. We must benefit from unrelenting and unstoppable revolution ushered in and unleashed by Innovations of Science and Technology. majority of people in both countries has not benefited as they should have from the Independence from Raj. Prudent but bold decisions are required.
Sounds its due to winter season..
Trust deficit may be shrinking but trade deficit in increasing. No MFN for India, until the policy of " Equals not Inferior" is applied with India
wait till next trust building measures by ISI/LET/JUD etc... then it will shrink completely.
Some one is in for a shock !!!
Too quick to pass a judgement.
Anyway hope for the best
Me and my Pakistani friend, both equally LIKE Imran Khan :-) you can see where things are going in future, Future is bright for South Asia.
I am sure Establishment is on board this time, since they have understood that The India of today is not the India of a decade ago, India has earned diplomatic credibility, political clout, economic strength and military resurgence.they can no longer keep hostilities alive and let the progress of the region die. This is indeed a great news for both the countries and the region as a whole. I hope spoilers are kept at bay.
Bad news for US and the likes...but beware....it will not easily accept this and there could be a terrorist attack in the country to derail the process. Both the countries should hold their nerves and proceed forward to defeat UNCLE SAM'S nefarious designs
It is a high time for both Pakistan and India to let go of their post-partition grievous distress and actuate a policy of coexistence with reason rather than emotion, recognize the reciprocal obligations and the ligature of mutual need that binds them together.
The header of the article says Singh ( i presume PM Dr Manmohan Singh ) made the comment. the content read S M Krishna made the comment. I am confused. I am also wondering what all is brewing between the two governments. I think the Indian Parliament should be taken into confidence. People should know what is going on. We don't want another Lahore-to-Kargil drama.
Let us hope and pray that the establishment does not create another Kargil and kill all the progress in this area. Good news when democratic govts work together.
Lets Hope for peace and be alert of any unfortunate incident which furher derail the progress of the peace initiative.....
"Indian involvement in Afghanistan is sensitive, with Pakistan vehemently opposed to its arch foe meddling in what it considers its backyard."...why does Pak consider Afghan as its backyard ??
good for southasia.let build friendship
good for south asia.let build friendship
Trust deficit is shrinking. It has not totally come to an end.
The day India will acknowledge that the right of self determination should be given to Kashmiris, I think that is going to mark the end of the trust deficit between the two neighbouring countries.
Strange thing for Pakistan.. Trust Deficit with India is skrinking, but its increasing with the US....